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The 21-Day Challenge: Jumpstarting Your New Year with Micro-Goals

Let’s be honest: New Year’s resolutions can be a bit intimidating. As a matter of fact, according to research, only 9% of Americans who make New Year’s resolutions actually finish them. There are a few reasons why most people fail in their New Year’s resolutions.

  • Setting resolutions just because it’s a new year. If in your heart of hearts, you have not really decided on changing, then no amount of new years can make you commit to a resolution.
  • Lack of planning. Planning helps you expect the challenges that might come your way and to be ready for them.
  • Lack of self-confidence. Making a promise to yourself is just the same as making promises to others. People who lack a strong sense of self are more willing to compromise on their own commitments.
  • Lack of know-how. Like many important things in life, achieving a goal is as much about strategy as it is about effort. 

If you’re one of the many people who struggle to finish what you start, perhaps it’s time to rethink your perception of goals and what they needs to be.

Let’s talk about two important concepts that can help you shift your perspective on what an attainable goal looks like micro-goals and the 21-day challenge.

What are Micro-Goals?

In simple terms, micro-goals are small, simple, and relatively easy-to-do objectives that help you make progress toward your bigger goals. The main idea behind micro-goals is to help you make progress, no matter how small.

Think about it as climbing a mountain. Getting to the top of the mountain is your ultimate goal. But you won’t get there by always looking at the peak; you need to keep your eyes on the path you’re walking on.

Why Set Micro-Goals?

  • They’re easier to achieve. Big goals can be intimidating. For example, writing an entire book sounds impossible but writing just 3 paragraphs today is doable.
  • Small wins help motivate you to do more. Accomplishing something, no matter how small, has an incredible power to keep you motivated.
  • It builds your self-esteem. Small accomplishments fill you with a sense of pride. It helps you build a positive self-image and confidence in your skills and abilities.

How to Create a Micro-Goal

Creating a micro-goal is simple and straightforward.

  • Step 1: Determine your big goal. This goal should be as specific as possible, something that you can measure the progress of, and attainable.
  • Step 2: Break down your big goal into smaller chunks. These can be smaller tasks or steps. These smaller chunks then become your micro-goals. Each task or step may or may not have its own sub-task or sub-step.
  • Step 3: Set a deadline for each of your micro-goals. Make sure your deadlines are realistic.
  • Step 4: Prioritize each micro-goal based on its importance and urgency.
  • Step 5: Set up a reward system for when you accomplish each micro-goal.
  • Step 6: Start working towards your micro-goals.

Another interesting twist to the concept of goal-setting and goal achievement is the 21-day challenge.

What is the 21-Day Challenge?

The 21-day challenge is often associated with the concept of forming new habits. The idea is that repeating a behavior or activity for 21 consecutive days can help establish it as a habit. This concept is derived from anecdotal evidence and popular belief rather than scientific research, as studies suggest that the time it takes to form a habit can vary widely among individuals.

During a 21-day challenge, participants often set specific, achievable tasks for each day, creating a series of micro-goals. By focusing on these smaller steps, individuals can gradually work toward the larger goal of forming (or breaking) a habit.

Here’s how to go about it.

  • Choose what you want to accomplish within 21 days (e.g. 21 days of no screen time 30 minutes before bedtime)
  • Don’t skip weekends.
  • Define the minimum level of effort that you can still consider as a positive result. For example, if you can’t read 30 pages because you have too many things to do, allow yourself to read just 10 and you’ve still completed the challenge for that day.
  • Make time for each. Ideally, you should set a specific time during the day for finishing the challenge.
  • Before you start Day 1, make sure you have everything ready. 
  • Know the rewards you get out of your bad habits and replace them with a healthy alternative.
  • Distance yourself from things or people that are stopping you from completing the challenge.
  • Share your experiment with someone you trust; and ask them to help keep you accountable.
  • If you’ve never done this challenge before, start with a simple challenge.

Source: Elevate Society

Bottom line

Both micro-goals and the 21-day challenge are about setting and hitting small, step-by-step targets, with the main aim being continuous progress. We usually think of goals as the point where we get the reward, forgetting that it's really about the effort we put in. Let's start looking at goals as small, everyday actions, because, in the end, it's all about the work we put in.

Over to You

Make it easier to track and manage your 21-day challenge progress using TaskSpur, an online app where you can stay on top of all your goals - professional, financial, health, or personal. Check out TaskSpur today!

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