Make 2025 Count with SMART Goals
Set, Strive and Succeed
As 2024 comes to an end, we encourage you to evaluate your health and fitness goals over the past year. Looking back, did you achieve any or all of your goals this year? Are you aiming to set new goals in 2025? Or perhaps revisit previous goals?
In different seasons of life, we may experience unforeseen challenges and hardships that hinder us from reaching our goals. If you didn’t complete your 2024 goals, don’t feel discouraged or alone. Instead, let 2025 be another opportunity to progress toward one of your goals.
If you triumphed over your yearly health and fitness goals and are wondering what’s next? Let us help you get started on making new goals in 2025.
The key to setting goals for yourself is to make them SMART.
You may be familiar with this methodology known as S.M.A.R.T, which stands for Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-Bound. This framework can be used to help set goals and objectives.
First, choose one single goal you would like to accomplish in 2025. It can be anything that pertains to your fitness journey.
No matter what that goal is you want to make it Specific. In other words, make the subject of your goal clear. For example, your goal may be focused on improving your strength training, flexibility, speed, or endurance.
Next, you want to make it Measurable. How will you determine whether you’ve completed your goal? You need criteria and quantifiable data that can serve as a benchmark. For example, a set number of reps, a set weight amount, a percentage increase, or measurable distance.
Thirdly, any goal you set should be Achievable. Do you have the skillset and resources to meet your goal? Any goal you choose should be reasonable and aligned with your fitness journey. It’s important to keep in mind that progress may take time, and you shouldn’t push yourself to the breaking point.
Additionally, any goal you set out to meet should be Relevant. How will this goal impact your life? Why does it matter? This is a very personal and critical question that only you can answer for yourself.
Lastly, you want to make the goal Time-Bound. What is the deadline? In order to measure your success, you want to specify a time frame for accomplishing this goal. For example, you might want one year, or months, or six months. You can also set several small objectives to accomplish that will aid you in reaching this end goal. For instance, if your goal is to run 10 miles by the end of the year, begin by aiming to run five miles within the first three months.
If you need any inspiration, we’ve provided a list of S.M.A.R.T fitness and health goals to help you get started:
Increase your deadlift, squat, or bench press by [number] pounds within [deadline]
Achieve a set [number] of pull-ups, push-ups, or squats within [deadline]
Practice mindful meditation for [time] every day for [deadline]
Join a group fitness class or complete a strength-training program within [deadline]
Start training for [5k, 10k, or half-marathon] within [deadline]
Cycle [number] miles within [deadline]
Eat [number of servings] fruit and vegetables for [days] over [deadline]
Swim [measurable distance] within [deadline]
Swim [measurable distance] in under [time] within [deadline]
Run [measurable distance] within [deadline]
Improve average speed on a [measurable distance] in under [time] within [deadline]
Exercise more frequently with a goal of [days] a week within [deadline]
Complete a daily step count (ex. 10,000 steps a day) within [deadline]
Improve your flexibility by being able to do [specific exercise] within [deadline]
Drink [quantity] water every day for [deadline]
Get [number] hours of sleep for [days] within [deadline]
The new year offers a renewed mindset and the chance to challenge yourself in and out of the gym. Any 2025 health or fitness goal you set out to achieve should be uniquely yours and personalized to your overall health, well-being, and fitness level.