Did you know that a whopping 92% of people fail to achieve their New Year’s resolutions? Yep, you read that right. I was shocked when I first heard that stat, and it got me thinking about my own track record with goals. Let’s face it, we’ve all been there – pumped about our enthusiasm for change, only to find ourselves back at square one a few months later.
But here’s the kicker: the culprit often lies in how we set our goals in the first place. I’ve made my fair share of blunders along the way, and let me tell you, it’s required some serious soul-searching to figure out where I went wrong. That’s why I’m eager to share what I’ve learned about the top 10 goal setting mistakes that might be tripping you up.
Trust me, once you’re aware of these common pitfalls, you’ll be surprised at how much your success rate can skyrocket. So, grab a double-double and let’s dive into these game-changing insights that’ll help you crush your goals like never before!
1. Setting Vague or Unclear Goals
We’ll kick things off with a mistake I used to make all the time – setting goals that were about as clear as mud. You know, vague wishes like “I want to get in shape” or “I want to be more successful.” Yeah, good luck with that.
Here’s the deal: specificity is your best friend when it comes to goal setting. I learned this the hard way after spending months “trying to get fit” with absolutely zero progress to show for it. It wasn’t until I got super specific – “I want to run a 5K in under 30 minutes by June 1st” – that things started to click.
The problem with vague goals is that they’re like trying to hit a moving target while blindfolded—achievable for Luke Skywalker, but impossible for us non-Jedi-types. How are you supposed to know if you’re making progress? Not only is it super frustrating, you’re pretty much guaranteed to fail.
So, how do we fix this? It’s all about getting SMART – Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound. Instead of “I want to read more,” try “I’ll read one non-fiction book per month for the next six months.” See the difference? It’s crystal clear what you’re aiming for, and you’ll know exactly when you’ve hit the mark.
Let me give you a real-life example. A few years back, I set a goal to “improve my baking skills.” Sounds great, right? Wrong! I had no had no way to gauge whether I was “improving” in any meaningful sense, and ended up just watching a bunch of cooking shows without actually getting any better in the kitchen.
But when I changed my goal to “Master five new dessert recipes by November and give edible gifts to family members at Christmas,” suddenly I had a roadmap, I knew exactly what I needed to do. The sense of accomplishment I felt when everyone raved about my truffles was the sweetest gift ever!
So, next time you’re setting a goal, ask yourself: “Could someone else clearly understand and measure my progress towards this goal?” If the answer’s no, it’s time to sharpen that focus. Trust me, your future self will thank you for it.
2. Overlooking the “Why” Behind Your Goals
This is something that tripped me up for years – setting goals without really understanding why I wanted to achieve them in the first place. It’s like packing for a trip without knowing where you’re going. Sure, you might end up somewhere, but odds are it’s not where you really wanted to be.
A few years back, I set a goal to get a promotion at work. Sounds great, right? Well, I hustled my butt off, put in crazy hours, and guess what? I got that promotion! But I was miserable. Why? Because I never stopped to ask myself why I wanted that promotion in the first place.
Turns out, I thought I wanted it because I have a bit of a competitive streak, and everyone else was gunning for the promotion. But deep down, what I really craved was more creative freedom in my work, not just a fancier title and a bigger paycheque. Talk about a face-palm moment!
So, how do we avoid this goal-setting pitfall? It’s all about digging deep and connecting your goals to your core values. What really lights you up? What kind of life do you want to create for yourself? These questions will lead you to goals that truly matter.
Here’s a little exercise that helps bring clarity to the endeavour: for every goal I set, I ask myself “Why?” five times. By the fifth “why,” you’ll have uncovered some pretty profound stuff about what really drives you.
Let’s say your goal is to save $10,000 this year. Why? To have more financial security. Why? To feel less stressed about money. Why? To enjoy life more without constant money worries. Why? To have the freedom to pursue passions without financial constraints. Why? Because living a life true to yourself is what really matters to you.
See how we went from a simple savings goal to uncovering a core value of personal freedom? That’s the power of understanding your “why.”
