Really need some motivation and inspiration from this list of 25 health and fitness target ideas that will change your body and mind! This article can help you if you always set goals but never follow through.
We have something in common if you're someone who always makes plans but never follows through, if you're always putting off the things you really want to do.
HOW IT ALL BEGAN FOR ME
2016 was the first year I realized that people set goals and don't just sit around waiting for things to happen. I know.
Have since, I've read numerous articles, listened to audiobooks, podcasts, and watched a plethora of YouTube videos and TED talks on goal setting. After that, I watched some more. And did nothing to further my own objectives.
I then created vision boards, planners, and never-ending to-do lists, as well as lists with dreams, goals, and detailed plans. After staring at them for three months, I ripped them apart.
My organisation abilities were those of a toddler. To-do lists were flying everywhere. Almost identical items on each and every one of them. I had ten different planners that I was filling out with the same things I thought I needed to do.
But really the good news is that even this shambles, me, accomplished the majority of her objectives. Maybe not as quickly as she could have, but she did it. And she's still at it; it's not easy, but it's doable. When I speak in the third person, I feel so self-important.
HOW TO BEGIN ACHIEVING YOUR OBJECTIVES
I've noticed something on my journey over the last four years.
The difference between goals I achieved and goals I did not achieve was whether or not they were actionable.
I used to set goals such as:
I'll either have __ or I'll be .
I tried to make them SMART, but it didn't work. The goal was always to own something I didn't have or to be someone other than who I was. As if I wasn't grateful and eager to improve my situation.
Another thing was that after being inspired for a few minutes, those goals made me feel powerless. I have no control over how much weight I lose or gain in a month. I'd be frustrated and stressed if I didn't see any progress.
And that is an entirely incorrect approach to achieving a goal. Because what is the most effective way to change anything?
It is to face the truth and begin with what you already have and what you are capable of doing.
That's all. You must empower yourself. Use what you have because that is all you have. The rich lady you aspire to be will not lift you out of the mud. She's far too wealthy for that. And she's not even here yet. But do you know who can make a difference? You.
HOW TO SET ATTAINABLE GOALS
When the goal is an action you can take right now, it's a different story. You can begin doing something right now. It is not impossible or overwhelming. All you have to do is act.
As an example, suppose I say:
I plan to lose ten pounds by the end of the month.
I actually gained weight for some strange rebellious reason.
However, when I say:
I'll do two weeks of intermittent fasting because I wake up feeling lighter.
I do something. I say what I want to do and give myself a compelling reason for doing so. I can take a specific action. Instead of feeling helpless, I feel empowered and motivated to be disciplined and take action.
What was the outcome? So, maybe I'll lose some weight. Because weight loss is not an action. It's a result of living a healthy lifestyle.
HOW TO ACHIEVE PROGRESS
You imagine yourself doing the action over and over, and then you do it. And begin to enjoy and value how it makes you feel. This action is then incorporated into your daily routine.
It's difficult at first, but it gets easier and easier until it becomes second nature. Then you say you'd like to add something to this.
For example, say you want to have a green smoothie every day after a week of intermittent fasting. So you imagine yourself making green smoothies, begin collecting recipes, and begin your mornings with a green smoothie.
SET GOALS ABOUT WHAT YOU WANT TO DO, NOT HAVE OR BE.
It's all about discovery. In terms of approaching things with curiosity. Trying new things more frequently. You're surprising yourself. What will happen if I continue doing this for a week?
A healthy lifestyle isn't boring; it's just a different kind of exciting.
Consider “I want to do this” rather than “I have to do this” or “I want to have”, “I will be…”
JUST ONE ASK YOU SHOULD ASK YOURSELF
What are you not doing that you should be doing to improve your life and health?
That shouldn't be too difficult to accomplish. Determine your biggest challenges and stressors, and then set your goals from there. Let's use myself as an example.
My main issues are as follows:
- eating too late (as if I'd eat right before going to bed)
- sitting for long periods of time and spending far too much time indoors
So here are the goals I want to achieve and improve on this month:
- At 5 p.m., the last meal is served. I enjoy the lightness I feel when I don't eat late at night, and it will also help me sleep better, allowing me to wake up refreshed.
- Hike at least twice a week. To get my body moving, relax, and reconnect with nature.
- Get into a healthy evening routine: some stretches, possibly bedtime yoga, some reading, a shower, and candles 30 minutes before bed. There is no phone/computer.
I'll tackle the most difficult issues one at a time. In the past, I attempted to do everything at once, but it did not work.
25 GOALS TO CHANGE YOUR BODY AND MIND
Here are some ideas for health and fitness goals that you can set to transform your body, mind, and life.
1. GET UP EARLY
Get up early so you can take care of yourself before taking care of everyone else. Don't overlook this. I know everyone is talking about it, and it's becoming tiresome and irritating, but it works. It is effective.
Last week, I set a goal of waking up at 5:30 a.m. every day for five days, and I accomplished so much for myself and my work. It made me feel so fulfilled and productive. If I had to describe it, I would say I felt like a winner.
2. EXPERIMENT WITH NEW RECIPES
Start cooking more frequently and try three new healthy recipes that look delicious each week. Recipes can be found in cookbooks, magazines, on Pinterest, or by googling.
Sun Basket is another option if you want to save time by avoiding grocery shopping and recipe searching. It is a meal kit delivery service that can assist you in maintaining a healthy diet.
When you sign up, you basically get a variety of healthy recipes as well as all of the ingredients you need delivered to your door. Everything is organic, and the meals are ready in 30 minutes. If you want to give it a shot, you can save $35 off all meal plans by clicking here.
