Think of goals and motivation flywheel as a

Having a goal makes you more motivated to do the things to reach that goal. The more motivated you are, the easier it’s going to be to hit your goal, or even set bigger, tougher ones.

“Goals are in place to help someone stay motivated,” Hadd says. “For cyclists in the winter, they have to train indoors. Setting a goal helps them get through the winter, even though there are no competitions for a number of months. So initially, goals are there to help with your motivation. But once you get going and the motivation is staying steady, it’s easier to go back and readjust and set more goals. It’s a constant flywheel that keeps on going.” One caveat: “If we are too strict and not adaptable in terms of our goals, they become a source of anxiety more than a source of motivation,” says Hadd. Check in with yourself to make sure your flywheel hasn’t spun into steadily growing anxiety and stress, rather than your stoke rolling onward.