New Year Check-in

As we round out the first week in January, many will look back, many won't, some will scoff at the idea of goals or resolutions altogether, and some will analyze  how far they've come in the last week.

Are they on track?

Regardless of your thoughts on goals or even New Year resolutions, it is absolutely critical to have a plan and steps within that plan that will take you towards your goals. The argument is whether or not January 1 is the best time for these and thats a circular argument.

[hint: the real answer to "when is the best day to start?"

The answer is yesterday, or the day before yesterday, or last year].

The real key? Starting, and then following through. 

If you don't start, you absolutely will fail. I can put a 30 day guarantee on that.

Break big goals into small actions. Throw a 2.5-pound plate on each end of a bar every week and you've put over 250 pounds on your deadlift in a year.

I’m encouraging you to break your long-term goals into smaller tasks and omit the classic one-year resolution altogether. 

If you can’t even accomplish short-term tasks specific to your goal, then how can you resolve to get things done over the course of an entire year? 

It's not a pipe dream, you want a long term goal to be 6 months to maybe 1 year off. If you want to be a strength coach for a pro team, well you need to be a personal trainer, and a certified one at that, first. Becoming a locally recognized trainer might be a better goal here (for now).

Your short and moderate term goals can be related or unrelated to the long term ones. Attaining your PT cert might be one, or it could be unrelated.

Take small steps daily. Lets call them daily tasks that break down your short term goals into manageable pieces. This could include talking to other trainers about the industry, researching PT certs on line. 

If you don't start, you will fail.

For every resolutioner I know, who at least tried...I know 10 anti-resolutioners who didn't even start.

Patrick Ciera 

AFAA Certified personal trainer 

Chris Fit Personal Training 

ChrisFit.net