We all have habits that we would like to change. While some are more difficult than others, we can all agree that creating new habits and making them stick is not easy for anyone.
Whenever we decide to introduce a new habit into our lives by setting new goals, there’s usually this voice inside of us that doubts our ability to accomplish those goals. This may be because of our own experience in the past or due to experiences of other people that we’ve heard of. In most cases, it takes a near supernatural ability to be able to set difficult goals and stay with them till they are accomplished.
The natural question would then be, why is it very difficult to set goals and yet not be able to reach them?
We’ve all been made to believe that setting better goals automatically translates to achieving better things in life. We’ve all at some point in our life set specific, measurable, realistic and timely goals like:
- I want to lose 20 pounds by June 2022.
- I’m going to read 2 books each month in 2022.
- I want to have published 100 blog posts by year end 2022 etc.
These are all noble targets that are measurable by their outcome. However, what if I told you that most times, our results have little or nothing to do with our goals. You can set the best goals with all the right attributes and still fail to achieve them. That’s because the results we achieve with our goals have everything to do with the systems we put in place to achieve those goals.
To provide further clarification
Goals are the targets you want to achieve while systems are the processes you put in place to help you achieve them.
If we break this down further:
- Goals tell you where you intend to reach, they focus on tomorrow.
- Systems show you how to reach your intended destination; they’re focused on today.
Hence, it’s common sense to understand that we need to take care of today first if we’re serious about determining the outcomes of tomorrow. We need to put in place better systems, not set better goals
The earlier you begin to understand this principle, the sooner you’d start building more efficient and productive processes to help you achieve your goals.
So, what is the problem with goal setting?
You can set the best of goals in your life with the best of intentions, however if you do not design a system (an effective daily routine) that supports you in achieving these goals, you’re doomed to fail at achieving them.
- Goals by default, immediately set you up for a defeat because the underlying concept when setting a goal is that you’re a failure at something until you can reach your desired goal and that’s one big psychological hurdle to overcome, even at the subconscious level. Not reaching those goals even while you’re enroute to achieving them can make you think that you’re failing at it when in fact, you’re making tiny little progress on it daily.
- Secondly setting futuristic goals means you also must spend more than necessary time thinking about the goals which could also be counterproductive.
- Thirdly, goal setting focuses you on the wrong things. For instance, say you want to have read 100 books by a certain period. While you may achieve this, the primary objective of reading to learn new things and acquire new skills might be overlooked just for the purpose of reaching your set target of completing your target number of books.
- Lastly, achieving a goal is temporary, when we achieve our set goals the feeling of excitement, we derive from it is temporary and once the excitement subsides, we’re most likely to relapse to our old ways without the motivation and drive needed to maintain the results compared to when we were still trying to achieve them.
Not that goals are entirely bad; they still have their own uses.
- For instance, goals still help to provide us with direction. When you have a pretty good idea of what the result is that you hope to achieve, it forms the basis with which to measure and track your progress each day.
- Secondly, goal setting helps with the decision-making process. Because you know what exactly you want to achieve, you’d be better able to define the tasks or systems you need to put in place to achieve those goals.
Why Systems are more important than goals
The problem with goal setting is that they make us focus on the future while removing us from the present. We end up expending more energy on goal setting rather than spending that time on planning and creating systems that would facilitate the achievement of those goals.
A system on the other hand is designed to make it easy for you to consistently repeat the necessary tasks needed to accomplish our set goals.
Here are 5 reasons why I think systems are better
- Systems are skill-based.
Systems help us to build valuable skills that will eventually pay us forward in the future. When we focus on systems, we expand and grow in the process of working towards our goal not necessarily minding the result
- Systems create life-long change.
Goals leave us chasing the same outcome every time even if we’re failing at achieving them because we haven’t addressed the underlying problem of fixing the systems that are supposed to help us reach those goals. Fixing our systems and making them right help us to achieve change that is long lasting and enduring.
- Systems create instant rewards.
While goals delay gratification, systems have a way of rewarding you for accomplishing each task for each day. This shift in mindset is very crucial to stay the course so that when the bad days come and we’re unable to follow through with our systems, we don’t get discouraged easily knowing the following day is another good day to earn our usual gratification.
- Systems help you focus on the journey.
The journey they say is more important than the destination. It’s important that on our way to achieving our goals, we enjoy every bit of it and not make it feel like it’s hard work. It should at least be fun and a mindset of taking things one day at a time, helps you to achieve that.
- Systems are a lot more flexible.
When you’re focused on creating the right systems, you’re better placed to keep adjusting your processes until you find what works without losing any steam on the goals you’re trying to achieve. Focusing on goals on the other hand may mean that when we’re not seeing the results we hope to see, we can easily get discouraged from trying.
There are several other benefits a system can provide you besides the ones we mentioned above, the main point however is that focusing on systems rather than the goal itself is a better way to go in achieving our desired goals.
Five key reasons why I think this is summarized as thus:
- Systems are skilled based
- Systems create long lasting change
- Systems create instant rewards
- Systems help you focus on the journey
- Systems are a lot more flexible
Own the entire process and enjoy every bit of it along the way, then it’ll be worth it in the end!
With Love and gratitude as always, Xo!
Thinking about other ways you can explore this topic to get familiar with techniques and tips to help you achieve your goals for 2023, you should get a copy of my eBook. “How to Start from Zero” and discover so many other ideas around goal setting, goal pursuit and goal accomplishment.
There are actually a lot of other secrets and ideas amongst other health tips I shared in the eBook and in very practical, relatable, and realistic terms. “How to Start from Zero” will definitely show you how to adopt healthy lifestyle habits and get rid of the bad ones faster and with greater ease than you’d expect.
You can click the link below to get a copy of the e-book for yourself.
Disclaimer: Please note that I am not your doctor while I am a health coach by profession. This article is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice nor does it establish any kind of medical relationship between you and me. I will not be held liable for any damage resulting from or related to your use of this information.
Reference to Atomic Habits (https://jamesclear.com/goals-systems)