The Power of Setting Goals
Setting goals can be a powerful tool for teens as they are growing and thinking about their future. Setting a goal and working to achieve it gives us a sense of direction, as well as empowerment over obstacles in our paths. Teaching this to our youth allows them to begin building with the tools they need to approach life’s hurdles with structure, direction, and grit. To help our own young friends at MissionFit, we start by focusing on physical goals.
Setting Goals in the Gym
Physical goals work as a platform to learn how to set and achieve goals, and how to build a dedicated plan for achievement. For example, our young friends Keya and Malik began setting goals at the gym. Keya set a goal of building strength in her legs so that she could squat without soreness. Over her journey, she was able to deepen her squats by 4” and increase her kettlebell weight by 5lbs in a matter of 3 weeks – that’s no small feat! Malik also wanted to focus on strengthening his legs, so that he could perform better at football, and he surpassed his goal altogether. He wanted to add 10 pounds to his deadlift max of 275lbs and made it to 305 instead!
Our friend Levon also participated in setting goals, so that he could get back onto the football field after an injury. From week 1 to week 5, he went from being able to carry out 2 reps of the hex bar deadlift at 275lbs, to being able to complete the deadlift at 345lbs – 45lbs over his original goal of three hundred! Our youth continue to prove that they can achieve anything with the power of a dedicated program, discipline, and enthusiasm.
When setting goals, it’s best to follow the widely accepted SMART model. SMART stands for Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-Bound. If we can teach our teens to set goals according to this structure, they can achieve anything they put their minds to. Beginning in the gym with physical goals is a great start, but the skill is transferable and can be applied anywhere. This skill will help them to take ownership of their lives outside of the gym, build confidence, and approach their hurdles head-on.
Learn more about the power of setting goals by listening to our latest podcast: https://open.spotify.com/episode/0gMUNfcaW1obQcAAG0Bg7n?si=5661c7288e3947b8&nd=1
Strengthen Baltimore’s Youth with MissionFit!
At MissionFit, we recognize the fact that community, family, and healthy social relationships are essential to setting goals. We are highly dedicated to strengthening Baltimore youth through classes and an open gym. It’s our goal to encourage positive traits, like respect and teamwork, and provide children with a place to gain self-confidence and enjoy some exercise. To learn more about our classes or donate to support our mission, visit our website. We’re making health a possibility and a priority for Baltimore’s youth and helping to foster more black leaders from Baltimore. If you want to support youth programs in Baltimore, here are two easy ways to do so through MissionFit:
- Donate here if you believe community, family, and relationships impact health!
- You can put your online shopping to good use by donating a percentage of your purchase with AmazonSmile! To get started, sign in here, search for “MissionFit” and select us as your charity of choice.