And here’s the best part – when you connect your goals to your deepest motivations, you’ll find a wellspring of energy and determination you never knew you had. Those 6 a.m. alarm clocks to hit the gym? Way easier when you remember it’s about having the energy to play with your kids, not just about looking good in a swimsuit.
So, before you lock in your next big goal, take a minute to really ponder why it matters to you. It could be the difference between merely existing and living whole-heartedly.
3. Setting Unrealistic or Overly Ambitious Goals
Alright, let’s talk about a goal-setting mistake I like to call the “Superhero Syndrome.” You know, those moments when we channel our inner Tony Stark and set goals so ambitious they’d make even the Avengers break a sweat.
A few years ago, I decided I was going to learn Spanish, train for Tough Mudder, and write a novel – all in the same year. Oh, and did I mention I was also working a full-time job? Yeah, talk about biting off more than I could chew! Needless to say, by month three, I was burned out, frustrated, and ready to throw in the towel on everything.
Don’t get me wrong – I’m all for dreaming big and pushing yourself. But there’s a fine line between challenging yourself and setting yourself up for failure. It’s like trying to bench press 300 pounds when you weigh 150. Not only are you unlikely to even budge the bar, you may end up being the thing lifted… out of the gym, on a stretcher.
So, how do we find that sweet spot between pushing our limits and staying in the realm of possibility? It’s all about being honest with yourself and doing a reality check. Here are a few strategies I’ve picked up along the way:
1. Break it down: take that big excessively ambitious goal and chop it up into smaller, manageable chunks. Instead of "become fluent in Spanish in 3 months," try "learn 10 new Spanish words every day."
2. Consider your current commitments: be realistic about the time and energy you have available. If you're already juggling a full-time job and family responsibilities, maybe learning to play the guitar, run a marathon, and start a YouTube channel all at once isn't the best idea.
3. Start small and scale up: success breeds success. Set a goal that's just slightly out of your comfort zone, crush it, and then level up. It's like playing a video game – you don't start at legendary, you have to work your way up through the levels.
4. Do your homework: research what it really takes to achieve your goal. Talk to people who've done it before. You might find that your timeline or expectations need some adjusting.
5. Be flexible: it's okay to adjust your goals as you go along. Life happens, circumstances change, and it’s best to acknowledge when you’ve bitten off more than you could chew. Adapting isn't failing – it's smart goal-setting!Once upon a time, I set a goal to run a marathon with only three months of training, but my body had other ideas! After a couple of weeks of gruelling runs, and a particularly nasty case of shin splints, I had to face facts – I needed more time. So, I adjusted my goal to a 10k Sun Run and you know what? Crossing that finish line felt just as good, because I’d set—and achieved—a more realistic goal.
Remember, the point of setting goals is to grow and achieve, not to stress yourself out or set yourself up for failure. It’s about progress, not perfection. So go ahead and dream big, but keep one foot on the ground while you’re reaching for the stars. Your future self will thank you for it!
4. Failing to Write Down Your Goals
Confession time: I used to be one of those people who thought writing down goals was pointless. If I know what I want to achieve, what difference does it make to basically set it in stone?
That all changed when I stumbled across a pretty mind-blowing statistic. Research conducted by psychology professor Gail Matthews shows you’re 42% more likely to achieve your goals if you write them down.1 42%! That’s like going from a C- to a B+ just by scribbling down your dreams. Talk about a game-changer!
It seemed unbelievable, so I put it to the test. I wrote down my goals for the month, pinned them to the fridge, and lo and behold, by the end of the month, I’d managed to achieve way more than expected.
Now, I know what you’re thinking – “But I live in the digital age! I don’t even own a pen!” No worries, my tech-savvy friend. The method doesn’t matter as much as the act itself. Whether you’re a notebook junkie or a die-hard digital devotee, there’s a goal-writing method for you:
1. The Classic Notebook: old school, but good school. There's something satisfying about physically writing your goals. Plus, you get to buy cute stationery. Win-win!
2. Digital Notes: use apps like Evernote or Google Keep to jot down your goals. Bonus: you can access them from anywhere.
