Most goals fail, says financial psychologist—4 steps to actually achieve yours
Goals tend to fail either because we aim for the wrong things or because environmental factors keep us from succeeding, says a financial psychologist.
TL;DR
- 70% of Americans abandon their 2024 resolutions, according to a Harris Poll.
- Goals often fail because they are too large, don't align with identity, or there are too many of them.
- Lack of social support is another key reason for goal failure.
- Chaffin's four-step plan includes aligning goals with identity, dividing them into shorter time horizons, making them concrete, and using friction to advantage.
- Aligning goals with identity makes them intrinsic and more motivating.
- Breaking long-term goals into smaller, intermediate steps improves chances of success.
- Making goals concrete involves writing them down and enlisting social support for accountability.
- Using 'friction' means making desired actions easier and undesired actions more difficult.