Summary

The article emphasizes the importance of setting small, achievable goals and taking incremental steps towards larger objectives to ensure progress and avoid becoming overwhelmed.

Abstract

The article advises against setting overly ambitious goals, suggesting that breaking them down into smaller, more manageable tasks is a more effective strategy for success. It recommends using the SMART criteria (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-Bound) to create a clear roadmap for achieving goals. The author suggests focusing on daily habits, like reading for five minutes a day instead of aiming to read 30 books a year, to build momentum. Rewarding oneself for completing these small steps and practicing gratitude can further enhance motivation and mental health. Additionally, the article encourages seeking guidance from experts and documenting progress through journaling. It also promotes working efficiently by using timers and avoiding distractions. The piece acknowledges that failure is a natural part of learning and encourages perseverance, citing Thomas Edison's persistence in inventing the light bulb.

Opinions

Setting lofty goals can lead to feelings of failure and being overwhelmed when not achieved.
Making goals as small as possible can help trick the brain into starting tasks by making them seem less daunting.
Establishing a daily routine and dedicating a specific time to work on goals can significantly contribute to achieving them.
Self-encouragement and reward systems are important for maintaining motivation and reinforcing positive behavior.
Learning from experts who have achieved similar goals can provide valuable insights and inspiration.
Documenting progress through journaling can offer a clear perspective on one's journey and be a useful reference for future challenges.
Working in short, focused bursts with the help of a timer can increase efficiency and prevent procrastination.
Distractions such as social media and television should be minimized when working towards goals.
Embracing failure as part of the learning process is crucial for long-term success and resilience.

Stop Making Lofty Goals For Yourself

Baby steps will give you a fighting chance to achieve

We all have New Year’s resolutions where we have high expectations for ourselves. Perhaps we want to lose 20 pounds, we hope to run a marathon, or we plan to eat healthier foods. Then what happens? Maybe a week, day, or even a minute later we fall short. We wallow in our misery because we don’t understand why we failed.

We set ourselves up to become overwhelmed when we forget to break down goals into smaller steps. Make your goals SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-Bound) and work on your timeline. Often we need to visually see a road map with smaller tasks written down leading up to this goal. Planners are often a great way to write down deadlines.

Make a Goal as Small as Possible

Just take one goal and make it smaller, much smaller. Instead of saying you will read 30 books this year, consider making a goal that you will spend five minutes reading a day. Chances are you will be reading longer than that once you get started. You really are just trying to trick your brain by making the task seem easier. Setting smaller goals also help keep you from becoming overwhelmed and makes your goals seem manageable.

Instead of wanting to lose 20 pounds, consider setting a goal of losing two pounds this week. It is all about getting the momentum going and as we all know, the first step is often the hardest. Once you lose those two pounds, you may be pretty pumped and want to continue.

It is helpful to set up a daily time to work on your goals. Getting up just ten minutes earlier a day to work on getting exercise, reading, or whatever goal you have can give you an extra hour a week to dedicate to any tasks. Remember that just doing one little thing is better than doing nothing at all.

Reward Yourself for Baby Steps Completed

It is okay to clap and praise yourself for completing one small task. Sometimes I give myself a round of applause and compliment myself after doing any dreaded to-do items on my list. Your brain needs encouragement even if you are the only one doing so. This self-talk can actually help improve control and focus when working on a task. Sometimes I even thank my kitchen sponge after scrubbing the dishes. Practicing gratitude even with simple things is a great tool to help your mental health.

Seek Out the Experts

You don’t have to reinvent the wheel. Listen to those who have already completed goals similar to yours. Watch their videos, read their blogs or find their podcasts. Learn from their experience and also know that you may have a completely different experience, and that is okay. It would also be helpful to find a mentor to who you can reach out if you have any questions.

Document Your Progress

Journaling your progress is also a great way to work things out and document your journey. We often forget why a task was so easy or hard for us, and taking notes might help in the future if you need to look back. If you keep these notes electronically, it will help you be able to quickly search for relevant terms or easily copy and paste information that you find useful.

Work Smarter, Not Harder

Find quick tricks where you can see progress in a short amount of time. Want to clean your room but not sure where to start? Make your bed and then throw all the clutter on your bed. Throw away any trash as you go, sort dirty laundry and clean clothes, place items that belong in other rooms in a box, and do a quick dusting of furniture. I have found this a rather quick way to pick up my bedroom in a limited time.

When you are working on your goals, use a timer and give yourself maybe only 5–10 minutes to do a smaller task. If I am cleaning up the house, sometimes I do this while running around and it is often a quick workout for me to get my heart rate going. Having that pressure of limited time may help increase your motivation to get a task done.

Avoid time-killers like social media, scrolling on your phone, and television when you are working on your goals. I usually like working on my goals first thing in the morning. Sometimes doing a simple thing like making your bed is a great way to make your day start being productive.

Failure Will Be a Part of the Process

Do not let failure or mistakes set you back. The fact that you are making mistakes shows that you are learning. I once heard that failure really just means First Attempt In Learning. It took Thomas Edison more than 1,000 tries to make a commercially viable light bulb. Failure will be a part of this process, but you don’t have to let it detract you from your goal. In many ways, failure is just proof that you are trying.

Many of life’s failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up. - Thomas Edison