Whether you want to exercise to be healthy or to build a great body, you need to set up some exercise goals. Goals should be both short and long term. More than that, they should be specific, measurable, attainable, relevant and time-based

Specific goals are the key to discipline. They clearly tell you what you must do. For example, you can set a specific goal by deciding that you will start weight training in the second week. The first week will be limited to warm up exercises.

This is also a measurable and relevant goal. Strength training after all helps you conquer debilitating diseases later. Furthermore the goal is bound by time and is attainable because you feel you can start strength training in the second week.

Once you know how to articulate your goals, write out a few for the near and the distant future. The time frame you set is entirely up to you, of course. However, short-term goals are small and meaningful steps that will keep you motivated through the entire tenure of the program. Here are a few sensible short-term goals:

– Talking to doctor about starting this program;

– Buying the equipment and getting ready to exercise within two weeks;

– Scheduling 2 or 3, 45-minute exercise period every week.

After this, you need to focus on your long-term goals. Long-term goals are like targets. For example, your long-term exercise goal is to reduce the pain and problems caused by arthritis. It can also be to gain strength to climb three flights of stairs without stopping.

So bring out those exercise mats by all means. But before that you need to bring out the paper and the pen and list your short-term and long-term goals. The mats will then look more inviting, and your goals more achievable.