I have a few life goals. I've done some of them, and the ones that are left are to do an Ironman triathlon and to qualify for the Boston marathon. These are BIG goals that take years to get to, many steps, and lots of sustained effort. I find they keep me focused on the long term, which is good, especially when one is sidelined due to injury, exceptionally busy family or work times, or um pregnancy.
Note that I have revised my life goals from time to time. At one point I wanted to hike the Grand Canyon rim-to-rim to rim, but then on a trip there when I had to practically crawl out of my car to get anywhere near the edge, I remembered the magnitude of my fear of heights and decided that I just didn't need that much trauma in my life.
The small goals are good for getting out. In the past, I set myself with a minimum on 20 minutes of exercise a day (good for getting started or restarted). Do my pushups. Try a new activity. Push DD in the stroller. Walk the dogs. Swim. I usually set these weekly.
And then there are the intermediate goals that I can get done within a year. Improve on a 5K time. Run a half marathon. Do a pull up. Be ready for an active vacation.
I find the mix of short, intermediate, and long term goals keep me focused on the big picture, while not forgetting the small stuff. And it is important to realize that not everything is compatible at the same time. Squatting a new weight is not compatible with running a half (for me anyway), so I need to pick one or the other. Finally, while I don't pick goals lightly, it is OK to change them if you need to. I believe that our goals should enhance our life in some way, and if there is more trauma than challenge, it is time to pack it up and move on.
Heather, I envy you the rock climbing. If I ever lose the fear of simply standing on a chair, I'm going to give it a try. I find it fascinating.
Anne