Week 4: Setting Goals and Hacking Doubt

Week 4 of Whole30 here we go! By now, you’re past the worst of cravings, headaches, and fatigue. You’re probably feeling better than ever, and you’ve got this Whole30 thing down. Healthy habits have been made, and you’re well on your way to a happier, healthier version of yourself. But has a flash of worry ever crossed your mind when you consider what might happen after your Whole30 is over? When the rules are no longer your lifeline, what happens to your new healthy habits?

That’s what this week is about. I’m going to be helping you fill in the gap between your Whole30 life and your real life. The Whole30 is about the journey, not the destination. It’s about the little choices and experiences that you making along the way. Whole30 isn’t about getting somewhere, or to some perfect diet. It’s about how the choices and experiences you make along the way improve your life view and experience. 

It’s time to take what you’re learning during this experience and convert those principles into goals and real-life applications. You can finish the Whole30, and you can hold onto your happier, healthier self. You never have to look back. I’m going to introduce you to my favorite method for setting smart, achievable goals, and we’re going to talk a little bit about my favorite life-hacks for overcoming doubts and fears as you look to the future with anticipation and excitement. Let’s get started!

We’ve all done it. We found something we wanted to achieve, set a lofty, unrealistic goal, and inevitably failed because it was just too much. We’re only human after all. I have a template for setting SMART goals that will help you avoid this, and make the path between your dreams for the future and where you stand at present clear. 

A well-defined goal that is clear and focused keeps your mind set on what really matters. If your ideas are still pretty broad and non-specific, have a seat and spend some time really honing those goals in. Your goal should show you the way, not make you more confused. 

If you set a goal to “be healthy,” there’s no way of knowing when you’ve actually achieved that. Choose dates, times, and quantities to make your goals a reality. Quantify what it means to “be healthy” on a piece of paper. Plus, when your goal is measurable, you will be able to feel an acute sense of success upon passing the milestones you’ve set.

Don’t set yourself up for failure before you’ve even begun! You’re not going to become a personal trainer, body-builder, Instagram fitness model in just six weeks. Over the next six months, however, you can totally implement a healthy habit of going to the gym 4 times weekly. Set goals you can actually achieve. 

In the process of setting up goals for your new life, have you ever stopped to think about whether or not those goals are something that you actually want to be doing? If you hate competition, why are you signing up for the 100-mile cycling race next fall? Don’t let anybody’s expectations of you dictate your goals. You know what’s best for you!

Don’t just keep saying tomorrow, put a date on it and take the steps to get there! Your goals should have a deadline. That will give you the little extra push you need to dive in. 

Setting SMART goals is the template you need to keep you focused and on track. And, to keep all your manageable, totally achievable goals pointed toward a common achievement, I’ve got a few bonus tricks for servicing those new goals and keeping you motivated.

It doesn’t matter how silly it is!  If there are a few words you say to yourself every day to keep you motivated, excited, and focused, use them! It can be the lyrics to a favorite song, a favorite quote, or even advice from a friend! Listen to a song that puts you in a good mood for inspiration, search for the best motivational quotes on Pinterest, or ask a trusted friend for some pointers. Once you’ve got your mantra, don’t be afraid to put it to good use. Say it out loud to yourself, make it your phone background, and post it on your bathroom mirror! 

You already know my team and I are here to support you, but you are the only person who can truly keep you accountable to your goals. Checking-in with yourself is one efficient way to stay on track. Once a month (adjust this to fit the timeline of your goals) sit down with your goals and a piece of paper. Record where you started, your quantifiable progress from that point, and how far you still have to go. Re-evaluate and re-commit to your goals as needed from there. 

You’ve heard the old adage: Rome wasn’t built it a day. Neither were you. Good things take some serious time, and you are the best. Commit to yourself, and be kind to yourself. Every day puts you one step closer to who you want to be, and every hard day is a happier future. Now go and get week 4 of Whole30! You’ve got this.