How to make your goals actionable!
Goals are SO important for just about every aspect of our life but only if we are setting the right types of actionable goals.
Generally, when someone asks about their fitness goals, most people start with the outcome(s) they want:
I want to lose 20 pounds.
I want a flat stomach
I want to binge less often.
I want to run a marathon.
We often can’t control outcomes. Think about all the things that can get in the way of obtaining those above outcomes?
Outcomes are affected by environmental things. Things I’ve heard from clients and experienced myself include:
Your job gets crazy busy.
Your kid gets sick.
Your mom with dementia needs help.
You have exams at school.
And they are influenced by physical things that we cannot control.
Your hormones get out of whack.
You have a chronic illness. (Or even just a tough bout with the flu.)
You’re stressed.
You’re traveling a lot.
You’re getting older.
You’re having problems sleeping.
You sprained your ankle or your arthritic knee is doing its thing again.
You can’t make your body do what you want it to. (And neither can your personal trainer.)
But you can control what you do.
That’s why behavior goals are so important. They help us focus on the things we do have control over.
Behavior goals represent your commitment to practice a particular set of actions or tasks every day, as consistently and regularly as possible.
Here are some tips to help you turn Outcome Goals into BEHAVIOR GOALS.
Notice how both outcome and behavior goals are trackable. However, behavior goals are usually more effective because they give you something to do (and track) each day.
So how can you set powerful and actionable behavior goals today?
Write down one outcome you want. Don’t overthink it. Just name the desire you want most right now.
Write down some of the skills you think you’ll need to get that outcome. If you’re just starting out, focus on foundational skills. What are the basics that make everything else possible? (For instance, if you want to manage your time, you need to learn to use a calendar.)
Related to each skill, write down a behavior or two you can do today that’ll help build those skills. This can be really easy, like walking through the gym doors or even packing your gym bag for tomorrow morning.
Do the behavior today, and tomorrow, and so on. And, keep in mind, if you don’t follow through on a given day, don’t let it derail you. Each day is a clean slate.
Want help breaking outcomes into skills and skills into behaviors? Call us or schedule a call at
So, why set the right kind of goals?
The right goals can help you set realistic expectations and break large projects into smaller pieces. This avoids overwhelm and helps you stay committed.
The right goals help you feel “in charge”: autonomous, accountable, and responsible for your own life. This is a good feeling. You need it for sustainable change.
The right goals set you up for long-term understanding and inspiration that “sticks”. (Rather than short-term “quick fixes” that ultimately fail or frustrate.)
The right goals boost your own intrinsic motivation. They’re meaningful to you, rather than being about someone else’s judgement, standards, or agenda.
The right goals help you take action. Right now. In real ways. In your real life. Because in the end… only action leads to change.
Are you ready to start making behavior changes that will help you get your goals faster than you imagined?