MASSAGE THERAPIST GOAL SETTING FOR THE NEW YEAR

A How-To Guide For Goal Setting And Why You Need Goals As A Massage Therapist

Happy new year to you, Massage Therapists and Holistic Health Practitioners! With a new year usually comes setting new goals for your business and yourself, including your fitness, health, nutrition and personal goals.

I’m doing it and while this year it’s taken more focus than normal because things are up in the air with COVID-19, a new year wouldn’t be complete without talking about goal setting.

Goals, if you aren’t used to setting them will change your life! Write your goals down and watch them become reality. Take a look at how easy it is and how it will bring you a renewed focus for your business.

Setting your goals

Determine what you want to accomplish as the basis for setting your goals. What are those dreams or wishes you have always thought about? Find those things where you say to yourself, ‘If only I could…”

When you figure out what you want, you can start brainstorming for the steps to bring you there. Once you have that, and you follow through on it, you will be amazed at how this will transform your life. It’s like reaching a new level in your growth and your happiness.

SMART goals

Set goals according to the S.M.A.R.T. acronym.

• Specific - a specific goal has a better chance of being accomplished

For example, your goal may be: “Get out of pain to keep working”

A more specific goal is: “Work a full week with no elbow pain by February 26 so I can continue to do the work I love for 20 more years.

• Measurable - This goal is measurable because you know when you have no pain and when it’s sustained for one week.
• Achievable - This goal is achievable with good self care and work boundaries. You need to lay out how you’re going to get there.
• Relevant - This goal is relevant to your continued success in the field of massage therapy. You can’t work if your body breaks down.
• Time-bound - The goal gave a date to be pain-free.

When you are setting goals you should set some short-term goals and some long-term goals. This may look like quarterly goals as well as goals for the next three to five years.

These goals could also be broken down into weekly and monthly goals which support the quarterly and yearly goals. In fact the more steps you break it down into, the better chance for success!

Make a roadmap to achieve your goals

When you lay out a plan, you can take a bird’s eye view of your possible paths. This creates an energy within that helps you carry out your plan.

It gives you something to look forward to which can give you a sense of purpose. Having that helps you motivate and keep on track.

Meeting milestones for your goals will show progress, renew motivation and give you something to check off when completing the task.

Ex. Some goals to support the above goal of working with no elbow pain for one week may be: 

• Ice elbow after last client each day for 20 minutes
• Limit clients to 4 a day until out of pain
• Self massage each night on the tendons at elbow and forearm
• Weight train upper body with functional exercises using elbow and shoulder joints to strengthen elbow area
• Watch body mechanics to avoid pronation and supination until elbow is pain-free

The power of goal setting

Let’s face it, the longer you do massage the more likely you are going to feel stuck in a rut. The next time you feel like you’re in a rut, try setting and pursuing some goals.

These goals don’t have to be huge and you want them to be obtainable. Maybe it’s rebooking 2 more clients this week. Keep working on them until you complete them.

Create a journal to track your progress and get whatever help you can to motivate you. Read blogs like this, listen to podcasts, find a mentor.

Once you see what is possible by setting goals, you will find you can accomplish just about anything.

You can’t stop the situation of getting into a rut, but you now have a way of getting out of it. You just have to figure out what you want to pursue and set up a plan to make it happen. Then, it’s simply a matter of following that plan.

Goals will take you outside your comfort zone

People don’t like change but change is the one thing you can depend on. Look at how the pandemic changed our life as we know it.

Setting goals means making changes. It’s often about doing things you have never tried before. This puts us into the unknown, which is scary but also gets us to take action. That’s where the power of getting outside of your comfort zone comes into play.

Experiences like taking on a new career or starting a new business are certainly scary and outside most people’s comfort zone. These activities can give you a feeling of exhilaration and accomplishment that boosts your confidence to try the next goal.

Setting goals when you work for someone else

Does it seem pointless to set goals when you are employed by someone else? You have a boss who is going to tell you exactly what you need to do on a daily basis. You do the job, they pay you, and everyone is happy, right? Well, try thinking about it another way.

Setting goals at work can go a long way in getting you ahead with your company. Even if you don’t get anywhere with that company your goal setting skills will reward you in future ventures. In fact, it could be the activity that gets you a new job or even gets you going on starting your own business.

There is no guarantee that setting goals will lead you to advancement in your current job but it will get you noticed. Plus you may learn new skills which will help you in future goals. Think of all the massage modalities you can learn!

Goal setting to make more money

Having a clear plan for your business or career will ensure you reach much higher levels than those who don’t. In most cases, when you are further along than your peers, you will be making more money.

For instance, if you set a goal, and it doesn’t get you where you want to be, you seek alternatives until it does. Others, without a plan may take each day as it comes and have no idea whether what they are doing is working. The result can only be they will be making less money than you, should you choose to follow a plan.

Although you may be tempted to use making more money as your goal, you’ll find this is too general. You won’t have any specific way of focusing the steps needed on achieving this goal. Making more money can be the result of having a more concrete goal in place.

Your goal could be to become a lead therapist at your job. That title should bring you more money and if part of a bigger goal, be a stepping stone to the long term goals you’ve set.

Setting goals will bring your life a sense of purpose

It’s very common for massage therapists to get to the point where they feel like they are doing the same massage over and over. Massage therapists can lose their passion for their work and some forget why they got into massage in the first place.

Setting goals to learn new modalities, new business skills like Quick Books, or selling merchandise to your clients are all examples of goals which will bring a sense of purpose.

The more you pursue your goals, the more you will have these feelings of accomplishment which help show you a sense of purpose.

If the plan doesn't work, change the plan. . .   BUT NEVER THE GOAL.

In your journey of goal setting, you’ll have some setbacks along the way, but it will be worth it. There will be excitement as well as frustration. But the journey will help you learn, and you truly will be getting more out of your life as you seek the things you have always wanted for yourself and your family.

Until next time,

Be Fit, Be Strong, Set Goals for yourself and Be The Fit MT