Why setting fewer goals will help you achieve more

Less quantity but better quality is what will lead to greater success

Photo by Kelly Sikkema on Unsplash

We all know that setting goals are the first step we have to make to actually achieve them. Otherwise, you will feel like a wanderer walking in the middle of the woods without an aim, without a map, directionless. That’s a notion we can all get behind and we understand the importance of having clear goals.

However, you might have to ask yourself if maybe doing too many to-do lists could be harming your progress?

Before we get as to why you need to have fewer goals, less understand how to set proper ones for yourself. What are the steps to follow to really map out the necessary roadmap to achieve your dreamed life, job, or project?

S.M.A.R.T. goals

Specific: Don’t say you want to read more, say how many books per month you want to read. Getting specific gives you a clear direction to move towards.

Measurable: All goals to help you must be measurable, something that you can see if you’ve achieved or if you’ve missed the mark.

Achievable: If you currently read 2 books per year, and you want to read more, but you put read 10 books per month, you are setting yourself up for failure. Remember to start with something you know you can, if you put in the work, do.

Realistic: Again, make it something realistic for you. Maybe Karen can read way loads more than you, or maybe she has smaller bones and can weigh much less, but those goals will not be realistic for you.

Timely: When setting up goals, give them a date-by in which you want to accomplish them. If you are making them with a 5-year mark, it won’t encourage you to start working today on them. Make it so that you can assess them weekly or monthly.

Less is More

Once you’ve learned to set your goals with the SMART technique, you’ll realize that if you set too many goals you will be spreading yourself too thin. Focus on just a handful amount of goals that you can properly work towards and measure. Only then will you be able to put in the effort that is needed to make real progress.

Having fewer goals helps you keep track of them, and to keep your motivation by not having too much on your plate. Remember that time, attention and money are limited resources, so you better use them wisely.