the unexpected power of no goals
i've always been active throughout my life, but mostly in intermittent ways - bursts of gym sessions or class packages, yoga or hikes. usually with a preset goal of achieving something by X weeks. and more often than not, followed by slow decline, a low point, a break and then the start of something new with yet another goal.
some time ago, i decided to start weight training. on the first day, my trainer arrived with a weighing scale and an app, ready to track all my "before" stats. i told him, respectfully, that this time i did not want to measure anything or set any goal. i only wanted to listen to my body and keep tuning and tweaking based on that. heck, i also did not want any preset workout package of 10 or 20. he rolled with me. we started small, with bodyweight workouts. i was freshly 40, and my body responded (umm, struggled?) in new ways. but, i had no goal other than showing up and seeing where this took me.
it’s been two years now. i show up twice a week, and while my trainer usually joins me online, there have been many weeks when i’ve done it on my own. over these two years, i haven’t tracked a single thing—no weight scales, measuring tapes, fitness metrics, or progressions in lifting or reps. i will not know my current weight until my next physical. each week, i simply show up and listen to what my body needs. if i’m not feeling my best, i enjoy some mobility stretches or mix it up with shadow boxing or hiit session.
and by now, i also know that this is something that will never slip. just like brushing, this has become a part of daily life.
this may not work for everyone, but it worked for me. while I’m not sure how my measurements have changed and i am sure there were many weeks where maybe nothing changed, i can definitely feel the difference in my body. i feel stronger doing everyday activities. i eat and sleep better. but best of all, i feel free and joyful when i workout. it's seriously made me question what other areas of my life i could simplify by letting go of the need to always have a specific goal in mind.