We all love to create goals for ourselves, especially at the beginning of another year. And having goals you want to accomplish is definitely a positive thing that can help you stay on track. However, you might also be in danger of setting one too many goals for yourself. After all, you get to see what everyone else is doing on social media or discover new entrepreneurs who seem like they’ve conquered the world. And in an instant, you may feel like your goals are not enough, that you need to do more with your life and time.
In a way, this too is a type of FOMO, more specifically known as the Shiny Object Syndrome. However, if you wish to truly improve your focus and productivity, you should practice habits that help you avoid Shiny Object Syndrome, not welcome it into your life.
Also read:Six of the Best Ways to Help You Keep Track of Goals
Are You the Victim of Shiny Object Syndrome?
Do you find it difficult to stay focused on just one idea, project, or goal until it’s completed? Do you tend to jump from one idea to the next because it feels exciting but fail to see them through? Has it become a habit of yours to subscribe to new lessons and take courses in a variety of different fields only to leave them unfinished? Is it your instinctive reaction to accept every new opportunity that comes your way without thinking it through? If the answer to these questions is yes, you’re more than likely to suffer from the Shiny Object Syndrome.
This is a problem that many entrepreneurs deal with. There’s nothing wrong with wanting to be the best that you can be, but overwhelming yourself with too many tasks, goals, and responsibilities is not the way to achieve that. What’s more, such a practice will only lead to a loss of focus, motivation, and productivity. What will work, however, is utilizing the following tips for staying away from this particular mindset so that you can focus on your true goals.
Keep Your Goals Limited
As mentioned, having one too many goals can actually hinder your focus and productivity. Instead of overwhelming yourself with, let’s say, 10 core goals, it’s considerably more effective and productive to set three achievable goals with a clear deadline. That way, you can focus 100 percent of your energy on working toward accomplishing these goals with a higher chance of success.
The Shiny Object Syndrome may be tempting and make a bunch of other projects and ideas appealing, but it’s important that you don’t go over your designated number of set goals until you accomplish them. Otherwise, you’ll only end up splitting your energy and productivity into too many parts, either ending up with no goals reached or complete burnout.
Slow Down and Think Things Through
The new idea may seem amazing and great, especially with all the success stories you hear in regard to it. It’s much like that pair of fancy shoes you saw someone rock on TV that you bought, only to never wear them because they’re not really your style. This is it right here – the Shiny Object Syndrome. Not everything other people find pleasure in will be right for you, be it their goals or their shoes.
Just like you want to make a decision about your clothing and footwear purchases based on whether they fit your style, take the time to deeply and carefully think through the new goal you want to set for yourself. Does it fit your current schedule? Is it something you can devote enough time and energy to without compromising your already set and hugely important goals?
Every Reached Goal Deserves a Reward
In order to maintain your motivation and focus, it’s also important to reward yourself after every goal you reach. But make it a point to only do this when you truly accomplish what you’ve set out to do. This is the ideal practice that will help you stay on the right path and refrain from taking on more and more projects that are almost impossible to complete.
Stop Comparing Yourself to Other People
We all tend to compare ourselves to others at some point. But this, too, can be a huge distraction from your own goals. If you get motivation and inspiration from other people’s success stories, that’s great. But the moment that inspiration starts making you wish to copy what other people are doing, it’s time to take a break. Stop what you’re doing and seriously consider whether such a move is actually worth your while. And even if it is, it’s definitely a better idea to finish what you’ve already started and only then add new agendas to your to-do list.
Get Some Help with Accountability
The most important thing you can do when trying to avoid shiny object syndrome is to hold yourself accountable. However, this can sometimes be a bit more challenging, especially if you’ve been dealing with this problem for a while. In that sense, there’s nothing wrong with seeking external help with accountability. You can talk to your colleagues, partner, trusted family member, and/or a friend – anyone who knows your goals and your struggles. That way, they can also steer you in the right direction during those moments when you can’t recognize that you’re repeating the same mistake again.
To see a clear difference between an actual opportunity and a shiny object is crucial for improving your focus and productivity and overall content and success rate in your life. Creating a prioritization matrix could also help you obtain this much-needed ability.