April 2026 - Fran's Fitness Over 50

A goal that’s just right

Sometimes I choose stupid goals. Like cleaning off my desk. That’s stupid because I know it’ll never happen. It just doesn’t matter to me. Or being successful at the Side Plank Star pose. It’s stupid because – why? Another stupid goal was getting an agility championship for my dog. I didn’t take into consideration my dog’s desires. He doesn’t care about agility all that much. Sure, I could train him for it, but if he’s not having fun, then I’m not having fun, and it takes a really long time and a lot of weekends competing in trials for it to happen. But I also chose a goal that’s just right.

Not too hard, not too easy

What’s a goal that’s just right? It’s not too hard, and it’s not too easy. As opposed to an agility championship for my dog – a goal that’s just right is one that is doable. One that I can see a path forward to the end.

As an example. I wanted to write a cozy mystery novel. But my days are pretty full, with dogs and the business. So, when would I be able to write the thousands of words that a novel requires? I spent some time thinking about that, and realized that I woke up about an hour before my alarm most days. And couldn’t go back to sleep. So – lightbulb – I figured I could use that time for writing.

Testing tells

I tested my theory for a few days. I sort of wrote an outline. (I realized that while I don’t ordinarily do outlines, a mystery story required one.) I set a second alarm for 50 minutes before my real one, created a Google doc, tested my Bluetooth keyboard on my phone, and started writing. Once I knew how many words I averaged writing each day, I was able to create a schedule for finishing my first mystery novel.

I created a goal that was just right. I drew up a plan and established a schedule. And now I have two published cozy mystery novels. Working toward a goal feels great. When you put work in toward a goal, you feel unstoppable. No matter what happens, you work through it. When you have an important goal, you’re optimistic, you’re resilient, and you feel healthy and strong. (To help you find a goal that’s just right for you, the Get It Done Blueprint lays it all out step-by-step and has a great worksheet. You can download it today for nothing.)

You can do anything you want to when you have a goal that’s just right.

Enjoy a few minutes of doing nothing

Some days I start out feeling like I’ve been set adrift at sea. Aimless. Just kind of sitting there in my inner tube with my hands and feet dangling in the water. And some days that’s great. If there’s nothing I have to get done, then I can just laze around and do just that – nothing. But other days I have to shake off that feeling and start something.

That feeling of “I should be doing something”

What helps with that? (Because we’ve all got things we have to do most days.) If I’ve got a plan in place, then I can enjoy a few minutes of doing nothing, and then start being productive. If there’s no plan, then doing nothing seems pointless. There’s something missing. I can’t enjoy doing nothing, because I feel that I should be doing something – but I don’t know what that something is.

Doing nothing sets up the day

Those few minutes of doing nothing can be invaluable. They can set me up for an awesome day. I can enjoy being with my dogs or breathing fresh air. My sister and I used to own an RV that we parked in the most fabulous natural setting I can think of – right on the water of the Atlantic Ocean in the Florida Keys. We can work remotely, so I could set up my laptop in the shade, looking right out onto the water and enjoy those few minutes of doing nothing. Until those few minutes became an hour and then, well, I moved inside to work.

My plan for joy

But I only enjoyed those few minutes because I knew exactly what I had to tackle when I booted up the computer. I had a plan. I had a list. My plan for joy. And I knew what had to get done. Now those moments of doing nothing are the ones to savor.

The way I ensure that I can really enjoy those “nothing” moments is to plan the next day in the late afternoon. If I’m working on a big goal, I check my intermediate steps and I take the bit that inches me forward and write it down. So if I’m working on a course, and my goal is to have all the pieces in place by the end of the week, then on Monday I can create the pdf files so they’re ready to distribute. I’ve already written module outlines and documents in my digital cloud account, and created the graphics and worksheets that go with each.

So, on Monday before I start, I can play with my dogs. Or I can enjoy a few minutes of doing nothing. And then I can go gangbusters working toward my goal.

Protect yourself from chaos

The world is swirling. News reports are coming fast and furious from all directions and much of it contradicts other reports. It’s hard to know what’s real, what to believe, where to turn, and what to do. If we try to pay attention to everything, that is a sure path to stress and panic. So, how to protect yourself from chaos? Here are a few things that can help to turn off (or at least tone down) all the noise.

Start your day with intention. That’s not to say list everything you’re going to do that day. Your intent can simply be to have patience. Or be nice. Pay attention to your surroundings.

And it helps that before you start your day, you have a good night’s sleep. Be consistent with your sleep routine. Turn off your screens well before you turn off your light.

After you’ve done all the necessaries in the morning, set one small goal to accomplish that day. It can be to get a step closer to finishing a big goal, or it can be simply to throw out one thing from that overflowing junk drawer. It feels good and it gives a little boost to your optimism and your resilience.

You’ve started your day mindfully, so periodically, take a break and center yourself. Pay attention to your surroundings at that time. Take stock of your emotions and thoughts.

And speaking of thoughts, at least once a day, think about what you’re grateful for. A gratitude journal helps, but I don’t find it necessary. Enjoy the blue sky or interesting cloud formations. Smile at your dog’s antics. It really does boost your healthy aging and happiness.

Exercise. I know, I sound like a broken record (remember them?). But exercise really does help to protect yourself from chaos. When you finish a good workout, I guarantee you’ll feel better about the world than when you started.

And reach out to a friend. Someone who lights you up, one who instantly makes you smile when you hear their voice.

Just some thoughts to protect yourself from chaos. The world is in upheaval, so we have to do what we can.