Uncovering 7 Reasons Why Your Get Overwhelmed by Goals

Do you often find yourself setting goals only to become overwhelmed by them later? If so, you’re not alone. It’s a common challenge that many people face when striving for personal growth and success.

While setting goals can be exciting, it’s normal for the motivation we felt in the beginning to fade as the challenges involved become more apparent. This is a common experience, but it doesn’t have to hinder our progress or make us give up. By understanding this cycle and finding ways to stay motivated, we can reach our goals and achieve success. 

In this article, we’ll explore 7 common reasons why our goals may feel overwhelming. By gaining a deeper understanding of these underlying causes, we can learn to set and achieve our goals more effectively and with greater ease. Let’s begin!

Understanding Why Goals Can Overwhelm You

Feeling overwhelmed by your goals is not a sign of weakness or incompetence; it’s a natural response to the demands and expectations we set for ourselves. If you often feel overwhelmed and want to understand why, check out this article on the subject.

In our society, there is often a strong emphasis on productivity and success. This may cause us to constantly push ourselves beyond our limits. While setting goals can be beneficial for personal growth, it’s important to recognize that they can also hurt our well-being if not managed properly. This is why it is important to understand why goals overwhelm us so we can navigate them more effectively.

Here are 7 common reasons why goals overwhelm us:

1. We Feel Pressure to Succeed

One of the main reasons why goals can overwhelm us is the pressure to succeed. We often associate our self-worth and personal value with the success rate in accomplishing our goals. 

Is it any wonder that we put so much pressure on ourselves?

But this need for external validation can make even the most well-intentioned goals feel like a heavy load to bear. Keep in mind that success is subjective, so don’t tie it to your self-esteem. 

Instead of putting yourself down when you don’t achieve your goals, remind yourself that you’re a competent person who hasn’t reached a particular goal. By doing this, you detach yourself from the result and prevent it from shaping your identity. This allows you to analyze the situation objectively and focus on potential solutions to reach the goal.  

Remember, success is not just about achieving your goals. Those who succeed learn from their mistakes, move past any setbacks quickly and keep going until they reach their destination. 

2. We’re Afraid of Failure

Closely tied to the pressure to succeed is the fear of failure. Many people avoid setting goals altogether because they’re afraid of not achieving them and facing the disappointment or judgment that may come with them. 

But succumbing to the fear of failure can prevent us from going after our dreams. The truth is, you can’t win by playing it safe. So, even though there are no guarantees for success, it’s better to take a chance than not try at all. 

Failures and setbacks are a natural part of any journey toward a goal. Instead of fearing failure, try reframing it as an opportunity for growth and learning. Even if you haven’t accomplished your goal yet, the fact that you’re willing to keep trying means you’ll eventually get there. 

3. Our Goals Lack Clarity

Another reason why goals can overwhelm us is a lack of clarity. When we don’t have a clear understanding of what we want to achieve, it’s easy to become overwhelmed by all the potential paths and decisions that lie ahead. Without a defined direction, our goals may seem unattainable or too open-ended, leading to feelings of uncertainty and doubt. 

To combat this, take the time to clearly define your goals and break them down into manageable action steps. This will help give you a clear roadmap to follow and make your goals feel more achievable.

Read more: Learn How to Break Big Goals Into Smaller Steps»

I find that documenting my goals is incredibly beneficial for gaining clarity on my actions. This practice not only saves me from wasting time contemplating everything I need to do, but it also prevents me from feeling overwhelmed. I prefer writing my goals on a whiteboard over paper because it enables me to maintain focus and gives a clear visual representation of my goals.

4. We Compare Ourselves to Others

In today’s digital world, where we have unrestricted access to other people’s success stories through social media, it’s all too easy to fall into the trap of comparing our goals and progress to their achievements. This constant comparison can lead us to question our abilities and worth, making our goals seem even more overwhelming and difficult to achieve in comparison. 

As thoughts of self-doubt creep, we may even begin to wonder if we’re capable of reaching our goals at all. 

