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How many monthly self-improvement goals should you set?
If you’re anything like me, you’re a huge self-improvement nerd. Or maybe you’re just 10% of my level of crazy, but you want to set self-improvement goals for yourself.
You’ve seen the “that girl” trend on TikTok. You’ve seen 101 “morning routine” ideas and “self-care rituals” on Instagram. You keep pausing to see exactly what they’re doing, what order they’re doing it in, or if they brushed their teeth or meditated first, frantically trying to take notes.
And then come those motivational reels on Instagram, that tell you to wake up at 5 am, workout every day, read for an hour, meal prep, yada yada yada.
Phew. That’s exhausting to even think about (yet I’m guilty of falling into this trap every week!).
So why are you still stuck, if you have so much inspiration?
The answer might surprise you.
And it’s simply this: it’s just TOO much inspiration.
What are some examples of self-improvement goals?
Before we get further, what are some self-improvement goals?
Some of my favorite self-improvement goals are journaling, meditating, any form of exercise, skincare, reading a book, learning a new skill, being creative every day, meal prepping, or reciting affirmations.
You could also have goals like saving X amount of money every week, being more social, or anything else that helps you become a better version of yourself.
Here are 12 different areas of self-improvement that your goals might fall into:
- Physical health and fitness
- Emotional health and wellbeing
- Intellectual and educational pursuits
- Career and professional development
- Financial management and wealth creation
- Spiritual and personal growth
- Family and social relationships
- Recreation and leisure activities
- Environmental and ecological awareness
- Cultural and artistic pursuits
- Community involvement and service
- Travel and exploration
Limit Your Self-Improvement Goals
Now that you’ve seen some examples of self-improvement goals, chances are you’ve already had a few thoughts like “Oh, meditating would be great for my mental health” or “Hmm, I can definitely work out more”, or the most dangerous “Annie wakes up at 5 am, works out, meal preps and journals. She looks like she has her life all together. I think I need to do the same.”
If you take some more time to think, you might come up with 5-10 different habits you’d like to implement. It’s hard to limit yourself when there are so many areas to improve.
While that’s a great mindset, it’s also difficult. In today’s fast-paced world, self-improvement has become a buzzword. Everyone wants to be the best version of themselves, and there are countless ways to achieve that. From journaling to yoga, meditation, reading, and more, there are endless possibilities to choose from. However, taking on too much can do more harm than good, especially when we are driven by the motive of comparison. In this article, we will explore 4 reasons why less is more when it comes to personal development goals and why setting more than 1-3 monthly self-improvement goals is not a good idea.
Read: How to Achieve Your Goals Faster – the 1 Missing Tip
1. New Habits Takes Energy
Creating new habits requires energy, both mental and physical. More than just doing the activity, it takes a lot of mental energy to create new habits. Something as simple as brushing your teeth can seem like a task on your to-do list if it’s not a habit.
If you take on too much at one time, your brain will get tired, and you won’t want to do it the next day. It’s better to start small and gradually build up, so your brain has time to adjust to the new routine.
Read: 3 Simple Self-Care Habits for Busy People
2. It’s Easy to Give Up All Because of Missing One
When you take on too many self-improvement goals at once, you risk leaving them all behind. This is because when anything comes up in life and you get busy, you will leave one and then leave all because of the one. For instance, if you try to suddenly incorporate yoga, meditation, journaling, and a morning walk, it can be easy to get overwhelmed. If you miss one day of yoga, you may feel like you’ve failed, and give up on your other habits too. That’s why choosing one goal, like sticking to a morning meditation practice, is way better than doing everything for two days and then giving up on all.
3. It Leads to Demotivation
When you take on too many self-improvement goals and mess up, it’s easy to feel demotivated. You may feel like you’re not doing enough or that you’re falling behind. This can lead to a sense of failure and demotivation. You may end up giving up on all of your personal development goals altogether because you can’t keep up with them all.
4. It Is Unsustainable
Setting too many self-improvement goals is unsustainable. We all have full lives, full of chores, social obligations, work things, and more. It’s not possible to get everything done every day, especially in the beginning when your mind and body are not used to it yet.
While it’s easy to look like you’re doing it all (especially on social media), that’s not always the truth. I openly talk about this on my Instagram too; some days might be great but mostly, it’s impossible to incorporate EVERY wellness habit that is out there.
So be realistic with yourself and know that it’s okay! You’re not behind or not as ‘healthy’ or ‘productive’ if you don’t incorporate 10 self-improvement habits into your daily schedule.
Conclusion
In conclusion, taking on more than 3 self-improvement goals can do more harm than good. It’s important to start small and gradually build up to avoid overwhelming yourself. Choose one or two things that you can realistically do every day, and focus on those. Remember that less is more, and by taking small steps, you can make significant progress in your self-improvement journey.
If you’re looking for assistance in goal-setting & goal achieving, I love helping clients with that! Reach out to me on Instagram for some free assistance in the dms 🙂