Balance your journey by building solid foundations.
The word Balance in dictionaries is defined as:
noun
: the state of having your weight spread equally so that you do not fall
: the ability to move or to remain in a position without losing control or falling
: a state in which different things occur in equal or proper amounts or have an equal or proper amount of importance
We think of balance as something much like our personal holy grail. We must find it, have it, embrace it, but it's highly unattainable and overbearing. Similarly, the fitness world is full of misconceptions and extremely confused on the subject, both on how to balance life and fitness and on how to accurately train to improve one's balance.
I'll talk about how to structure a balanced routine (workout) and on how to actually train your balance on later posts. Right now let's get back to the topic at hand. First, some clarity. We have established that to ensure success in any endeavor, one must have a defined purpose and set specific and attainable goals. Here's your what and how:
Purpose.
This is your greater good. Your most important focus for taking action towards your goals. Whether it's a small daily step or bigger strides, your goals will be hard to reach without internalizing a greater meaning to achieve them. For example, to start exercising and lose weight is a goal. To be healthier, live longer and be happier and more comfortable in your own skin, is a defined purpose for training.
GOALS.
Establishing goals is an important part of path to success. A goal sets you in the right direction, provides short-term motivation to get moving, and helps you plan out your progress. This all sounds great but then life happens, or you hit some roadblock you are not prepared for and bam! There goes another year of lost initiative. Set your goals right and clear to begin, then focus on implementation. Here's some help on goal setting from the pros at TED:
SMART Goals
A useful way of making goals more powerful is to use the SMART mnemonic. While there are plenty of variants (some of which we've included in parenthesis), SMART usually stands for:
• S – Specific (or Significant).
• M – Measurable (or Meaningful).
• A – Attainable (or Action-Oriented).
• R – Relevant (or Rewarding).
• T – Time-bound (or Trackable).
In other words, define a specific outcome, tie it to a deadline, break it up in reasonable milestones, and measure and track your progress.
But accomplishing your goals without proper preparation will most likely lead to disappointment and loss of drive to continue.
Planning
Since I'm on a roll, here's another cliché: failing to plan is planning to fail. But seriously, I rambled on before about the difference between exercising and training, so by now it should be understood that training is a process of thought and deliberate actions.
Creating a good plan needs:
• Analysis of current conditions and needs. Your health and readiness state and what you can put into it in terms of time and money.
• A clear goal.
• An honest assessment of what you actually know and the resources available to you, including gyms, coaches, nutrition guidelines, training programs, classes, etc.
• A training schedule for the month or pre determined number of weeks. This includes a set number of progressive, effective and efficient routines (workouts) that fit your current fitness level, your main objective, and the time you can devote to training.
• Being aware of the known difficulties you will encounter in achieving the plan and establishing solutions before hand.
• Expect the unexpected, Identify risks, and plan for contingencies. This allows you to work on a damage control system before hand and make quick and effective response when crises arises. For example, what to do when your energy or motivation is low or who to consult when you are confused about a possible setback.
Finally, take all of that and focus on this:Systems of implementation.
• Make a commitment to the plan and the process and don't get overwhelmed by the goal. Don't miss your scheduled workout sessions and if you anticipate having to miss for whatever reason, make a plan to make up for it within the same week if possible or add an extra day the following week.
• Accept that you're in this for the long run and forget about immediate gratification. Focus on what you need to accomplish with each session, don't try to out do the plan and feel good about the work you just put in. Most people hurt themselves because they do too much too soon. It is true that patience is a virtue in this case.
• know the main purpose of each session. If you find yourself pressed for time or something unexpected happens last minute, do the most important work that was planned for that day and get to the rest later. Every little bit counts.
• Review your work periodically and make the adjustments necessary to stay on track. Make Sure to have a clear understanding of the program you are following and how to detect what needs to be modified or prioritized. Nothing is set in stone and we need to be flexible and capable of making the right changes to the plan as we go. A good coach and/or a solid education on how to do this is imperative for long term success.
Focus on the process not the outcome. With this approach you will enjoy your journey. Each new accomplishment or milestone reached will be rewarding and encouraging to continue. Likewise, each set back and obstacle will be met with the acceptance needed to not be discouraged, giving you instead more power to find solutions, over come it and move forward. Remember that working out is meant to enhance your life and should not dictate your life or be a source of stress in your life.
Always Strong!
JC