3. Vision Board: for the visual thinkers out there, pin those goals to an actual board with some inspiring images. You know, like they did in the 1950’s before Pinterest was a thing. Or computers. Or the internet.
4. Goal-Setting Apps: there are tons of apps designed specifically for goal setting. Some even send you reminders and track your progress.
5. Social Media: tweet your goals or post them on Instagram. Nothing like a little public accountability to keep you motivated!The key is to find a method that works for you and stick with it. Personally, I’m a bit of a goal-writing connoisseur now. I’ve got my long-term goals written in a journal, my monthly goals on a whiteboard, and my daily goals in a planner. Overkill? Perhaps. But hey, it works for me!
Here’s a pro tip: make goal-writing a habit. Set aside some time each week or month to review your goals, which sends a gentle reminder to your brain: “Hey, remember these awesome things we want to do?”
When I downgraded my goal from training for a marathon to training for a 10k, I casually mentioned my revised goal to a friend. She immediately whipped out her phone and made me type it into her notes app. “There,” she said, “now it’s real.” And you know what? She was right. That simple act of writing it down made it feel more concrete, more achievable. And yep, you guessed it – I ran that 10k.
So, do yourself a favour and stop relying on that faulty hard drive between your ears. Get those goals down in writing, whether it’s on paper, on your phone, or printed on a recipe card and pinned to your fridge. Your future self will thank you when achieving your goals becomes second-nature.
5. Not Creating an Action Plan
Let’s talk about a goal-setting blunder I like to call the “Wishful Thinking Trap.” It’s when we set these amazing goals, get all pumped up about them, and then… nothing happens. Sound familiar?
In my 20’s, I made the same resolution every New Year’s Eve: “get fit.” The enthusiasm always lasted a solid week or two – long enough to get excited about joining the gym, not long enough to bother signing up. One year I even went out and bought new workout clothes, thinking my lack of spandex was to blame for my lack of motivation. But weeks went by, and guess what? The new yoga pants got a lot of wear, but they never ever saw the inside of a yoga studio. Why? Because I had a goal without a plan, which is about as useful as a car without gas. It may look great in the driveway, but it ain’t going nowhere!
Here’s the deal: you can’t get fit by watching other people exercise. So, how do we avoid this pitfall and actually start making progress? It comes back to breaking down big, overwhelming goals into small, actionable pieces. This is my go-to process for creating an action plan:
1. Brain Dump: write down everything you think you need to do to achieve your goal. Don't worry about order or feasibility yet. Just get it all out there.
2. Organize: group similar tasks together and put them in a logical order.
3. Prioritize: identify the must-do tasks versus the nice-to-haves.
4. Timeline: assign deadlines to each task. Be realistic, but also give yourself a little push.
5. Resource Check: identify any tools, skills, or help you may need to complete these tasks.
6. First Step: identify the very first, smallest action you can take right now.You may be thinking, “Hey, that sounds like a lot of work!” To which I’d say, “Aren’t you worth it?” A year from now, when you’re contemplating all the positive changes that have come about because you finally got serious about change, you’ll be glad you took a few minutes out of your busy day to draw up an action plan that worked.
The year I finally got serious about achieving my annual “get fit” goal, here’s what my action plan looked like:
- Week 1: research gyms in my area and sign up for a membership
- Week 2: schedule 3 workout sessions and do meal prep on Sundays
- Weeks 3-4: follow a beginner’s workout plan (Mon: cardio, Wed: strength, Fri: yoga)
- Week 5: reassess and adjust plan as needed
And you know what? It worked! By breaking it down into specific actions with deadlines, I actually started making progress. Was it perfect? Of course not! There were days I didn’t want to go to the gym, and my first attempt at Sunday meal prep was… not good. But the point is, I was making progress.
Here’s a pro tip: use tools that help you stay on track. I’m a big fan of Trello for organizing my action steps, but a simple to-do list, an app, or even a paper planner can work wonders. Just find what works for you and stick with it.
Remember, an action plan isn’t set in stone. It’s a living document that you can (and should) adjust as need be. Life happens, priorities shift, and that’s okay. The important thing is that you have a roadmap to follow, even if you take a few detours along the way.
