The start of a new year is coming soon, so you're probably thinking about what you'd like to accomplish. While most of us have or have had athletic goals in the past, there's always room for improvement. As you start to plan out your fitness goals for the next year, keep these six goal-setting tips in mind. Plus, make sure that you're geared up with the best athletic leggings, sports bras and other pieces too. Read on to learn more.  

Think About What You Really Want to Do

First and foremost, you want to set goals to impress yourself, not others. You're the person that will be enduring the grueling workouts, monitoring your nutrition and keeping track of your progress. For these reasons, you want to ensure that you actually want to achieve these things you're setting out to do. Deep down, you need to be 100% committed and excited about the prospects of crossing these goals off of your list because if you're not, you'll have a hard time working through the challenges and hurdles that are bound to arise.

Consider what you've always dreamed of and why you got into fitness in the first place. What goals have you accomplished in the past and how did they make you feel? There are plenty of runners out there that are proud that they've completed a marathon, while there are others that more enjoy sprinting and interval training. To onlookers, both might seem like they're happy, but only the person running can know if they truly enjoy the goal they're chasing.

The beauty of goals is there are no right or wrong answers; the most important thing is that you genuinely want to do it. So, don't get caught up in what social media says you should be doing or what other people are talking about. Stay true to yourself and you'll be more excited when you reach your goal.

Aim High, But Don't Attempt the Impossible

You definitely don't want to set easy goals that you can accomplish in a week-what fun would that be? At the same time, you also don't want to set a goal that is borderline impossible such as running an ultra-marathon on every continent in 6 months. The key is to find a balance between nearly impossible and achievable with 100% effort.

Everyone is different, coming from varying walks of life with different experiences. What might seem impossible to others might be as easy as lacing up your walking shoes for you and vice-versa. As you're writing down your goals, keep in mind that they don't need to be headline news so long as they push you to give it your best and will help you grow as an athlete.

Make Your Goals as Measurable as Possible

Specificity is key when setting any type of goal, especially fitness goals. After all, how will you know if you've reached your goal if it was just "run faster"? There are countless metrics, measurements and benchmarks in fitness, so use them to your advantage. If you'd like to be a faster runner, come up with a target mile time and start tracking your runs to see how you progress. Or, if you're looking to improve your physique, consider your goal body fat percentage along with your weight too. These are metrics you can track as you go, which will help you know when you're on-pace to hit your target goal or if you need to make any adjustments.

Don't Try to Set Too Many Goals at Once

A big mistake people commonly make is trying to do too many things at once. They want to lose weight while also putting on 5 pounds of muscle. Or, they're hoping to become a world-class runner in addition to being the strongest person in the state. If you have too many goals, they could end up competing with each other, keeping you in one place like pressing the gas and brake pedals at the same time.

Instead, focus on just one big goal with smaller, complementing goals to keep you going along the way. Remember, there are no right or wrong goals; just be sure that you pick one so you can focus all of your efforts on it. 

Share Your Goals

Whenever you get a new pair of walking shoes, you tell all of your friends. But what about your fitness goals? While goals are personal, if you're hiding them away, it can be easier to lose track of them or dismiss them altogether after a few failed attempts. If you believe in yourself and your fitness goal is worth chasing, share it with others. Whether it's your workout partner or all of your followers on social media, make it known. You have plenty of people that will root for you and provide much-needed accountability when things get tough.

Face Any Challenges Head-On 

If you've set your goal high enough, it's not going to be a cakewalk and you're going to run into challenges. It's crucial to face any challenges or hurdles head-on rather than letting them hold you back for longer than they should. Be honest with yourself throughout the entire journey. Are you really giving 100% effort? Do you need to make more time in your schedule for training? Are you equipped with the right tools? Even just upgrading your workout clothes for women can have a considerable impact on your comfort and performance during training.

Leave no stone unturned and monitor your progress closely from beginning to end. If you ignore external or internal factors that could hamper your progress, you're doing a disservice to yourself. No matter how big or small, make adjustments along the way and stay flexible. While you shouldn't have to throw a goal away entirely, if you realize it's closer to impossible than achievable, scale it back a little bit. On the other hand, if you're on pace to hit your yearly goal in only a month, it's good to scale it up.

With all of this in mind, let's consider the gear you'll need to succeed.

The Gear You Need to Succeed 

Workout clothes for women can play a huge role in your athletic success. The best sports bras, athletic leggings, performance shirts and more will provide unmatched comfort and support. Whether you're lifting, running or doing a little bit of everything, it's worth investing in these pieces:

• Tops and Bottoms Made with Performance Fabric: Whether athletic leggings, gym shorts, T-shirts or something else, sweat-wicking fabric is a must for keeping you cool, comfortable and dry.

• Footwear That Keeps Up: Your footwear needs to keep you grounded and supported. From premium running shoes to cross training shoes or walking shoes for active recovery, don't neglect your kicks.

• Accessories That Empower Your Training: Along with your workout clothes, you should stock up on accessories that can make your training more enjoyable and more effective. Everyone is different, so what works for you might be different than someone else. Even so, things like running hats, lifting belts, yoga mats and others can go a long way in your fitness journey.

The only thing that is left to do is to gear up and get going. Enjoy the process and monitor your progress and you're sure to achieve great things in the new year.

About Reebok 

From the start, Reebok has been the performance brand that professional and everyday athletes trust. Offering workout clothes for women and men along with a selection of retro-inspired and modern sneakers, the brand is synonymous with performance. Their products are made with the modern athlete in mind, engineered to provide cool, dry, comfort with a seamless look to elevate your style in addition to your performance. On their site, you can shop everything from track pants to sports bras, basketball shoes, athletic leggings and much more. Reebok's style knows no bounds, as they offer everything from white running shoes to dynamic pink walking shoes and everything in between. Whether you're training for game day or just want to feel and look your best during the workout, Reebok has you covered.

Gear up for the New Year with Reebok at Reebok.com