Why You Struggle to Follow Through on Your Goals?
Every new year — or even every Monday — we set goals with the best intentions. Whether it’s to lose weight, save money, start a side hustle, or finally finish that book, we’re filled with optimism. But most of us don’t make it past the first few weeks. In fact, research shows that 92% of people fail to achieve their goals, with 23% giving up within the first week alone.
So, why is it so hard to follow through?
Confusing Dreams with Goals
Many of us fall at the first hurdle by mistaking dreams for goals. A dream is something we wish for — a better career, a fitter body, financial freedom. But a goal is something specific, measurable, and actionable. It’s the difference between saying “I want to get fit” and “I will jog for 30 minutes, three times a week.”
As Napoleon Hill once put it, “A goal is a dream with a deadline.”
Psychologist Gabriele Oettingen found that people who spend too much time fantasizing about the future without planning for it are actually less likely to succeed. Why? Because mentally indulging in success gives us a sense of emotional reward — tricking the brain into feeling like the goal has already been achieved. Without a plan, dreams remain comforting ideas rather than drivers of action.
Why Goals Don’t Materialise
Once we set a goal, the excitement often fades fast. One major reason is that our goals are too vague. Goals like “eat healthier” or “start saving” lack the structure our brains need to follow through.
Another common reason for failure is the motivation drop-off. We tend to start strong, fuelled by inspiration and novelty. But as soon as progress requires effort or if you can't see the progress cause its too small , we hit a wall and lose interest. Motivation is like a sugar rush — it fades quickly. Without a system in place, that initial burst isn’t enough to carry us through.
Then there’s our own psychology working against us. We’re wired to seek short-term rewards — a phenomenon called present bias. Behavioural scientist Katy Milkman explains that we often treat our future selves like strangers: we offload hard work and discipline to a version of ourselves that doesn’t yet exist. That’s how procrastination wins.
We also fall for the planning fallacy — the tendency to underestimate how long something will take. Optimism makes us think “this time will be different.” We assume we’ll find the time, energy, and motivation later, but life rarely cooperates.
Perhaps most critically, many people don’t create an action plan. A goal without a roadmap is just a good intention. It’s easy to say, “I’ll exercise more” — but without putting real effort like scheduling sessions, preparing your clothes, or knowing what workout to do, you’re likely to quit before you start.
How to Actually Stick to Your Goals
The good news? Following through isn’t about superhuman willpower. It’s about using smart, research-backed strategies that make it easier to stay on track. Here are four of the best:
1. Use If-Then Planning
This technique, pioneered by psychologist Peter Gollwitzer, involves turning vague intentions into specific action cues. For example: “If it’s 7 a.m. on weekdays, then I will go for a walk.” Studies show this method can double or triple your chances of success.
2. Stack New Habits onto Old Ones
From James Clear’s bestselling book Atomic Habits, the idea is to attach a new habit to something you already do daily. If you always make coffee in the morning, use that as a trigger: “After I brew coffee, I’ll write in my journal.” The more familiar the routine, the easier it is to build consistency.
3. Make Yourself Accountable
Tell someone your goal. Better yet, check in with them regularly. A study from the American Society of Training and Development (ASTD) found that you have a 65% chance of completing a goal when you commit to someone — and a 95% chance if you have regular check-ins.
4. Tie Your Goal to Your Identity
Want lasting change? Make your goal part of who you are. Don’t just say “I’m trying to write.” Say, “I am a writer.” Identity-based habits, backed by James Clear and others, work because we naturally act in ways that align with how we see ourselves. Once a goal becomes part of your identity, you’ll stick to it without needing constant motivation.
What About Investment? Let’s be real — tracking financial goals manually is tough.
You only need one thing: a system that works for you. That’s where Wahed’s Goal Planner comes in.
Let’s be real — tracking financial goals manually is tough. You’re busy. Life gets in the way. Even with the best intentions and clever hacks, it’s easy to lose track.
The Goal Planner takes the guesswork out. Set your goal. Enter how much you need. Choose your deadline. And the app will automatically calculate how much you need to save monthly. You can even automate it with recurring deposits — no spreadsheets, no mental math.
Whether you're saving for Umrah, your child’s education, or financial peace of mind — this is a simple system that helps you stay consistent and on track.
If you’ve struggled to stick to your goals, you’re not alone. The issue isn’t laziness — it’s structure. Vague dreams, fading motivation, and unrealistic planning are common traps. But with the right strategies, you can design a system that sets you up to win.
Remember: you don’t rise to the level of your goals — you fall to the level of your systems.
So stop dreaming. Start planning. And build the habits that will carry you all the way through.
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As with any investment, a Wahed Invest Ltd investment puts your money at risk, as the value of your investment can go down as well as up. The tax treatment of your investment will depend on your individual circumstances and may change in the future. If you are unsure about whether investing is right for you, please seek expert financial advice.
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