3. HIKE
Hike twice this week. This will not only help you get 10,000 steps in and burn calories, but it will also improve your mental health and clarity. Have a good time with someone else!
4. ADD MORE CREATIVITY AND FUN TO YOUR LIFE
Every week, try to have fun while learning something new and interesting. Although it may not appear obvious, improving yourself is one of the best health goals you can have because it will make you happy in the long run.
And happiness equals health.
You can attend local classes or try online classes, whichever works best for your schedule and is more convenient.
On that note, I recently came across MasterClass. It's a place where you can find online classes in any creative field you've ever wanted to try, and the best part is that they're taught by people you already like and respect.
Here are some examples of what I mean:
- Martin Scorsese teaches a filmmaking class.
- Christina Aguilera teaches singing lessons.
- Helen Mirren is an acting teacher.
- Malcolm Gladwell is a writing instructor.
I mean…
It appears unreal, but it is real. And, while I can't possibly mention everything, it makes me so excited to learn ALL of these things and develop the skills I've always desired.
5. PLEASE, MORE VEGETABLES!
Vegetables should account for half of your plate. Even if the other half is a slice of pizza, you've done your body good.
Don't punish yourself for eating pizza; instead, focus on eating vegetables. To be your best physically and mentally, you need 8-9 servings per day.
6. DO YOGA
When you practice yoga, you are not only moving your body but also relaxing your mind. It's quite magical. Again, you can attend a class at your gym or, if you don't have access to a gym, search for yoga classes online.
Many videos can be found on YouTube, but if you want more resources and something more structured, I recommend MyYogaWorks. They have over 1,200 yoga and meditation classes for all levels – beginners, intermediate, and advanced – on their platform. You can learn more about them and sign up for a 14-day free trial here.
Even after attending a few classes, I still didn't believe in yoga and thought it was only for lazy people (sorry). It wasn't until I started doing it almost every day at home that I realized how good it made me feel after class. So, whenever you have 10-20 minutes, I highly recommend doing yoga.
7. CHANGE YOUR POSTURE
A good posture can improve your mood, confidence, and health. However, most of us have developed hunches these days.
Hunchback is a bad posture. It doesn't look good, and it doesn't make you feel good. Improve your posture by performing appropriate exercises and stretches. Here is a small collection of workout videos that can help you improve your posture.
8. BOOKS
Every evening, spend 20 minutes reading. I'm not sure about you, but reading a book is the quickest way for me to fall asleep. Of course, it's also a great way to learn new things.
So read some more books. It only takes 20 minutes every night to help you relax and grow as a person.
9. BREAKFAST
Eat something other than coffee for breakfast. A healthy breakfast will nourish your body, allowing you to stay strong and healthy.
Here are 5 quick and easy healthy breakfast ideas that can be made in 5 minutes or less.
10. BEWARE OF THE GLYCEMIC LOAD
Reduce your grain and carbohydrate consumption by half and replace it with more nuts and seeds.
This will assist you in lowering your overall glycemic load, which is important not only for weight loss and diabetes management, but also for reducing chronic inflammation in the body.
11. TAKE A WALK EVERY DAY
Every day, for 30 minutes. This, like hiking, will help you burn calories while also giving your mind a rest.
12. EAT LESS CARB IN THE AFTERNOON
Eat carbs until lunch, then experiment with lower carb recipes. You don't have to avoid carbs entirely, but you should be mindful of them because they can add up.
This is yet another simple way to reduce your diet's overall glycemic load, allowing you to lose weight and reduce inflammation.
13. PREPARE OVERNIGHT OATS
Overnight oats are a tasty and healthy breakfast that you can prepare in the evening before going to bed. Discover how to make the best overnight oatmeal.
14. BUT FIRST, WATER.
If you're not sure whether you're hungry or not, drink some water first. It can help you lose weight and improve your gut health.
15. EXERCISE THIS
I will___ when I want . (for example for me: When I want coffee, I will drink water;)
16. BE ACTIVE FIRST THING IN THE MORNING
Exercise first thing in the morning! This will wake you up, increase your alertness, and energize you. You'll feel accomplished for the rest of the day if you spend 30 minutes in the morning.
17. DRINK GREEN SMOOTHIES
Drink a green smoothie every day and experiment with different ingredients you enjoy.
18. ADD MORE MOVEMENT
Maintain a high level of activity throughout the day. Walk to work and back, and whenever you forget something in another room, go get it; don't let things pile up; instead, tidy up for 10 minutes. Doing small things throughout the day is the most effective way to maintain a healthy weight. This is especially important if you work a sedentary job.
19. EAT MORE PLANT FOODS
Eat plant-based three days a week. You are not required to become vegan, but doing so will help you reduce your overall consumption of animal products. It is better for both your health and the environment.
20. EAT WHATEVER YOU WANT
Eat three healthy meals per day that you enjoy. You won't mindlessly snack on whatever is in front of you this way.
21. AT THE GYM, TRY NEW THINGS
Try something new at the gym, such as a new class. Explore different options and see what makes you feel the best. It could be Zumba, boxing, karate, or lifting weights.
22. MEET NEW PEOPLE
Talk to one unknown person and see what happens. I don't regret it 98 percent of the time, and it's well worth it.
23. IMPROVING YOUR DAILY ENVIRONMENT
Look for simple ways to improve your daily environment. Purchase candles, flowers, and relaxing music, and declutter and organize your home or desk.
24. REFLECT
Actually, write for 10 minutes every night to reflect and relax. This is critical for your mental health because it relieves stress and anxiety.
25. ROUTINE FOR THE EVENING
Make a healthy evening routine that allows you to sleep at 10 p.m. No phones or television for at least 30 minutes before going to bed.
