Today, I just want to briefly expand on something related to my posts on goal setting and my post on activity trackers and goal setting. That is, some day you're not going to reach your goal, for whatever reason. On these days, based on how you view it, it can actually be a hindrance to your motivation, or help to feed it; it's all about how you look at it. I'm here to teach you how to use it to your advantage.
"failure" is Inevitable
So, we have our 10,000 step goal with our activity tracker. We've been doing a great job, and have hit it every day for the past two weeks. We're on a roll, and feeling good about ourselves. For one reason or another, we miss our goal for a day. This can be any reason-- work, family commitments, illness, or a simple rest day.
Any athlete or exerciser should know the importance of rest days. We can't go 100% every day without giving our bodies a chance to recover. If we're pushing ourselves, we need to give our bodies a chance to catch up. Failure to allow our bodies to recover can lead to injury, loss of motivation, and burnout. It's how we handle these off days, mentally, that determines if they help or hinder motivation.
So, we decide our body needs a break from all of the stress we're putting it through, and take a day off. We end up only getting 5,000 steps, since we didn't run today. Our activity tracker tells us our streak is over. We have failed. All of our hard work is gone. But, in reality, this is not a failure. It's an inevitability, and in the case of rest days, an important, intentional one.
Any athlete or exerciser should know the importance of rest days. We can't go 100% every day without giving our bodies a chance to recover. If we're pushing ourselves, we need to give our bodies a chance to catch up. Failure to allow our bodies to recover can lead to injury, loss of motivation, and burnout. It's how we handle these off days, mentally, that determines if they help or hinder motivation.
So, we decide our body needs a break from all of the stress we're putting it through, and take a day off. We end up only getting 5,000 steps, since we didn't run today. Our activity tracker tells us our streak is over. We have failed. All of our hard work is gone. But, in reality, this is not a failure. It's an inevitability, and in the case of rest days, an important, intentional one.
Goals, Rest Days, and "Failure"
Often, with people who fail to reach their goals, it can be a real drain to motivation. If you were focusing on your streak as a primary form of motivation, losing that streak means you lose all of that momentum you built up. You think to yourself, "Well, it took me two weeks to get there, and I failed. No way I'm going to start all over just to get back to where I was before." Don't let a day off take all of your motivation with it. Instead, use it to feed your motivation for tomorrow. It's not a failure, but rather, part of your journey.
What to do Instead
Instead of focusing on your streak, or missing a day in the gym, try something else. Focus on how your body feels. The next day you go to the gym, or for a run, notice how fresh you are. How your muscles feel. Pay attention to the energy you're able to expend. How hard you're able to push yourself. Focus on how your day off made you feel, and how much your body appreciates it.
Failing to reach your goal is inevitable-- no one can get there 100% of the time. But rather than viewing it as a setback, view it as an opportunity. An opportunity to recover; an opportunity to get energy back to go extra hard tomorrow. Who cares if you lost your two-week streak of 10,000 steps every day? You did something important, and don't let your tracker tell you otherwise. Focus on each day at a time, and don't get stuck on your "streak."
Failing to reach your goal is inevitable-- no one can get there 100% of the time. But rather than viewing it as a setback, view it as an opportunity. An opportunity to recover; an opportunity to get energy back to go extra hard tomorrow. Who cares if you lost your two-week streak of 10,000 steps every day? You did something important, and don't let your tracker tell you otherwise. Focus on each day at a time, and don't get stuck on your "streak."
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