Keep it to yourself at first

One exception to specific, challenging goals is creative problem-solving. Tasks that need deep thinking, such as learning or creative work, goal-setting can become problematic. These tasks require all your working memory. A stressful deadline can hurt your ability to gene...

We can motivate ourselves to pursue our goals using the 80% rule.

Track your smaller goals (30 days goals) and track your success rate. If you're under 80%, try setting a more achievable target. If you're over 80%, try something more challenging.

Psychologist Edwin Locke's research on goal-setting shows three important findings:

• Setting goals improves performance.
• Hard goals improve performance better than easy ones.
• Specific targets work better than "trying to do your best."

Much of the stress from setting goals comes from goals that are not truly your own. 

External incentives, such as paying someone to complete an otherwise interesting puzzle, could dampen internal motivation. Too many outside goals make it harder to motivate ourselves consis...

Research shows that we procrastinate when we perceive tasks as unpleasant.

When we set goals, our motivational hardwiring doesn't cope well with things in the future. We'll start to slack when the deadline is in the far future, and the immediate work isn't enjoyable.

Setting goals can change your life for the better. For example, goals can help you get in shape, improve your finances, or launch a business. But goal-setting can also make you feel miserable. Potential problems are disillusionment and burnout.

The differen...