WHAT TO DO IF YOU DON’T ACHIEVE YOUR GOAL
Goal setting is essential for many areas of life and will help you stay disciplined and feel rewarded if accomplished. Whether it's a fitness milestone, career advancement, personal growth, or even a creative pursuit, the anticipation of achieving something meaningful drives us forward. But what happens when things don’t go as planned? When you don’t achieve your goal, it’s easy to feel disheartened or even question your abilities. The key, however, is to use the experience as feedback, rather than see it as failure. With the power of reflection and intention you can move forward and reestablish your goal.
1. Acknowledge Your Feelings
It’s okay to feel disappointed and it’s important to allow yourself to process the emotions that come with falling short of your goal. Avoid suppressing these feelings or pretending they don’t exist. Take some time to reflect: What emotions are you experiencing? How are they affecting your mindset?
2. Revisit and Reflect
Take a step back and re-evaluate your goal itself. Sometimes our goals are not specific enough, or we aim to accomplish something in an unrealistic amount of time. Ask yourself:
Was the goal realistic?
Was it specific and measurable?
Did you set a reasonable timeline for achieving it?
3. Analyze What Went Wrong
Look at the journey objectively and identify what prevented you from achieving your goal. What is the reason(s) for not accomplishing your goal? Consider factors like:
Did you have a solid plan?
Were you consistent in your efforts?
Were there obstacles outside your control?
What parts of your goal DID you accomplish? It’s important to acknowledge wins as well, even if you can’t completely check your goal off your list.
4. Adjust Your Plan
Based on your reflection, redefine your goal and make adjustments to your approach. A fresh plan with realistic steps can reignite your motivation and set you back on the path toward success. For example:
If you did not feel motivated, can you redefine your WHY?
If you lacked time, how can you better manage your schedule and define the time you need to accomplish the goal?
If you didn’t have the right knowledge, what resources do you need to gain that knowledge?
If you did not have the right support, how can you surround yourself in the right environment/with the right people?
If your strategy wasn’t effective, what changes can you implement?
5. Revise Your Goal into a New Goal
Now that you’ve learned from the experience, it’s time to set a new goal—or adjust the original one. Make it specific, measurable, actionable, and aligned with your current reality. Break it into smaller, manageable milestones to maintain focus and experience small wins.
Examples:
Instead of “I want to get stronger,” a better goal might be, “I want to increase my squat by 10 pounds in 8 weeks.”
Instead of, “I want to eat better”, a better goal might be, “I want to include 2 vegetables in my lunch and in my dinner at least 5 out of 7 days each week.”
Instead of, “I need to spend less time on my phone”, a better goal might be, “I will stop using my phone after [insert time of day], by leaving it in a different room during the weekdays.”
Final Thoughts
Not achieving your goal is just a detour. Remember that what some see as “failure” is actually just feedback. By reflecting, learning, and adjusting your goal and your course of action, you’ll find yourself better equipped to achieve not only this goal but also others in the future.
Don’t give up! And remember, reaching a goal can be easier with support. Sign up to train with one of our incredible personal trainers today, so you don’t have to go about it alone!