So, it's 2020 and for some reason 2019 feels like it has flown by quicker than any other year has before! I am wishing all my followers and readers all the best in 2020. In tradition of the new year everyone is setting their new year’s resolutions, but the question to ask yourself is do you remember the ones you set last year and did you stick to them?! Chances are no. and we can all probably hold our hands up to this and its fine. We can't control everything, things happen, things change and sometimes we can't meet our goals, but that is no reason to not set them this year.
So, I am going to share some tips to help you set those 2019 goals!
Be Realistic - but be inspiring
I am all for having big dreams, but I am also a realist. As much as I would love to be rolling round Badminton or even riding in any International 1* event it is highly unlikely that it would happen any time soon. Of course, that would be my overall dream and a 2020 goal is a goal for the year, so, what goal could you set yourself for this year in order to take a step towards that overall dream. Make a goal that will inspire you to get out of bed in the morning.
Accept the Challenge
On the other hand, a goal should be in your happy - exciting area of pushing you out of your comfort zone so that it is enough to improve you but not too far out that you could possibly lose your confidence.
Set Goals in positive terms
Be positive about how you think about your goals, for example, I WILL complete the one-day event in March, rather than, I won’t be ELIMINATED from the one-day event.
Be detailed
You may have heard of the term SMART - Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time bound. you want to know exactly what you need to do to achieve the goal you have set and by when. For example - I would like to ride 2 double clears in the British Novice by the end of March.
Write it down
A study has shown that a person is 42% more likely to achieve their goals if they are written down. It is to do with using the whole of your brain, by just thinking about your goal you are only using the right hemisphere of your brain, however by writing it down you then engage the left hemisphere. By writing them down it also helps you create more of a plan to reach your goals.
Anyone who knows me will know I am greatly inspired by Charlie Unwin - Performance Coach.
Charlie talks about the Outcome, performance, process breakdown of goal setting, which would be for example.
Outcome - Come 1st in a British Novice
Performance - Go double clear in a BN class
process - ride more accurate turns in my show jumping rounds, take my time and don't rush into the fences, jump train at home 2 times a week working on technique.
Process goals give you something you can work on continuously to get you closer to your outcome goal, it also means you can track your progress as process goals give you a plan that will help you achieve, they overall outcome.
Fundamentals have to be practiced daily
This is a saying of Tony Robbins, another life coach who I listen to frequently.
Repetition is the mother of skill, this links to the goal above, having process goals means you can continuously work towards them means you will become a master of that skill. Becoming a master of that skill will get you closer to becoming a master of the skill of your goal.
It doesn't always go to plan and that's ok!
I think this is the most important one. if you don't quite hit your goal, that's ok, these things happen. One of the biggest ways we learn is by making mistakes and by things not going to plan.
YOU are the one that set your goals, which means YOU are the one in charge of them, and if they need tweaking then you can do just that! With social media being so big we always see people hitting their goals and it makes other feel like they are living the perfect life, but social media doesn't show the whole story. Everyone will have goals they have struggle to hit, we are human, and we deal with half a tonne animal with their own brain! it’s bound to happen!
One thing I know is that equestrians are the best at bouncing back up better than ever!
Happy Goal Planning!!!