If you’re a member of our incredible Ink+Volt community, it’s safe to say that you’re no stranger to big goals and dreams. You might even consider yourself an overachiever.
But, as many overachievers know far too well, there’s a flipside to the shiny goals and accomplishments. You find yourself taking on way too much. Saying yes to every obligation. And compromising your health, sleep, and self-care in order to succeed. You’re so focused on the next goal or rung on the ladder that you never have time to look at the big picture or slow down.
If you’re feeling overwhelmed or even “blah” about your goals, this is your sign to slow down in the new year. It’s time to adopt a gentler, slower approach to your goals.
Here’s why it pays to adopt a slow goal setting strategy when you’re an overachiever:
You get to experience boredom. When you’re an overachiever, it’s always go-go-go. And while this constant cycle of success and hard work can be thrilling, it’s also overly stimulating. You miss the chance to get truly bored. And boredom is a good thing. It’s only when you’re bored out of your mind that you start to slow down enough to come up with new ideas, creative breakthroughs, or solutions.
It’s a chance to look back. Reflection is a crucial stage of the goal setting process, but it’s one that we often gloss over because we’re too busy focusing on the next step or target. But how do you know if you’re heading in the right direction unless you’re reflecting on where you’re coming from? Slowing down gives you a chance to actually assess what’s going on with your life and make an informed decision about what to do next.
It’s a chance to reset. With proper rest and reflection, you can set forth on your goals with renewed clarity, purpose, and drive.
Slow goal setting strategies
Below are some tips and strategies you can use to help you slow down and keep your eye on your goals, without stretching yourself too thin.
Learn how to prioritize by thinking of your future self
If you’re an overachiever, you might struggle with taking on too much and saying yes to too many things. But if you really want to achieve your goals, especially the goals that are important to you, you have to learn what to prioritize and what to decline.
After all, if everything is a priority then nothing is a priority. So you really need to think hard about what is truly important to you.
Here’s an actionable exercise: Go through your current to-do list. What can you defer, delegate, or decline?
If you're having trouble determining what to say “no” to and what to prioritize, start by asking yourself this question:
When I look back on the year, will I be glad that I spent my time composing the perfect email? Or would I rather have spent it taking leisurely walks outside?
This prompt will help you view your priorities from a different perspective. Think about the long-view and your future self. Then, you’ll know what to focus on.
Get out of your own way
While goals give us direction and a much-needed sense of purpose, they can also stir a lot of complicated feelings and emotions. We worry that we’ll never reach our goal. Or we get anxious that we won’t have enough time to work on our goal.
To this we say: trust yourself and get out of your own way.
When it comes to goals, there are already so many obstacles and variables beyond our control. It’s hard enough trying to launch a business or run your first marathon or write your first book. You don’t need to add to these challenges by creating your own.
So don’t be your worst opponent. Trust that you will reach your goal eventually.
Getting out of your own way can mean making time for your goals by scheduling them on your calendar.
Getting out of your own way can mean writing in your journal whenever you’re experiencing doubts and reciting a mantra to help you stay the course.
Getting out of your own way can mean controlling what you can control, instead of fretting about the variables out of your control. So if you’re worried about meeting your fitness or health goals, then make a list of actionable things you can do to ensure your success. Have an accountability partner so that you have someone to check-in with. Sign up for a group fitness class so that you have something on the books
Have a beginner’s mindset
Overachievers may feel the need to be perfect at everything. But this perfectionist mindset is holding you back and keeping you in your comfort zone. How can you expect to learn new things if you only pursue goals or tasks that you know you’ll excel at? How can you expect to grow unless you take a small risk every now and then?
Growth requires failure, mistakes, and a lot of stumbles. So approach your goal with a beginner’s mindset. Embrace being a student. And try not to judge your performance along the way. You’ll begin to enjoy the process and rediscover the joys of learning a new skill or habit.
Follow your curiosity
Overachievers may feel pressured to pursue the “right” kind of goals. Landing a promotion. Getting a prestigious job offer. Buying a house. Because of this external pressure to succeed, you often neglect your own needs and inner desires. So take the time to pursue a goal that you think is interesting, or something that you’re curious about. Start by brainstorming a list of new goals and resolutions. Maybe it’s signing up for a photography class at a community college. Or taking up birdwatching.
When you pursue a goal that you’re naturally curious about or interested in, you’ll be that much more likely to be enthusiastic and energized about it. You won’t ever have to worry about making time for your goal because you’ll want to dedicate your time to it.
Written by JiJi Lee