To combat this, we need to remind ourselves that everyone’s journey is unique and what works for someone else may not necessarily work for us. So, instead of comparing yourself to others, focus on your progress and achievements. 

Remember that every goal has a set of steps that you need to complete to reach the finish line. This means that every step you take towards your goal is a success, no matter how small it may seem.

5. We’re Too Focused On Everything Being Perfect

If you’re a perfectionist like me, you know firsthand that it can be a major hindrance to achieving goals. The belief that everything must be done perfectly or not at all can lead to paralysis and procrastination. This mindset can make even the smallest tasks seem daunting and overwhelming, hindering progress towards your goals.

To overcome perfectionism, remind yourself that it’s okay to make mistakes and that progress is more important than perfection. Accept that things will not always go according to plan, and trust in your ability to adapt and learn from any challenges that may emerge along the way.

Keep in mind that reducing your need for perfection is a gradual process that takes time. But in every instance where you don’t attain perfection and find peace with it, you move closer to being less hard on yourself. 

Did you know that perfectionism is closely related to a phenomenon known as impostor syndrome? It can affect individuals from all walks of life, leading them to doubt their accomplishments and feel like a fraud despite evidence of their competence. 

6. We Have Unrealistic Expectations From Our Goals

Often, we tend to set unrealistic goals without considering the practicality of achieving them. This can lead to feelings of overwhelm and defeat when we’re unable to meet these high expectations. It’s important to set realistic and achievable goals that align with our abilities and resources.

This doesn’t mean that we shouldn’t dream big; it simply means that we need to be mindful of our limitations and consider them when setting goals.

Read more: The Ultimate Guide to Setting S.M.A.R.T Goals»

In the book, “Will” by Will Smith and Mark Manson, Will shares a story about how his father had him and his brothers build a wall. At first, the task seemed overwhelming, but his father’s approach was simple – focusing on laying one perfect brick at a time. Not only did this make the task more achievable but it also resulted in a strong and impressive wall. This story significantly influenced my perspective on pursuing my goals.

You don’t try to build a wall. You don’t set out to build a wall. You don’t say ‘I’m going to build the biggest, baddest, greatest wall that’s ever been built.’ You don’t start there. You say ‘I’m gonna lay this brick as perfectly as a brick can be laid,’ and you do that every single day, and soon you have a wall.

– Will Smith

The quote by Will Smith, inspired by his father, serves as a powerful reminder to focus on the process rather than the result. This approach can be applied to various aspects of life, whether it’s personal growth or career success.

Instead of setting out to achieve a grand goal, break it down into smaller, achievable tasks and focus on doing each one to the best of your ability. By consistently laying one “brick” at a time, you’ll eventually build something great.

This mindset shift allows for a more manageable and sustainable approach, rather than overwhelming yourself with unrealistic expectations. So don’t be discouraged by the size of a task; instead, focus on taking small steps towards your end goal every day.

7. Our Focus is Split Among Numerous Tasks

Multitasking is often considered a necessary skill in today’s fast-paced world. However, research has shown that it can reduce productivity and hinder our ability to focus and complete tasks efficiently, leading to overwhelm.

When we multitask, we don’t fully give our attention to any of the tasks at hand. Instead, our brain constantly switches between them, causing us to lose focus and potentially make mistakes. This can impact the quality of our work.

Furthermore, multitasking can increase stress levels and overwhelm us as we try to juggle multiple tasks at once. It can also lead to burnout and exhaustion, resulting in decreased motivation and productivity in the long run.

Focusing on one task at a time allows us to give it our full attention and complete it with better quality. This leads to a sense of accomplishment and motivation, which can ultimately lead to greater success in the long term.

I hope these insights into finding balance and setting realistic goals have been beneficial for you. Remember, success is not about striving for perfection; it’s about making progress and continuously growing. By setting clear and realistic goals, you can overcome feelings of overwhelm and achieve the success you deserve.