How to Set More Realistic Goals

Let’s do a deep dive into aspirational goal setting!

New Year’s Resolutions not going as well as you’d hoped? Stuck in a cycle of laying out elaborate project plans only for them to get derailed in two weeks? Optimism Bias and the Planning Fallacy are likely be to blame! This solo episode is all about why we set unrealistic goals and how we can use the 3-step Proactive Plans and Acute Actions framework to navigate productivity obstacles. Please enjoy this treasure trove of academic resources and real-world examples!

In today’s episode, I cover…

• Why cognitive biases cause us to set unrealistic goals
• When Optimism Bias can help us vs. when it causes us to underestimate risk
• How the Planning Fallacy can make us underestimate how long a task or project might take
• Unique challenges of cognitive biases for people with ADHD and depression
• That time I thought I could do my comprehensive exams in 3 weeks
• Applying the Proactive Plans and Acute Actions framework with a real-life example

Resources & Links:

• Neil Weinstein: Unrealistic Optimism About Future Life Events
• Kendra Cherry: Understanding the Optimism Bias
• Optimism Bias and Climate Change
• Systemic Effects of the Optimism Bias
• Optimism Bias and Major Depression
• Overview of The Planning Fallacy, including Inside and Outside Views
• Thanks to Taylor Allbright, PhD, Executive Functioning and ADHD Coach, for recommending the following resources: ADHD and Time Estimation and ADHD and Reward Pathways
• A 17-minute video lesson and guided reflection prompts for the Proactive Plans and Acute Actions framework can be found in my free workbook, How to Build Purposeful Productivity Sessions!

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Podcast editing and support by Softer Sounds Studio.
Theme song by Melissa Kaitlyn Carter.

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