Could this small mental shift be the secret to sticking with an exercise routine?

I love this simple reframe for more consistency

It’s not hard to understand why, when folks are hoping to get into a more consistent exercise routine, they often opt to set a goal like, “Take a walk every day” or “Lift weights three times a week.” After all, we’re told specificity is an important (the first!) tenet of SMART goals. Plus, recommended activity guidelines in mind like 150 minutes per week of aerobic activity loom large for many of us: Why not break that down into a more bite-sized, manageable amount each day or a few times a week?

Photo by Lacey Raper on Unsplash

While this kind of goal may work really well for some people, it can actually backfire for many others.

The best goal-setting advice I've ever heard

I’ve shared a lot of helpful behavior change tips this month from the expert Karin Nordin, PhD, whom I interviewed for my recent story for The New York Times, “5 Fitness Resolutions That Have Nothing to Do With Weight Loss” — but I’ve been saving this one for its own post because I think these consistency goals are so common, and feeling totally defeated when they don’t seem to work out is so dang relatable. And Dr. Nordin’s advice on this one is incredibly simple, yet super helpful.

So here’s the secret.