A New Year Means New Goals: 3 Ways Achieve Them
By Sadie Jones, Swimming World Intern
Going into a new year always comes with new goals, but 2021 is going to be very different. Leaving 2020 in the past is something most people are very excited to do, but how do we look forward to what is coming next and make attainable goals for ourselves?
Planning Your Goals
The first step is brainstorming what you want to accomplish in the next year. This can include qualifying for specific meets, going a certain time, or even doing something small in practice that will make a big impact in your swimming overall. Relating your goals toward a particular meet or time is especially hard now because of the uncertainty of if and when meets are going to happen. It is important to realize that things might get canceled, but you can still work toward those goals.
If you have meets that you are looking forward to or a season you are excited for, look at the calendar and plan out when these things are happening. This will help you get an idea of how much time you have to prepare, putting everything down on a calendar can help you gain a new perspective.
How Can You Achieve These Goals – At Practice and Outside of the Pool?
Whether you have a very specific goal in mind or not, there is always something you can improve on in your swimming. Even if this is something like better breakouts off the walls or improving breath control, constantly thinking about these small aspects of your swimming can help make a difference in the long run.
Your goals should be something you always are thinking about, not just when you are in the pool. Continuing to work on your strength by doing dryland can help you physically attain your goals and listening to motivational speakers or reading about how professional swimmers got to where they are now can help mentally prepare you.
One way to maintain focus and keep these goals in mind is to journal. This can help you evaluate your practices and keep a log of what is improving and how you are feeling. Another thing you can do is use the support of the people in your life to help you strive toward your goals.
How Can the People Around You Help?
The first person to talk to about your goal should always be your coach. Coaches love hearing your new goals and how you plan to achieve them. Sitting down with them or even having a quick conversation after practice to figure out how they can help you with your goals can go a long way. Another benefit to keeping open communication with your coaches is they are always going to be there to remind you of what you want to achieve even when you get down on yourself and forget what you want to accomplish.
Telling your teammates and friends your goals can be another great way to find motivation to achieve them. Once again, that can be another person to remind you of what you want to get done and you can even motivate them to push for something they have been wanting to accomplish as well. Creating trust and openness with your teammates is vital to continuing to enjoy the sport of swimming.
Setting and going through with new goals is essential to improving in swimming. Take the new year as an opportunity to evaluate areas you can improve on and what you want to accomplish.
All commentaries are the opinion of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Swimming World Magazine nor its staff.