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Why Do You Need a Deadline To Motivate You?

Updated: Dec 21, 2022


Seize The Power of a Deadline


Let’s focus in on the ’T’ in our SMART goal:


  • Specific: What small step do you need to take when reaching a larger general goal?


  • Measurable: What evidence can determine whether your goal is met?


  • Achievable: Can you reach this goal in a timely, healthy manner?


  • Relevant: Are you likely to commit yourself to this goal? Does it contribute to bigger goals you have in your life?


  • Time-Bound: When you do want to have reached this goal?


You are less likely to miss training if you know a walk or fun run is looming!


What Deadline should I set?


Health and fitness smart goals examples:


Walk 5km, 10km, 100km trail walk for charity.

Run 2km, 5km, 10km, half marathon or a marathon.

Open water swim 1km, 2km.

Cycling long distance event.

Triathlon solo or 1 leg in a team.

Body building competition.


Begin with a smaller goal, then once you achieve it move on to a bigger one, increasing the distance and challenge as you become fitter and stronger and your confidence increases as you prove to yourself you can do it.



Mum & kids 21km, 2km and 4km running goals on deadline achieved
Mum & kids 21km, 2km and 4km running goals deadline achieved


Why is it important to set your goals before starting an exercise?


Having a goal in mind gives you something to work towards, motivates you to stay on track and provides a measure of how well you are doing. If you're trying to become more physically active, realistic, well-planned goals keep you focused and motivated.


What is your biggest challenge when it comes to achieving your fitness and wellness goals?


The biggest challenge for many of us is making time for physical activity. Therefore, the time we spend in the gym or outside training is too valuable to waste. We need an action plan focusing our efforts. Setting goals is the first step of designing a systematic plan that will lead to success.


Goals should be time-specific


Setting a start time and deadline is important. This allows you to work out a plan to achieve the goal by breaking it into daily actions and marking your progress by acknowledging smaller milestones.


How do you set goals with deadlines?


To help you set that first deadline, ask some questions, do some research. Find out how long it took people who have achieved that goal, starting from where you are. Get a fairly clear idea in your head of what it will take. No matter what, if you set the deadline, you'll make a commitment to making progress.


Is it important to set deadlines for your goals?


It's crucial to create deadlines for yourself to help you achieve your goals. Whether you want to achieve a fitness, or a personal goal, it's important to set realistic deadlines for yourself.


How can the setting of long term and short term goals help you design your fitness program?


Fitness goals are perhaps the best form of maintaining motivation for exercise. Short term goals give you a sense an immediate target to focus on while long term goals keep your overall objective in mind, striving for higher achievements.


4km Run Goal achieved in Deadline
4km Run Goal achieved in her Deadline

Is planning important in achieving your goal? Why?


Planning helps us see in advance those things that can help us achieve our goal and those things that can prevent us from achieving our goal and work out what to do about them. Planning helps us to be accountable for what we do.


12 ways to make sure you meet your deadline:


  • Know your deadline. Mark it in your diary.

  • Book your event and pay for it so you are committed.

  • Tell your loved ones so they mark it in their diary also to support you.

  • Allow enough time.

  • Set your start date to give you the time needed to reach your goal by your deadline.

  • Understand the requirements to reach your deadline.

  • Prioritise.

  • Plan, plan and plan so you have all the steps in place to achieve your goal.

  • Mark your daily workouts in your diary as appointments.

  • Don't be afraid to ask questions from those more experienced to make sure you get there.

  • Remove distractions, stay focused.

  • Ask for help and support from someone who’s been there and achieved your goal and from your family and friends to encourage you when you don’t feel like exercising.


Do deadlines improve productivity?


The key benefit of deadlines is that they can prompt you to take action in a timely manner, and consequently reduce the likelihood of procrastination by making goals and tasks feel more concrete.


Get Excited!

Choose a realistic, achievable goal which will push you out of your comfort zone to take steps and make the commitment to yourself you haven’t managed before.


Create a vision of how you’ll feel when you achieve your GOAL!


Deadline achieved with the feeling of crossing the finish line in his first running goal
Deadline achieved with the feeling of crossing the finish line in his first running goal


Do you need help to set your GOAL, your DEADLINE and become motivated to GET STARTED?


Apply for our FREE physical assessment to see where you are now and receive your results broken down for you so you know what you need to improve on, and can see your progress to keep to MOTIVATED to achieve your GOAL in your DEADLINE



Click the link above and I look forward to helping you

Emma x



Emma Najman, Cancer Rehab and NDIS Physiotherapist, Pilates & Fitness Instructor and Yoga Therapist
Emma Najman, Cancer Rehab and NDIS Physiotherapist, Pilates & Fitness Instructor and Yoga Therapist


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