Set, shoot, save!
We've appointed Mackenzie Arnold, as our ‘Chief Goal-Keeper’ to help you set and save your goals!
We've appointed Mackenzie Arnold, as our ‘Chief Goal-Keeper’ to help you set and save your goals!
Ready to keep your goals?
Mackenzie's goal-keeping tips
Tip 1: Start small
I'm not a fan of New Year’s resolutions or massive lofty goals. Setting yourself huge challenges looks great on paper, but can also be a fast track to giving up. For me, it’s about holding myself accountable to a standard I set myself.
Start by setting yourself smaller goals whether they’re daily, weekly, or monthly, you’ll see yourself progress, giving you that boost of motivation we all need to keep going! If you want to run a marathon, start with the first kilometer. If you want to eat better, start with one balanced meal a day.
Start by setting yourself smaller goals whether they’re daily, weekly, or monthly, you’ll see yourself progress, giving you that boost of motivation we all need to keep going! If you want to run a marathon, start with the first kilometer. If you want to eat better, start with one balanced meal a day.
Tip 2: Save time, save goals
A helpful way to keep your goals on track is to make them part of your routine, but keeping to a routine can be hard when life gets in the way. Making small changes to my day to save time is essential when I'm travelling between training and games, where I lose a lot of time for the likes of mealtimes.
One easy fix to create more time in your day is having ready-made meals waiting in the fridge, like those from Youfoodz. These are a great way to add time back into your day by saving on cooking, cleaning, and grocery shopping. Plus, the convenience of having a nutritionally balanced and tasty meal ready in minutes while dashing about after training and between games has made me a long-term customer.
One easy fix to create more time in your day is having ready-made meals waiting in the fridge, like those from Youfoodz. These are a great way to add time back into your day by saving on cooking, cleaning, and grocery shopping. Plus, the convenience of having a nutritionally balanced and tasty meal ready in minutes while dashing about after training and between games has made me a long-term customer.
Tip 3: Find your team
A huge part of keeping our goals is staying accountable, and the best way to do this is by finding our team.
This could be your friends, family, sisters, or even your co-workers, but when we share our goals with others, it motivates us to keep going as they cheer us on.
I’m fortunate enough to have two amazing teams with both the Matildas and the girls at West Ham. We share all our goals and challenges. It’s amazing to see how being part of a team pushes us all forward. We also set goals for the team itself.
This could be your friends, family, sisters, or even your co-workers, but when we share our goals with others, it motivates us to keep going as they cheer us on.
I’m fortunate enough to have two amazing teams with both the Matildas and the girls at West Ham. We share all our goals and challenges. It’s amazing to see how being part of a team pushes us all forward. We also set goals for the team itself.
Tip 4: More challenges, less opportunities
Without a doubt, the hardest part about keeping a goal is picking ourselves back up when we fall.
In 2020, when everyone was wearing masks, I found I was really struggling to communicate as I couldn’t read people’s lips. It was only then that I realised I was having issues with my hearing. I really had to lean on people to guide me through the challenges this raised, including getting hearing aids for the first time.
In 2020, when everyone was wearing masks, I found I was really struggling to communicate as I couldn’t read people’s lips. It was only then that I realised I was having issues with my hearing. I really had to lean on people to guide me through the challenges this raised, including getting hearing aids for the first time.
Tip 5: Remember, they’re goals, not a chore
It’s nice to think that athletes are well-oiled, disciplined machines that get up at 4:00 am every day for their 10km run. In reality, it’s hard for everyone!
After travelling overnight from London to Australia, sometimes the last thing I feel like doing is getting up the following morning for training.
That’s why it’s important to remember these are goals - not chores. We need to make sure we are passionate about these challenges - that we are enjoying the process, not just the destination at the end.
After travelling overnight from London to Australia, sometimes the last thing I feel like doing is getting up the following morning for training.
That’s why it’s important to remember these are goals - not chores. We need to make sure we are passionate about these challenges - that we are enjoying the process, not just the destination at the end.