Family Fitness Goals
Why:
If you want to accomplish something, that’s a goal you have. If you want to graduate from college, that’s your goal and you take college courses to accomplish it. The same goes for having a healthy, fit family. Setting goals enables us to get where we want in life. Plus, it can be fun!
What:
It’s important to set goals that are both achievable and measurable.
First, the hard part: is this goal achievable? If your personal goal is to exercise each morning and your family’s goal is to take a morning walk together, look at your schedule to make sure you have time for this. If not, could you get up earlier? Complete your personal exercise time at lunch? If your family decides to run a marathon together, take into goalsconsideration the ages of your children and whether or not you plan to have more children. Check out some marathons online: do you want a local run? Will this be a family vacation? How much time do we have to train? Take the health of your family into account: Does any family member need a physical first?
Breaking your goal down into smaller goals will give you a chance to have the excitement and “rush” of meeting your goal, which will in turn encourage you to set and meet more . Breaking it down will also make it easier to measure. You need to set goals that you will be able to measure. Let’s look back at our marathon example. If your family decides to run a marathon together, that’s an amazing goal! After you’ve picked which marathon, browse online or through magazines at a local bookstore. Visit REI or a local running shoes store for suggestions and put together a plan. Each time you increase mileage, celebrate by choosing new songs for your IPods, going out for smoothies or updating a family blog with a new photo.
Be specific and measurable! Instead of “spend time together as a family at the park”, think “play tag at the park three times each week for the next month”. Have a prize for your family; perhaps a trip to the store for new running shoes for everyone or a new family football (then make your next month’s goal playing football at the park four times each week!).
How:
Remember the “it can be fun” remark? Here are some suggestions for fun family goal-planning sessions:
• Set up a surprise “Go For It!” family meeting.
• Decorate your table with brightly colored and festive décor (yellow tablecloth, blue plates, etc)
• Provide a snack (muffins; fruit tray; whole wheat oatmeal cookies).
• Plan a fun “ice-breaker” game (see our blog for suggestions).
• Write down everyone’s suggestions, no matter what. You can edit later.
• Come to a general conclusion. If you need to have a special parents-meeting later let your kids know that you will have a goals worksheet posted on the fridge in the morning- and make sure you actually do! Even better, have the worksheet printed out and ready to fill in right then.
• Celebrate in advance! Toast with sparkling cider. Give everyone a big glittery sticker. Let your kids know that you have lots of fun ideas to celebrate as you meet your goals.
When:
When does your family naturally congregate? If you pull warm cookies out of the oven, is your kitchen suddenly overflowing with “helpers”? Perhaps you usually have a big Sunday breakfast or dinner and you could lead into the goals discussion afterward. Or make special invitations and invite your family to a special event; you could call it the “Go For It!” party or just a Surprise From Mom.
Where:
Try this adorable goal chart! Project Girl made this and it's a great visual tool to help you and your family set realistic, achievable and measurable goals.
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