When people talk about their health goals, generally, they say things like:
I want to lose 20 pounds.
I want to be less stressed.
I want to run a sub 2-hour half marathon.
These are all examples of outcome-based goals—goals that focus on a desired outcome or result.
It’s fine to frame goals like this… in casual conversation.
But it’s not so great for actually improving or progressing toward that goal.
That’s because wanting an outcome isn’t enough. (Even if you really, really, REALLY want it.)
Why?
We (usually) can’t control outcomes.
You can have crystal clear vision of your goal—plus all the motivation in the world—but then:
You get slammed with work.
Your kid goes through a mental health crisis.
Your gym closes for, like, TWO YEARS. (Remember that?)
You develop problems sleeping.
Your knee decides it hates running.
And there goes your goal.
Staring at the ashes of your former goals can feel like a personal failure.
However, you might’ve had little to do with your goal not working out. It’s just that things beyond your control—work, other people, your biology—didn’t cooperate.
But if results are out of your hands… how are you supposed to improve at anything???
Meet: Behavior-based goals.
Behavior-based goals are centered on the ACTIONS you take, like eating slowly at every meal, practicing a daily meditation session, or doing some type of training or active recovery most days of the week.
Because you have MUCH more control over your behaviors, behavior-based goals are more effective—and more empowering.
Here are a few examples of turning outcome goals into behavior goals:
BEHAVIOR | |
Lower blood sugar | Take a 20-minute daily walk |
Sleep 8 hours a night | Create a calming bedtime routine and start it 30 minutes before bedtime |
Improve relationship with partner | Have a date night once a week |
How to set a behavior goal—TODAY.
Write down the outcome you want.
Then, write down some skills you think you’ll need to get that outcome. (For example, if you want to have a healthier relationship with social media, you’ll need to learn how to monitor your time on certain platforms.)
Next, write down a behavior you can do today that’ll help build those skills. (This can be really easy, like downloading an app tracker, or setting a self-imposed limit of time online.)
Do the behavior today, tomorrow, and so on. If you don’t follow through on a given day, it’s okay. Progress is almost never linear. Plus, each day is a clean slate.
Take care,
Coach Elle
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