Strategic Success: The Power of Focused Goals

In our culture of instant gratification we want to achieve ALL our goals ALL at once. We forget that true goal achievement is often a long game, taking focus and commitment. New Years Resolutions often result in long lists of goals. According to data from the Statistic Brain Research Institute, the success rate for New Year's resolutions was reported to be around 9.2% .

This blog explores one strategy to help you be in that 9.2%.

LIMIT YOUR GOALS

Experts recommend working on 1-3 goals at at time for ultimate success.

While there is no one-size-fits-all recommendation, many productivity and goal-setting experts advocate for the principle of focusing on a limited number of goals at a time. The idea behind this recommendation is rooted in the psychology of goal achievement and the practical realities of human attention and resources.

In this blog, we'll explore the transformative power of narrowing our focus and why limiting ourselves to one to three goals at a time can be a game-changer for personal growth and success.

Some problems with having too many goals:

1. Increases stress while taking away coping strategies.

Working on goals is stressful. We are disrupting our lives and routines by making changes. Many of us make goals to give up negative habits. This is great, but often those habits are acting as (negative) coping skills. Yes, you should definitely quit negative habits, but trying to do so all at once may not be the best strategy.

2. Causes negative thinking

Having an extensive list of goals can lead to negative thinking pretty quickly. Our brains are wired to look for the negative and talk us out of things that may be difficult. Having too many goals gives your brain tons of excuses to work with. We become frustrated and overwhelmed before we even start working on a goal! This leads to us feeling bad about ourselves.

Limiting goals has positive effects:

Enhances Focus:

Limiting goals to 1-3 allows you to really focus on what you need to do to accomplish each goal. It allows you to come up with a strategy and schedule time each day to working on your goals.

Boosts Mood

Achieving goals generates positive feelings. By limiting the number, you create more opportunities for successful accomplishments, boosting overall feelings of success and self worth.

So while it’s tempting to tackle everything at once, Intentionally limiting ourselves to three or less goals at a time is making a commitment to success.

By carefully selecting and dedicating ourselves to a manageable number of goals, we create a pathway to achievement that is both realistic and fulfilling.

So, let's embrace the power of “less is more“ and be in the 9.2% of people who succeed.

GET YOUR FREE GOAL MASTERY WORKBOOK HERE

If you need help with goal setting contact Carrie Raap at R+ Therapy in Tucson, AZ. Carrie is an online therapist with more than 20 years experience. She is an expert in behavior change. Her therapeutic specialties include Cognitive Behavioral Therapy addressing relationships, stress management, coping, making positive changes and anxiety. She has numerous credentials, including a Master's Degree in Social Work (MSW) and a license in clinical social work (LCSW). She is also a Certified Service Dog Trainer and loves blending these passions to help people improve their mental health with animal assisted therapies. She has several virtual therapy options to help you achieve your goals, She is hard at work designing some online courses for you so check back soon!