“Targets!! ooh dear god no, I shan’t bother setting myself a target, I can’t stick to them. It always leads to failure and that’s so demoralising.”

I had said this to myself before on many occasions, but I think the problem was not that I couldn’t stick to a target but that I failed to set one. I would internally say things like “It would be nice if I could lose weight” with no defined goal, or “I think I should try to run more” again without making a plan. All very wishy-washy.

When I decide to do, usually a snap decision to just do it, and a quick decision on how, then it works for me.

Because, yes I’ve proved that first statement wrong. I can stick to a challenge and meet targets. I’ve just finished seven weeks of running and completing my step count every day, Yes every day.

I’m feeling quite proud of myself if you hadn’t noticed.

Once I had decided to challenge myself I began immediately. I didn’t hang about waiting to start at the beginning of a month or even start on a Monday, which is annoying now as my weeks completed go from Wednesday to Tuesday, not the same as the run tracking app I use.

I completed my first day and that evening I drew out a chart in my note-book. The expanse of empty columns was daunting at first, but just look at it now. I get a little thrill each time I fill in a day. It feels like a reward and I have an enormous sense of pride when I look at all those coloured boxes.

Yes I’ve got the biggest grin on my face. So, targets can work for me, but only if I actually set them.

“Do or do not, there is no try.” Yoda.

Once I’ve hit eight weeks I may treat myself to a gold star.
Shelley.