I’ve been writing a lot about goals lately, and decided this would be a good time to talk about the number of goals one can expect to be able to work on and achieve at one time.  In theory, you should be able to work on all the goals you want, after all, our human brains are much more sophisticated than computers and were wired by the Ultimate Creator.  Therefore, multi-tasking, which we do consistently without even knowing it, is a cinch, right?

In my personal experience, trying to work on many different goals at once doesn’t work.  Here’s why.

First, there’s the argument of focus.  As physical beings, we are designed to create and achieve anything we focus on.  That means when we focus our thoughts, our energy, our actions, on accomplishing a particular set of tasks, or goal, we will, without fail, accomplish that goal.  However, there seems to be a limit as to how many goals we can focus on at one time.  When we try to do too much, our minds become cluttered and may shut down due to being overwhelmed.

Second, there’s the argument of priority.  Most of us set personal, professional, business, financial, family, and even spiritual goals.  Granted, we do have all of these various aspects to our lives and with everyone nearly screaming about “balance” these days, we feel obligated to have goals in each of these areas.  But be honest with yourself; how many of these areas can you work on at the same time and not feel overwhelmed?  So when we start to realize that we can’t concentrate on all areas at once, we are forced to choose, and guilt begins to rear it’s ugly head which, if left unchecked, will prevent us from accomplishing our goals.

Third, there’s the argument of time.  At the beginning of any given year, we tend to feel hopeful and optimistic about how much we can accomplish in 12 months, and that’s a good thing.  However, stop to think about your daily work schedule.  How much can you truly accomplish?  We tend to grossly overestimate what we can accomplish in one year.  We want to set big goals because we have big dreams, and that’s also a good thing.  But if we’re not realistic about our own energy levels and time limitations, we might find that we get discouraged and give up not too long into the New Year.

So, then, what am I recommending?  Whether you’re just starting out with this goal-setting concept, or a long-time veteran, remember this:  Once you’ve accomplished a goal, you can always set a new one.  Did you know that?  You see, what most people do is reserve their goal-setting time to once a year, and that’s it.  The trouble with that, is that it sets you up for possibly two problems; one, you achieve your goals, say, in May, and go the rest of the year goalless, meaning you could have accomplished more, or two, you set all of your year’s goals at once, become overwhelmed and give up because they are all too difficult to manage.

The system I use might seem a bit complicated at first, but long term it is manageable and, more importantly, it works.  To get all the details, read my recent post, How to Set Goals and Make New Year’s Resolutions You Can Actually Achieve.  In trying to figure out how many goals you can have at once, here’s my recommendation:  You can have as many goals and New Year’s Resolutions as you can put through that system and not start to feel overwhelmed.  In other words, if you follow my strategic planning method, the moment you start to feel overwhelmed, you’ve set enough goals for now.  Keep a list of other things you would like to work on, but plan to come back to them later.

Another good rule of thumb is to work on only one major goal in each of these areas at a time:  Body, Relationships, Home, and Work.  Everything in your life will fit into one of these four categories.  Working on one major goal in each of these areas is doable, without becoming unmanageable.  Naturally, you should choose what is most important to your life right now in each area.  Knowing that you will come back to your list will alleviate any quilt you feel.  Also, knowing that you have other goals to come back to will help keep you focused on goal achievement.  You’ll be thinking, “I must accomplish this goal so that I can move on to that goal.”

Remember to reflect on and reassess your goals, frequently.  This world is ever changing, and so are you.  It’s okay to let go of something that is either no longer of importance to you, would not serve your purpose now, or that you just don’t want anymore.  Letting go of out-dated goals frees up energy for what you do want.

Each morning, take just a few minutes to remind yourself of your four major goals, and decide what you’re going to do today toward them.  If you’ve used my strategic planning method, you will have already figured this out, but you need to take a few moments to review your plan.  This keeps you focused, reminds you of your priorities, and nearly manages your time for you while helping you feel in control rather than overwhelmed.

Lastly, remember to take everything one step at a time.  As you become more familiar with goal setting and strategic planning, you will get better at it and be able to set many goals.  For now, keep it simple and straight forward; my physical well-being, my important relationships, my sanctuary I call, “home,” and my work, which supports me and my family.  Whew!  That’s enough!

Posted under Leadership, Motivation