Goal setting, Behaviors vs. Outcomes?
Changing behaviors will allow you to focus on the things that will get you to the intended outcome.
Make a plan, and a good mantra of mine is “today is another day to do the things I did not do the day before” I feel like some days are harder than others and you need to be more realistic with your goals instead of being idealistic.
The world is pretty uncontrollable and most often unpredictable but, you can create little success by making small accomplishments by changing your behavior. We all know that life happens.
Here are some examples of the mind-set you will have to understand to make these principles work.
If you want to sell your house for a good price, you can renovate it and give it a fresh coat of paint. But you can’t control the real estate market, or someones credit.
If you want to have a nice picnic outside, you can pack a basket with food and blanket and plan your route to the park. But you can’t control the weather or whether your car accidentally breaks down.
If you want to lose weight, you can eat well and stay active. But you can’t control your fat cells or your genetic predisposition.
You can’t make your body lose 20 pounds instantly on command any more than you can make your house worth a certain amount when you sell it.
In other words, you can’t control the outcome, but you can control the behaviors that lead to the outcome you want.
Outcomes are WHAT you want! But outcomes don’t tell you what to do.
Behaviors are HOW you’ll get there! Behavior goals give you an action plan. At Health and Exercise Prescriptions we give you a complete action plan to help change your behaviors to gain better health and fitness using a whole body approach. This action plan will help you gain strength, balance, flexibility, cardiovascular endurance and better mental and emotional abilities.
So instead of setting “outcome goals”, set “behavior goals”.
Here are a few examples showing the difference.
Outcome goals: Run a 5K race in 23 minutes,Lose 10 lb,Squat 80 lb.
Behavior goals:Run for 20 minutes three times per week for the next month, gradually increasing the duration and speed, Practice eating slowly at every meal, Show up every day and do your exercise prescriptions consistently.
You get the idea?
Notice how all of the behavior goals are a commitment to do a specific set of actions or tasks that lead to the outcome you want.
Also, notice that:
1.Behavior goals are things you do consistently and regularly 2.Behavior goals are small, manageable tasks that are within your control 3.Behavior goals are often things that you can do right now, today or in the near future. Again: You can’t control the outcome.
But you can control the behaviors that, when done consistently, will get you to your individual goals.
Well I hope that helps you think about putting together your goals(new behaviors) for the new year! Let me know if I can help.
“We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.” Aristotle
Thanks for your time and energy…Be well
Jaime Hernandez