Hacking Goals: Difference between revisions
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This article is about how to hack personal goals, not goals I have set in the field of hacking. | This article is about how to hack personal goals, not goals I have set in the field of hacking. | ||
==General== | == General == | ||
I have read a lot of good articles related to setting and meeting goals and I would like to track some of the details. In particular, our brains seem to have a lot of heuristics that can lead us to failure or be exploited for success. | I have read a lot of good articles related to setting and meeting goals and I would like to track some of the details. In particular, our brains seem to have a lot of heuristics that can lead us to failure or be exploited for success. | ||
*People remember interrupted tasks better [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suspense#Zeigarnik_effect Ref] | *People remember interrupted tasks better [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suspense#Zeigarnik_effect Ref] | ||
==Delayed Gratification== | == Delayed Gratification == | ||
We like goals because they give us a sense of purpose and meeting them gives us a sense of accomplishment. But there ways in which we can short-cut that sense of accomplishment. | We like goals because they give us a sense of purpose and meeting them gives us a sense of accomplishment. But there ways in which we can short-cut that sense of accomplishment. | ||
*Fantasizing about completing the goal | *Fantasizing about completing the goal | ||
| Line 13: | Line 13: | ||
Seeking that sense of accomplishment is our motivation. Getting it depletes our motivation. Instead of fantasizing about the goal, think about how it might fail. This creates anxiety and we are motivated to resolve the anxiety. This helps us avoid the forms of failure we envision. | Seeking that sense of accomplishment is our motivation. Getting it depletes our motivation. Instead of fantasizing about the goal, think about how it might fail. This creates anxiety and we are motivated to resolve the anxiety. This helps us avoid the forms of failure we envision. | ||
==Planning== | == Planning == | ||
Planning helps (but needs to not be "fantasizing about success"). Set clear, measurable goals focusing on the near-term. Also, have contingency plans. When things go wrong, our first instinct is to give up. If we have a contingency plan, we can default to this. | Planning helps (but needs to not be "fantasizing about success"). Set clear, measurable goals focusing on the near-term. Also, have contingency plans. When things go wrong, our first instinct is to give up. If we have a contingency plan, we can default to this. | ||
==Procrastination== | == Procrastination == | ||
In my experience, procrastination is almost always a symptom of an unmade-decision. If you are procrastinating because there is something else you want to do, strike a deal with yourself using that as the reward, if not, just convince yourself to take one step. | In my experience, procrastination is almost always a symptom of an unmade-decision. If you are procrastinating because there is something else you want to do, strike a deal with yourself using that as the reward, if not, just convince yourself to take one step. | ||
Revision as of 18:56, 6 September 2015
This article is about how to hack personal goals, not goals I have set in the field of hacking.
General
I have read a lot of good articles related to setting and meeting goals and I would like to track some of the details. In particular, our brains seem to have a lot of heuristics that can lead us to failure or be exploited for success.
- People remember interrupted tasks better Ref
Delayed Gratification
We like goals because they give us a sense of purpose and meeting them gives us a sense of accomplishment. But there ways in which we can short-cut that sense of accomplishment.
- Fantasizing about completing the goal
- Telling others about the goal
Seeking that sense of accomplishment is our motivation. Getting it depletes our motivation. Instead of fantasizing about the goal, think about how it might fail. This creates anxiety and we are motivated to resolve the anxiety. This helps us avoid the forms of failure we envision.
Planning
Planning helps (but needs to not be "fantasizing about success"). Set clear, measurable goals focusing on the near-term. Also, have contingency plans. When things go wrong, our first instinct is to give up. If we have a contingency plan, we can default to this.
Procrastination
In my experience, procrastination is almost always a symptom of an unmade-decision. If you are procrastinating because there is something else you want to do, strike a deal with yourself using that as the reward, if not, just convince yourself to take one step.
- Set aside 5-20 minutes for "planning"
- Find your short term goal and work backwards trying to fill in as much detail as possible
- Create a plan you can step through and check if each step needs a contingency plan
- Do step #1 and then reward yourself, but set a strict contract on when you will come back to step #2