So, the next time you set a goal, don’t stop at the “what.” Dive into the “how.” Create that action plan, break it down into manageable steps, and start taking action. Because at the end of the day, it’s not about having perfect goals – it’s about making imperfect progress.
6. Setting Too Many Goals at Once
Another common goal-setting mistake is the “Juggling Act Gone Wrong.” You know, when you’re so enthusiastic about personal growth that you decide to transform every single area of your life… all at the same time. The cognitive load of managing multiple goals can be overwhelming. Prioritization is key here. Focus on what truly matters.
I’ve learned to pick a couple of key objectives and really pour my energy into them. Think about what’s most important to you right now. Is it your career? Health? Personal relationships? Choose two or three goals and give them your all.
Life requires balance. It’s neither all work, nor all play, these elements have to be woven together. I often use a simple grid system where I categorize my goals into different life areas—like career, health, and personal growth. This way, I can make sure I’m not neglecting one area while obsessing over another. It’s all about finding that sweet spot.
7. Not Setting Deadlines
I’ve done this more times than I like to admit—setting goals without deadlines. It feels good at first, but things soon start to drift. Without time-bound goals, you’re sailing without a compass. You might be moving, but are you getting closer to your destination?
Deadlines help keep you motivated. I sound like a broken record here, but I can’t emphasize enough how important it is to break bigger goals into smaller, more manageable chunks. Instead of promising to read a new book every week, which is something I’ve always wanted to do but have never been able to achieve, I’ve committed to reading one book each month, supplemented by listening to audiobooks on-the-go. Not only is my revised goal way more achievable, it has made my commute about 1000 times more enjoyable!
As with all things, when it comes to setting deadlines, be reasonable. Sometimes your goals won’t be achievable by the deadlines you’ve set, despite your best efforts, and it’s important to cut yourself some slack. They’re your deadlines, after all, and it’s okay to adjust them. Life happens. So, hold yourself accountable, but extend yourself some grace.
8. Failing to Track Progress
Tracking progress is crucial. Regular goal reviews help me see where I’m at and what’s working (or not). When it comes to tracking, I’ve experimented with a bunch of tools—journals, apps, spreadsheets, you name it. Personally, I love using a bullet journal because it feels creative and keeps me engaged. But whatever method you choose, just make sure it works for you!
And here’s a little trick: using progress tracking as a motivational tool can be a game-changer. When I can visually see my progress—like checking off tasks or hitting benchmarks—I feel a sense of accomplishment. Those little wins keep the momentum going, so embrace them!
9. Not Anticipating Obstacles
Life tends to throw us a lot of curve balls, so it’s important to plan for setbacks. The last thing you want is to be blindsided by an obstacle you could’ve prepared for. Common obstacles include time management issues, unexpected events, or even just a dip in motivation.
I try to identify problems in advance and have contingency plans ready. For instance, during really hectic weeks when my schedule is absolutely jam-packed, I’ll still block out time for my working toward my goals. It’s basically “paying myself first”, but in a personal development sense.
10. Forgetting to Celebrate Small Wins
Celebrating small wins is a crucial, yet often overlooked part of the goal achievement process. I used to be the person who’d finish a huge project and just move on to the next without even a pause. But that’s just a recipe for burnout.
The psychology behind celebrating progress is solid. When you acknowledge your achievements, even the small ones, you’re reinforcing positive behaviors. Whether it’s treating yourself to a favorite meal, or planning a fun night out with friends, celebrating milestones keeps you motivated.
So, get creative! Those small wins contribute to long-term success, so celebrate often to keep the motivation alive.
Conclusion
Avoiding these common goal-setting mistakes can make a world of difference. Now that you know what to do, take a moment to review your current goals with these insights in mind. Are you setting too many goals at once? Not tracking your progress?
You’ve got this!
- Matthews, G. (2007). The Effect of Writing Goals on Goal Achievement. Dominican University, San Rafael, CA. Retrieved from Dominican University News Release: https://scholar.dominican.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1265&context=news-releases. ↩︎