An outcome goal will focus on the end result, for example to lose 2 stone or to be a certain dress or trouser size. Just focussing on the outcome goals can be very daunting and overwhelming for most as it is normally such a big task. This will often feel like such an uphill task particularly when life gets in the way and it becomes easier to give up.
So I hear you ask “If I shouldn’t focus on outcome goals what should I be focussing on?”. Your focus instead should be on the process goals and developing the habits needed to achieve your outcome goals. You need to examine your daily habits and routines to ensure they support your outcome goals. If they don’t compliment each other then that outcome goal will only ever be a dream and will be the source of constant frustration to you.
For example, if your outcome goal is to lose 3 stone but your daily behaviours mean you never workout, enjoy multiple takeaways per week, consume a lot of liquid calories and move very little then you will never achieve it as your daily habits and behaviours don’t support your goal.
So what’s the difference between an outcome goal and a process goal?
Outcome goals
An outcome goal is the 'end result', such as losing 3 stone or dropping two dress or trouser sizes. Although there is nothing wrong with setting these big goals, you need to work backwards to understand what daily behaviour changes you must make to achieve them.
If your focus is purely on outcome goals and you forget about the processes needed to facilitate achieving your outcome goal then you are likely to develop the wrong mindset and find yourself saying things like “I won’t be happy until I have lost 3 stone”.
Rather than being able to celebrate every bit of progress you make and the small wins along the way, you focus on the fact that you are still not at your outcome goal. Potentially, this could make you feel low or cause you to quit.
Process goals
Process goals on the other hand are all about changing your daily, weekly and monthly habits and behaviours in order to reach that big outcome goal. A process goal is completely under your control meaning, once you have set it, you are able to easily measure and celebrate success.
Basically, you take responsibility for your daily actions. If you don’t do what you need to do daily, you know you won’t achieve that big outcome goal. This is because, in order to change your body you must change your behaviours. You are where you are right now because of you current behaviours, habits and routines.
So, if you wish to change your body you need to focus more on the processes needed on a daily, weekly and monthly basis to make that change you want.
One of the most important things about process goals is that they allow you to celebrate a lot of small wins along the way. This is a huge bonus because when you celebrate the changes you make you do so knowing that you are moving towards your goals.
Examples of process goal successes include:
“I trained 3 times per week for a month and never missed a session”
“I planned and prepared my food every Sunday for the week ahead”
“I drank 2 litres of water per day”
All of the above examples on their own may not seem like they would make a huge difference but when you piece all of them together, you improve your overall behaviour and your results will come.
“Success is the sum of small efforts - repeated day in, day out.”
Robert Collier
In conclusion
Focussing on the end result alone, without putting any processes in place to achieve that goal, would be like staring at a kettle and wishing for it to boil without ever flicking the ON switch.
Having that outcome goal may be a big driver and this is not saying you shouldn't set big outcome goals, however you must put plans in place to achieve them.
Below is an example of an outcome goal and its supporting process goals.
Outcome goal: To lose 2 stone in 6 months.
Initial process goals to help you achieve a 2 stone weight loss:
Go to the gym 3 times per week
Walk 10,000 steps per day
Track calories using MyFitnessPal.
Individually, each process goals will make a small difference but when combined and executed consistently will take you towards your outcome goal. Once your initial process goals and habits are just a normal part of your life then you move on to set more, allowing you to be making constant progress.
Do you need more support in setting and achieving your goals. If so, contact us today to find out more about our Personal Training memberships.
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