Buzz
I’ve always struggled to stay committed to a sport or activity unless there’s a compelling, even obsessive, reason behind it. I often call these reasons 'goals,' but occasionally I talk to someone who, while equally driven, doesn’t view their training as goal-focused. It made me realize that I’m not truly motivated by goals, but by curiosity instead.
In the traditional S.M.A.R.T. approach, goals are defined in specific terms. They are:
Specific
Measurable
Achievable
Relevant
Time-bound
A S.M.A.R.T. goal might look something like: 'I want to squat 225 pounds by my next powerlifting competition.' It’s clear, measurable, and has a set date.
However, training doesn’t always follow this pattern. You can aim for a goal that is 'achievable,' but the true test of whether it’s actually achievable is in the attempt. Maybe 210 is all you can hit given the time and program. Or perhaps you’re capable of 250, and should push your limits.
It took me some time to understand what I was truly doing. I wasn’t setting 'goals' at all. Instead, I was asking myself questions. For instance:
How much can I increase my squat before the meet?
How many months of training would it take to surpass my previous 5K record?
How long can I keep adding ten pounds to my deadlift each session?
What’s the maximum I can bench press today?
Can I manage two workouts every weekday without burning out?
How many miles can I run by the end of the month?
Each of these questions represents a goal with one element removed. Take away the time constraint, and see how long it takes to reach the measurable, specific target. Or don’t set a number at all, and just see what you can achieve by the deadline.
This means you're not creating a situation where it's simply about a clear-cut yes or no—whether you hit the target or not—but rather you're posing an open-ended question. There's no definitive right or wrong, no opportunity to fail, only a chance to discover something new about yourself.
