Walking on Wednesday - Just Do It - 5 things to help you reach your goal
It sounds so simple! Just Do It! But is it really that simple? I would say, to put it simply, YES!
I have just reached a goal. I have been walking 30 to 40 minutes every day since my birthday! That means I have walked that every day for 28 days. Every day. An accomplishment I have NEVER achieved before, and it wasn't easy. How did I do it this time? This is a good question!
I have no other answer than the basic one that is necessary to accomplish any goal you set for yourself:
I made up my mind that I was going to do it, and just DID it.
Okay, there were a few things that helped me along the way. As you know, nothing is ever quite that simple. We reason, we justify, we complicate even the simplest things. for me, it came down to 5 things that helped me though, and will continue to help me through. I hope they can help you through reaching your goals too.
First - Decide What Your Goal Is.
The first thing is that I made up my mind. I DECIDED this was the goal, and that I really wanted to achieve this goal. Every time I thought 'maybe I won't go today' or 'I really don't feel like going today', I just pushed those thoughts out of my head and said 'just go'! I reminded myself of the goal - and the only way to achieve it was to just go.
Second - Make the Goal CLEAR.
When I I truly made the goal clear, it was much easier to take each step. Instead of making the walk about something else, for instance taking pictures while I walked, I made it just about the walk. After all, the goal is to walk every day. Not take pictures and walk. This made getting out to walk so much easier to do, without the added tasks to go with it.
Third - Take it One Step at a Time.
I had to look at each step separately, because without any one of them, the goal would not be reached. Without each one, no goal. With each one - goal met. How difficult is each step when taken by itself? Not difficult, very manageable.
Fourth - Understand What May Stop You From Reaching Your Goal.
Once you make your mind up, what is stopping you from reaching your goals? The answer is sometimes, simply, YOU. You could be the thing stopping you from reaching your goals.
If I gave in to myself just one of those days I didn't feel like walking, I would not be able to say 'I have walked at least 30 minutes a day, every day since my birthday.'
It was hard at times. There were days it was raining, days I was so tired, days I SO much to do I wasn't sure I had the time to walk. There were even days I was walking down that long driveway, every step saying to myself, even out loud some days, 'I don't want to walk today'. There were days I bargained with myself too. 'Just walk to the top of the hill, that will count for today' or 'Just half the walk will be fine'.
But by the time I got to the end of my driveway, the top of the hill, or did half of the walk I said 'I made it this far, what's the big deal of doing the whole walk? I will be back home getting on with the rest of my day before I know it.'
Fifth - Imagine the Satisfaction of Achieving the Goal.
Imagine how good it will feel to say, 'I have accomplished this goal', and then how good it will feel to know you can set the next goal and achieve that one too.
Some days this thought is the only thing that got me through. On tough days, I didn't want to disappoint myself by saying I missed a day. I wanted so much to be able to say 'I have walked at least 30 minutes EVERY DAY since my birthday!'
I had made up my mind, and once I got going, there was no reason to stop. I just DID it. Some days I really enjoyed doing it, other days not so much. But the feeling when I was done each day was the same - I DID IT.
I intend to KEEP DOING it too. Can you imagine what it would feel like to say 'I have walked every day since my birthday' 6 months from now? WOW!
At the end, it can come down to something simple. And this simple saying really did get me through to achieve my goal......
Just Do It!
Do you have a goal that you would love to achieve?
I would love to hear your goal, and share any tips you may have to help achieve it.
I have just reached a goal. I have been walking 30 to 40 minutes every day since my birthday! That means I have walked that every day for 28 days. Every day. An accomplishment I have NEVER achieved before, and it wasn't easy. How did I do it this time? This is a good question!
I have no other answer than the basic one that is necessary to accomplish any goal you set for yourself:
Okay, there were a few things that helped me along the way. As you know, nothing is ever quite that simple. We reason, we justify, we complicate even the simplest things. for me, it came down to 5 things that helped me though, and will continue to help me through. I hope they can help you through reaching your goals too.
First - Decide What Your Goal Is.
