5 common mistakes when setting New Years fitness goals

It's time for setting some New Year fitness goals. Why do so many of us fail to achieve our fitness resolutions? Here are five things to avoid (and my successful alternatives!):

Avoid: unrealistic resolutions
Instead: make your fitness goals challenging but achievable
The quickest way to failure is to set an impressive fitness goal which is outside the realms of possibility. Don't get me wrong, I'm all for dreaming big and challenging yourself. I encourage clients to set goals which scare them a little. But know how to recognise a goal which is beyond you (at least for now). It's far more satisfying to challenge yourself with something you know you can achieve than to be disappointed.

Avoid: poor goal-setting strategies
Instead: use tried-and-tested tools proven to work
Vague goals won't cut it in sport and fitness. Make sure your resolutions are specific and achievable, with a start and finish point. How will you measure progress? Which race, which distance, which year, in what time? How will you know when you've achieved the goal? Do you want a podium finish, or simply to finish the race? Make your goal as specific as you can and you're more likely to achieve it.

Avoid: bad time management
Instead: make smart use of your time to maximise efficiency
Multi-sport and endurance athletes need to pack a lot into their time: training, nutrition, recovery, soft tissue work and rest. It's imperative that you make clever use of your time if you are to succeed in pursuing and achieving your fitness goal. Plan your training, your nutrition and your season. Schedule time for training, and stick to it. Plan your meals and prepare your food. Identify areas of the day or week where you waste valuable time and come up with ways to avoid or minimise it.

Avoid: keeping it to yourself
Instead: tell people (online and offline) about your plans
It's been proven that the likelihood of achieving your plan grows in relation to the amount of people you tell. So let plenty of people know about your specific goal thisyear. Use Facebook, Twitter or a blog to keep people updated. Tell friends and family. You'll feel less able to side-step training plans if people know about them, and you'll be keen to give your audience regular progress updates.

Avoid: skimping on accountability
Instead: check in regularly with an accountability tool that motivates you
Accountability is key to achieving goals. A coach is probably the best accountability tool you could have, but there are plenty of others to try. You could journal, blog orwrite updates on a forum. Check in with a training partner regularly to give them specific feedback. Use a mobile app or online tracker for mileage, weight-loss or other habits and goals. Whatever you choose, make sure you commit to it fully, use it frequently (daily check-ins are best) and stay accountable through good times and bad ones too!

Here's to a successful 2015! Feel free to share your goals with me: I'll help keep you accountable!