I use an annual mileage target as one form of motivation to keep cycling. It has been successful in that I am much fitter than I was, say, 10 years ago.
However there is a downside. It is debilitating and perhaps obsessional. When it is difficult to cycle, like during last December, you feel doubly bad. I felt awful this morning balancing my mortal fear of black ice (loads in Eskbank today) vs my need for miles.
Do others have targets?