Setting short term goals lets you celebrate your journey each step of the way. Each time you reach a goal....set another one. This will motivated you to push yourself a little more each time to ultimately reach your final goal successfully.
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By having small goals along the way you keep yourself motivated and inspired and that final goal doesn't seem that far away after all
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If my run isn't going so well I will change my route so I'm making more turns or direction changes. That way I'm not discouraged by distance. I run "just to the corner" then "just to what ever landmark" I see. Soon enough my run is done and I did the full time I set out to do.
I set short term goals for myself. That's the best thing I can do to stay on track. Having long term goals is important, but they aren't a great motivator when it's decision-making time. Short term goals are the 'carrot on a stick' that keeps me reaching for that next exciting milestone.
It is hard to focus on the short term benefits and goals sometimes (especially when many of us have a long way to go). Make a short term goal (less than one month) and reward yourself based on effort (not weight). Possible goals include daily exercise, logging etc. Then reward yourself: new dress, haircut, book, movie, flowers)...The key is to find a way to recognize & reward your efforts.
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