Raise your hand if you’ve got a half-finished DIY project gathering dust, untouched guitar lessons you were excited to start, or a big goal you proclaimed on January 1st but abandoned by February. Yeah, I see you.
We all have ideas, dreams and intentions that sadly never make it off our someday/maybe list and into reality. In the eternal words of Robert Burns, “the best laid plans of mice and men often go awry.”
Life’s busy. Distractions pop up. We run out of steam. So why do so many things go undone despite our best intentions? And how can we actually follow through to completion? Grab some coffee and let’s get to the bottom of this.
The Science Behind Why We Don’t Finish What We Started
Psychologists note a few key reasons things often stall out after the initial burst of motivation wears off:
- Instant Gratification Fallacy We overestimate how good we’ll feel once we obtain a goal and underestimate the work to get there. #buzzkill
- Loss Aversion We hate losing what we already have, even if it’s time or energy, more than we value future gain.
- Hedonic Adaptation We quickly get used to any new thing or achievement, so the happiness rush fades.
- Hyperbolic Discounting We value now over later and struggle with delaying gratification.
Basically, we’re not wired to handle the long haul very well. Our brains prefer quick, easy wins. But achieving anything big and meaningful usually requires overcoming these tendencies.
Why We Bail When the Going Gets Tough
Beyond how our tricky minds work, here are some common reasons we fail to follow through:
- No “True North” – We lose sight of our big “why” for embarking on this path in the first place.
- Lack of Planning – Jumping in without a plan leads to wandering aimlessly then bailing. No bueno.
- Trying to Go It Alone – Thinking we can do it solo without support or accountability partners almost guarantees failure. Pride cometh before the fall, folks.
- Lack of Skill/Prep – Diving into something we’re unqualified for packs frustration which makes us give up.
- Boredom – Giving up when the freshness and novelty wears off and it gets repetitive or boring.
- Plateaus – Getting stuck in a plateau with no apparent progress makes motivation plummet.
- Overwhelm – Attempting too much too fast brings exhaustion, anxiety, and defeat.
- Lack of Resources – From cash to equipment to connections, lacking key resources grinds progress to a halt.
- Health Setbacks – Physical or mental health struggles understandably hamper the ability to maintain momentum.
Life often throws us curveballs that understandably impact our plans. But many times, we’re unintentionally setting ourselves up to fail when taking on new endeavors. Let’s look at how to stack the odds for success in your favor instead.
How to Have Grit and Finally Follow Through
The good news is we can absolutely increase our chances of seeing things through with some science-backed strategies:
- Envision the end goal – Regularly remind yourself of the meaningful outcome you’re aiming for. Post it where you’ll see it.
- Make a step-by-step plan – Break an intimidating goal down into very small, manageable steps. Check them off as you go.
- Schedule time for it – Make regular time slots to dedicate to your goal, as you would any important meeting. Hold the time sacred.
- Prep your environment – Remove distractions, get all tools/supplies needed, and create an optimal space.
- Start stupid small – Take baby steps so tiny they seem ridiculous. This builds momentum and consistency.
- Track progress – Measure and record any forward action to stay motivated by visible results.
- Accountability partner – Find someone to report to weekly on your progress for motivation and troubleshooting.
- Reward milestones – Build in little celebrations each time you achieve a milestone to keep excitement high.
- Analyze setbacks – When you slip up, reflect on what tripped you and course correct. It’s part of the process.
- Be flexible – Make adjustments if certain aspects of your plan aren’t working. Pivot and adapt.
Finish Line Ahead
Reaching a big goal often feels far more arduous than we naively assumed. Our minds love starting things but struggle with follow through when novelty fades. But with purposeful planning, support, adjustments along the way, and viewing setbacks as learning opportunities, you can defy the odds to cross that finish line, one micro step at a time.
Now lace up your shoes, take a deep breath, and go out there and turn “someday” into today. I believe in you!