Goal Setting Mistakes to Avoid at all Costs

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It’s the same thing every year. You set some goals for the New Year and you forget about them a month later.

The next year you start all over without moving an inch towards your goals. 

Don’t worry. It happens to everyone.

But it’s time to stop setting goals without achieving them.

I created a list of goal setting mistakes I do myself and I see other people do all the time that’s keeping you from achieving your goals. 

Before we get started, you can read this guide on how to set goals

You can also read about how to actually achieve your goals here.

Here are goal setting mistakes to avoid at all costs, and don’t forget to share to Pinterest!

Goal Setting Mistakes to Avoid

Making Goals too large

The first common mistake when setting goals is making them too large. 

I’m not saying you can’t achieve big goals because you definitely can and should. 

It’s the way you go about it. Goals seem much more achievable when you break them down into smaller steps. This makes creating a plan to achieve your goals more manageable.

Let’s say you have a goal to get 100,000 blog views. Sure, that’s a good goal, but it’s big. First you need to know how to get 10,000. And then 10,000 more. All the way until you get to 100,000 views which was your overall goal.

Set smaller goals as stepping stones to get to your big goal.

Making Goals too Small

On the other hand, you can also make goals too small. I know I just said to avoid making goals too big, but the point to set smaller goals until you can reach your overall goal.

A lot of people get scared and won’t even set goals because they don’t think they’ll ever achieve it.

Don’t let that be you.

You should set smaller goals as stepping stones to get to your big goal.

Making Goals that are Vague

Another huge goal setting mistake is making goals that are too vague.

If you set vague goals, how are you going to know how or when you reach them?

One really common vague goal is to be healthier. I’ve made this mistake many times before.

What even does being healthy mean? Developing good habits? Going to the gym so many times? Starting a fitness journey?

Setting a goal to be healthy is way too vague. You need to break it down into how you’re going to be healthy. So maybe you lose x amount of weight or you cut down to eating fast food one day a week.

Not setting a timeline

Not setting a timeline to complete your goals is another critical mistake.

If you don’t set a timeline, you’ll just keep pushing it off and before you know it, it’s next year and you set the same goals.

I know because I’ve been there.

Since you should set smaller goals, you should have shorter timelines. For example, you’ll read so many books in one month or do this 30 day self improvement challenge.

Not writing them Down

It’s hard to hold yourself accountable when you don’t write your goals down.

You won’t even be able to remember what they were 6 months from now.

People who write down their goals are a lot more likely to achieve them.

I like writing my yearly, monthly, and weekly goals down in a journal.

Setting too Many Goals

When you write too many goals, it makes it harder to achieve them. It’s hard to stop when you get carried away because you’re an ambitious person, but setting too many goals is something to avoid.

Limiting your goals gives you extra time and energy to spend on your goals that you are working on. 

If you realize you have too many, try to prioritize or combine goals that make sense.

Not Having a Plan

A lot of people set goals… but that’s where it stops. This goal setting mistake is sure to keep you from achieving your goals.

The first thing you should do after you set some goals is to create a plan of how you’re going to achieve them.

You need to lay out specifically what you’re going to do to achieve those goals. (It helps if you write down your plan too).

If your plan is to start a journal, what are you going to write in it? How often are you going to write in it?

These are some things you need to think about when you’re creating a plan to achieve your goals.

Not Fully Committing

If you want to achieve your goals, you have to be 100% committed. You either want it or you don’t.

I’ll tell you right now that if you kind of want to but kind of don’t, you’re probably not gonna get there.

When you’re setting goals, think about what you’ll be 100% committed to for however long your goals are. If you’re like 50/50, consider making a similar goal or reframing it in a different way.

Goal Setting Mistakes Final Thoughts

With all of that being said, it’s time to start setting goals that you’ll be proud to achieve this year.

Remember these tips to keep from getting overwhelmed and forgetting about your goals.

Thanks for reading goal setting mistakes to avoid at all costs.

Please share to Pinterest and let me know in the comments what your goals are!