5 Reasons why people fail at their goals and 5 steps to prevent future failure.

“Success is not final, failure is not fatal:  it is the courage to continue that counts”

-Winston Churchill

I was shocked when I saw the Christmas decorations in the mall.  Green, red and white decorations are seen absolutely everywhere and people are buying Christmas gifts and gift wrapping services are popping up around every corner. Not that I don’t love the Christmas spirit. As a child, Christmas seemed to be so far away and on Christmas day I definitely did not think about mistakes I have made during the past year… but how my life has changed?  I know 2021 is coming to an end, but so soon?  In the coffee shop while sipping on my Americano I reflected on this past year, on the goals I did achieve and those I did not.  Luckily the goals that I achieved outweighed those that I did not but I had to dig deep to understand why I did not reach some of my set goals.  Certainly, there have been roadblocks but how can I identify them and “recalculate” to stay on the path to achieve my goals.

Many pitfalls stand in our way to achieving our set goals.  What follows is 5 reasons why people fail at achieving their goals.

1.Loss of focus

Loss of focus is one reason why we fail to achieve our set goals.  It is difficult even for driven people to keep their eye on the ball for an extended period of time.  It is extremely difficult to stay focused on your goals when something unexpected happens in your life.  How do you keep your momentum going when you fall ill, lose a family member or struggle financially?  I am sure that many of you can relate to this since the outbreak of the Covid pandemic.  We end up spending more time emotionally and physically on the so-called struggles we are facing than focusing on the goals we set.

2. Your goals are too vague

Your goals need to be specific.  Vague goals leave an opportunity for you to get confused and you will not be able to stay focused.  A vague goal like “studying” will leave you confused and you will not know what to do and when to do it.  Rather say “I am going to study the first chapter in my Psychology manual”.  You will feel accomplished and positive when you stick to your set goal for the day.

3. You write your goals in a negative language

You need inspiration when you set goals for yourself.  Negative talk or affirmations makes it impossible for you to reach your goal. You will be constantly reminded of your failures instead of the goals that you set to change a certain behaviour for the better.  Instead of writing “eat fewer carbohydrates” say “eat a more well-balanced diet”.

4. Inability to act

Another reason some of us don’t reach our goals is that our progress is hindered by procrastination.  When you procrastinate you feel as if your dreams and goals are slipping from your fingers.  You are left feeling guilty and helpless and it seems too much work catching up.  You are in an endless cycle.  The longer you wait to act, the harder it is to break the cycle of inaction.  The only way to overcome procrastination is to be persistent.

In an article by Wonderlustworker, he mentioned a simple life hack that will help you to get back on track. It is called the 15-minute rule.  He suggests that you set your phone for 15 minutes and commit to doing a task that you have been putting of.  Do that task for 15 minutes and after the 15 minutes are up you will keep going.  You can now break the vicious cycle of procrastination.

5. Overwhelm

People feel overwhelmed when they look at the task at hand.  It may seem too large and too difficult to achieve.  This can lead to a lack of self-confidence and doubting your abilities.  Being overwhelmed will cause you to feel stuck and you will feel incapable of achieving your goals.  Being overwhelmed can be extremely stressful which is another huge barrier when you try to achieve your goals.  

Now that we have determined some of the reasons why some of us do not achieve our goals we can take action and implement a SMART method to reach our goals.

S.M.A.R.T is an acronym that stands for Specific, Measureable, Achievable, Realistic and Timely.

S.M.A.R.T goals are:

Specific:  Your goals should be clear and specific, set numbers with deadlines so that you will know where to start and it will make it easier to achieve your set goals. An example of a specific goal is “I want to go to the gym 3 times per week”

Measurable:  You should be able to track the progress made and measure the outcome in achieving your goal.  Here you can ask the question when will I know when I achieved the goal.

Achievable:  The goal should be reasonable to achieve. Here you have to be realistic about your goal.  An example of an unrealistic goal is “I want to lose 10kg in one week”.  Be honest with yourself – you know your limitations better than anyone else.  

Realistic:  Your goal should be realistic and worthwhile and consistent with other goals you have set.  You know what you are capable of and be aware of possible hurdles that you will have to overcome. 

Timely:  You should give yourself a specific deadline to accomplish your goals.  This will establish a sense of urgency and prompt you to manage your time wisely. 

A plan of action for you

Now that you have pinned down the obstacles in your way to achieve your goals and a rather easy solution to combat future failures by using the S.M.A.R.T method it is time to set your goals for 2021.  Take your time when deciding what your goals will be.  Do not let anyone influence your decisions or dreams. Your goals and dreams are personal and only you know what will make you happy and fulfilled.   Write down your goals and be specific, it is key to identify any obstacles that you may encounter in the process and how you can avoid them.

It is time to use the S.M.A.R.T method to create an action plan for your goals.  I urge you to use it.  It will not only give your peace of mind but will also boost your self-esteem when you reach your goals, even the smallest achieved goals will be an instant boost of positivity.  The vicious negative circle of not being good enough, lazy, helpless will be broken and you will feel optimistic for the year ahead and the goals you want to achieve.  I promise you that you will not look back at 2022 disheartened but you will be filled with joy and pride if you stay focused on your goals and the method to achieve them. 

My sincere wish for you is that you may experience a prosperous 2022 filled with joy and may all your dreams become a reality.