The answer lies in the title of this article. We need to focus on setting and building systems that will help us achieve our goals. Essentially, we all have the same goals – be healthy, provide for and be present with our family, be financially stable, go on the odd holiday, etc, etc.
What sets the achievers apart from the non-achievers is that they have created better systems, structures and habits into their days, weeks, months and years. Simple. So, don’t be discouraged, because the good news is that it is simple to make this shift to high achievement.
Let’s turn our focus on health & fitness, and weight loss in particular (as that’s what we specialise in here at Vision Personal Training).
The goal – lose 15kgs by Christmas this year. Excellent, great goal. It is specific, it has a deadline (so it’s not just a dream anymore), it’s measurable, and it’s definitely realistic. Now here’s the kicker, hundreds of other people have the exact same goal, by the exact same date. Some will achieve it, some won’t. So what’s the difference?
The achievers will now forget about the goal and start mapping out all the little systems and habits that will propel them towards that goal. Bed by 9pm, 8k steps daily, 3 litres of water daily, three strength sessions weekly (booked in diary with trainer at the same time and days of the week to build consistency), 4 beers/wines on Saturdays, etc, etc.
You can then dig even deeper around a system for ensuring you go to bed by 9pm – set bedtime alarm for 8:45pm to remind me to turn off tv and go brush teeth. The more systems you create, the easier life gets, the easier it is to stay on track to your goals and the more freedom it actually creates long term.
On the flip side, someone that doesn’t have systems in place to lose 15kgs will repeat the behaviour that got them to put on 15kgs in the first place. Then come Christmas guess what, no weight loss or even worse, now 20kgs overweight.
Same goal, different systems, drastically different results.
Stop setting goals (be honest, they’re all the same anyway), and start setting better systems and habits. That’s when you’ll really start seeing progress in your goal achievement.
If you need help building better systems with your health & fitness, please reach out and chat with one of our results coaches here at Vision Personal Training Mona Vale.
