When chasing certain fitness goals, other than just working hard, one must also work smart. Chasing a goal can be a great source of motivation and a reason for a positive state of mind. But one must also strive to find the right balance between fitness and life to ensure that the goal itself doesn’t become all-consuming.

Here are some guidelines to keep your fitness goals achievable.

Set realistic goals: The first step is to set a clear fitness goal for yourself. And it must not be just any goal but a realistic one. That helps to set the right expectations and keeps one focused and modest. If your goal is a long-term one, then break it down into more achievable shorter-term targets and keep moving from one to the next. If you are a competitive athlete, it’s important not to get caught up in the what-ifs and what-mights and focus on each training session as a single goal or target. Take it one step at a time and you will be closer to your goal sooner than you think.

Seek professional guidance: To set your path right, one must look for proper guidance. Taking guidance from and getting trained under a qualified trainer/coach will help you progress the correct way. A coach not only makes your fitness programmes and routines but will also know how to deal with an athlete’s emotional and mental state. He or she will also be able to guide the athlete when dealing with injuries and overtraining issues.

Persevere: Perseverance and diligence always pay rich dividends. This is not just a saying but is true in every sense. Being dedicated and able to persevere are top qualities that a sportsman or a fitness enthusiast must have. It’s very important to trust the process and not look for entertainment in your fitness regimen. Have a rock-solid focus and stick to it till the end.

Be sincere: It is the key to your overall success and not just your fitness goal. Many people tend to slack off during their training programme by either taking their goals too lightly, or staying away from training for long periods of time. Then, when they are unable to achieve their targets, they go looking for excuses that have nothing to do with them. If you want something meaningful, or want to achieve a sport rank, or get to a certain body weight, work towards it. Be honest with yourself and try not to skip too many training sessions.

Don’t compare yourself with others: In today’s times of cut-throat competition, it’s even more important to focus on one’s own performance, rather than compare yourself with others. Comparisons can create unnecessary complexities, anxieties, and needless pressure. It’s very important to keep the mind clutter-free and diverted from who is doing what. Top athletes always focus on bettering themselves by competing against themselves and improving on their previous performances.

Find a balance: As our fitness activities can form a major and important part of our lives, it’s very important that we also involve ourselves with things other than fitness too. Things like spending time with family, friends, and loved ones should also be on the agenda to find that much-needed balance. A healthy balance between our fitness goals and personal lives helps to rejuvenate and refresh the mind, which, in turn, promotes recovery and wellness.

Dealing with failure: When in pursuit of a goal, there will always be chances of minor failures around the corner. The key here is to know how to deal with it. It’s very important to tell yourself that sometimes it’s all right to fail. Failure is that part of life which makes our successes look even better. 
Don’t start believing that every training session will be better than the previous one, or you will be hitting your personal best every day. Sometimes your body will support you, sometimes it won’t. There could be many reasons why it might not, such as lack of recovery, general exhaustion and injury. Have the larger goal in mind and do not let small setbacks bother you.

Samrat Sen is a Calcutta-based kettlebell expert and trainer. Send your queries to t2onSunday@abp.in