Setting goals is pretty straightforward.
The real challenge is keeping yourself motivated for the long run to actually reach those goals.
So, here’s the secret sauce for getting it right: whenever you’re feeling motivated take advantage of that energy to break your big goals into small, manageable steps.
As you keep accomplishing these smaller tasks, you’ll find yourself more motivated to stick with working towards your bigger goal.
This is like a little kick of encouragement to help keep you going.
What’s Blocking You from Achieving Your Goals?
When we don’t reach our goals, many of us tend to blame it on bad luck.
Some of us even blame ourselves for setting goals that are just too big.
But here’s the thing: if you start to think that your goals are too ambitious or unattainable, you might get discouraged and lose the energy or enthusiasm you need to achieve them.
Instead of thinking your goals are too big, you might want to consider this: have you ever thought about breaking them into smaller, more manageable pieces that you can tackle bit by bit each day?
According to Harvard Researcher Teresa Amabile, it’s these little daily wins that are like a superpower for keeping you motivated.
This means that if we want to stay motivated on a daily basis, then we have to make sure that we can achieve our goals day by day.
And sometimes, those daily goals might need to be divided into even smaller, manageable chunks.
Big tasks can often start to feel overwhelming, but when you can tick off one small item after another from your to-do list, you’ll start to feel a sense of fulfillment.
This in turn creates a cycle of positive motivation, keeping you on track towards completing your bigger goals.
The Magic of Small Goals for Staying Motivated
When you achieve something, even if it’s something small, it gives you a great positive feeling.
But why does this happen?
Well, it’s because when you succeed, your brain releases a special chemical called dopamine.
This dopamine is like your brain’s pleasure-maker.
It’s what makes you feel happy.
Now, those smart people who study the brain, called neuroscientists, say that dopamine isn’t just about feeling good.
It’s also about getting you excited to do that thing again.
They call it “self-directed learning.”
So, when you learn that you can reach one goal after another, you start to crave that “dopamine effect.”
That’s why setting small, doable goals is a fantastic way to help you reach your big, long-term goals.
And here’s the cool part: by knocking out those smaller tasks, your motivation to start and stick with the big ones happens more naturally.
You won’t need to rely so much on willpower or determination because your brain is already on board with the plan.
Breaking Out of Your Comfort Zone with Simple Goals
One big reason people struggle to reach their goals is that they’re scared to step out of their comfort zone.
We’re all like that sometimes, and it’s because we have this natural instinct to stay safe.
This fear is part of our nature.
Because back in the day, it helped our ancestors to avoid becoming lunch for big, scary predators.
But today, this fear holds us back from achieving some amazing things.
So, what often happens is that people keep saying, “I’ll do it someday.”
But guess what?
Days, weeks, and months slip away, and you’re still snug in your little comfort zone.
Those stepping stones that could lead you to a successful life remain untouched.
Here’s where setting easy small goals starts to become super useful.
When you choose easy goals, you don’t have to make major changes to your current routine.
You won’t have to take a giant leap out of your comfort zone.
This approach will calm down those inner worries tied to the fear of failing.
With simpler smaller goals, you can step out of your comfort zone in a way that feels totally manageable.
And now the interesting bit: by achieving those smaller goals, you start to see how you can reach the bigger ones you’re aiming for.
So, easy goals are like your roadmap to success, helping you venture out of your comfort zone step by step.