The first thing is that I made up my mind. I DECIDED this was the goal, and that I really wanted to achieve this goal. Every time I thought 'maybe I won't go today' or 'I really don't feel like going today', I just pushed those thoughts out of my head and said 'just go'! I reminded myself of the goal - and the only way to achieve it was to just go.
Second - Make the Goal CLEAR.
When I I truly made the goal clear, it was much easier to take each step. Instead of making the walk about something else, for instance taking pictures while I walked, I made it just about the walk. After all, the goal is to walk every day. Not take pictures and walk. This made getting out to walk so much easier to do, without the added tasks to go with it.
Third - Take it One Step at a Time.
I had to look at each step separately, because without any one of them, the goal would not be reached. Without each one, no goal. With each one - goal met. How difficult is each step when taken by itself? Not difficult, very manageable.
Fourth - Understand What May Stop You From Reaching Your Goal.
Once you make your mind up, what is stopping you from reaching your goals? The answer is sometimes, simply, YOU. You could be the thing stopping you from reaching your goals.If I gave in to myself just one of those days I didn't feel like walking, I would not be able to say 'I have walked at least 30 minutes a day, every day since my birthday.'
It was hard at times. There were days it was raining, days I was so tired, days I SO much to do I wasn't sure I had the time to walk. There were even days I was walking down that long driveway, every step saying to myself, even out loud some days, 'I don't want to walk today'. There were days I bargained with myself too. 'Just walk to the top of the hill, that will count for today' or 'Just half the walk will be fine'.
But by the time I got to the end of my driveway, the top of the hill, or did half of the walk I said 'I made it this far, what's the big deal of doing the whole walk? I will be back home getting on with the rest of my day before I know it.'
Imagine how good it will feel to say, 'I have accomplished this goal', and then how good it will feel to know you can set the next goal and achieve that one too.
Some days this thought is the only thing that got me through. On tough days, I didn't want to disappoint myself by saying I missed a day. I wanted so much to be able to say 'I have walked at least 30 minutes EVERY DAY since my birthday!'
I had made up my mind, and once I got going, there was no reason to stop. I just DID it. Some days I really enjoyed doing it, other days not so much. But the feeling when I was done each day was the same - I DID IT.
I intend to KEEP DOING it too. Can you imagine what it would feel like to say 'I have walked every day since my birthday' 6 months from now? WOW!
At the end, it can come down to something simple. And this simple saying really did get me through to achieve my goal......
Just Do It!
Do you have a goal that you would love to achieve?
I would love to hear your goal, and share any tips you may have to help achieve it.
THANK YOU, dear heart, for such introspective words and inspiration. I am going to print this particular piece and place in prominently in my work-room and read it every day - I WILL DO IT!
ReplyDelete((hugs)) you are the spark I need!
C
You are an amazing woman. Congrats on making your goal and your plan to continue. Thank you so much for the tips, I have been trying to get to the gym 5 days a week and usually only make it 3 or 4. I am still working on getting my mind set on just doing it, but you are my new inspiration. Thanks for sharing, I hope to say I went to the gym 5 days a week for a month really soon.
ReplyDeleteValerie
Everyday Inspired
And walking does such wonders. Before I got married, I would walk 30 mins every day and the results were great.
ReplyDeleteIt's a habit you get into but easily break if you find the excuse not to go walking one day.
Just do it as you say.
Wow Grandma Carolyn - print and post? I am so honored!! I am actually surprised with myself, so wanted to share what I learned from this.
ReplyDeleteValerie, 3 or 4 times a week is pretty darned good, especially if you can do that every week!! I think you should pat yourself on the back for accomplishing that, and if you want 5 days a week - you are so close I know you can do it if you really want it. Good luck!
Arty, I guess we were typing at the same time, lol. Yes, it feels like a habit now. And hopefully I won't find an excuse good enough to break the habit!
ReplyDeleteI am still waiting to see results on the scale or jeans size, but maybe I should leave the cheese and crackers, cookies, and ice cream alone, huh?
The thing with walking or the treadmill or any exercise is, you fell so much better afterwards. Nutvthat can be so hard to remember when you'd anther sit on the couch for that second cup of coffee! You make merchant to though, get off the treadmill and do my walking out in fresh air.
ReplyDelete