Trap #7: You set your goals in dysfunctional ways

With every single aspiration that you have, if you want to achieve it, you are much better off giving it structure, shape, and form.

Trap #7: You set your goals in dysfunctional ways   How often do we have a task where we don't even know where to begin? In fact, we often actually say that to ourselves: "I don't even know where to begin."   Guess what? Viewing things in those terms is not exactly going to help us jump in and begin. This is the trap of terrible goal-setting: we have a big blob of a task that is without form, structure, or quantification. "Get healthy." "Get better about money." "Look for a new job." "Be more social." "Get organized." As common as these goals are (especially around New Year's Day — hello, clean slate trap!) they are among the least likely to be achieved. Why? Because they can't be measured very well. You don't know how you'll recognize when you've actually achieved them, and you sure as anything don't know how to actually get there. Another common trap of goal-setting is to make the goal about the end result, not the action itself. But then how will you know what to do? Focus on the action instead. (Out: "Get outside more." In: "Take a walk around the park during my lunch break.") As goals go, the amorphous blob should be your mortal enemy. With every single aspiration that you have, if you want to achieve it, you are much better off giving it structure, shape, and form. Break it down into concrete, specific parts. Even the most lofty of goals can be divided down into steps, and generally, the smaller the steps are, the more likely you are to meet them. Let's say your goal is "Be better about money." Ask yourself the following questions: What does "be better" mean? Save more? Spend less? Keep better track of it? All of the above? What period of time do you want to set for this? How will you know that you are making progress, and how will you reward yourself along the way? What are the first three tiny steps to making this happen? What one step can you repeat each day in order to stick to your goal?     Take Action:   Identify a goal, either big ("Cook more at home") or small ("Write this report that's due on Friday"), that is hanging over your head. Break it down into three tiny, concrete steps to start. ("Make a list of groceries that are easy to cook with" or "Open up the file, get out my notes, and write one line of the report.")   Take five minutes out of your day today to do the first five minutes of that task. Only five. Stop yourself when time is up.   Give yourself a pat on the back. If you want to go back to it for another round, all the better. But if not, that's okay too. You've taken the first step of chipping away at the amorphous blob.   Up next: Stakes vs. odds.  In the meantime, if you have questions or news about your progress in this challenge, I host a live weekly anonymous chat online on Tuesdays at 1 PM EST here. Feel free to drop in! You can also find me on Facebook. —Dr. Andrea Bonior Do you know someone who would love the Detox Your Thoughts newsletter? Tell them to sign up here! View our privacy notice and cookie policy.     BuzzFeed, Inc. 111 E. 18th St. New York, NY 10003   We hope you love the products we recommend! Just so you know, BuzzFeed may collect a small share of sales from the links in this email.   Unsubscribe