What Are the Most Likely Consequences of Setting Unrealistic Goals (The Truth Might Shock You)

What are the most likely consequences of setting unrealistic goals? Having big dreams without a solid plan can sabotage your efforts and lead to a series of negative outcomes. In this article, you'll discover how aiming too high can affect you and how to pursue your dreams and plans wisely without burning out or sacrificing your values.

Why do people set unrealistic goals in the first place: Four core psychological drivers

Psychological biases, societal pressures, and a misunderstanding of their abilities often lead people to set impractical objectives without even knowing it. In 'Atomic Habits,' James Clear opines that improving or declining by just 1% each day will make you 37 times better or worse after a year. 

"All big things come from small beginnings. The seed of every habit is a single, tiny decision."

However, pushing yourself too hard — like promising to work out every day — may lead to mental fatigue and setbacks. To see the bigger picture, let's analyze the psychological drivers behind such choices.

Reason 1. External pressures and social comparison

Many people aim too high, too quickly because of social pressure or simply to fit in. This comparison trap is heavily driven by social media platforms. Unmet goals often bring about intense shame and embarrassment, trapping a person in a "failure shame loop of believing in not being good enough," hardly escapable without counseling.

Reason 2. Optimism bias and unwarranted confidence 

Optimism bias makes us think things are easier than they really are, coupled with the belief that bad things will always happen to someone else. At first, this unwarranted confidence encourages us to take bold risks when we set goals. Then, reality hits hard, and our confidence crumbles, leaving us with doubts and questions.

Reason 3. "False hope" and "impostor" syndromes 

False Hope Syndrome occurs when we chase self-improvement driven by pie-in-the-sky expectations. While thinking big is good, ensure your plans are likely to succeed. This way, you maintain your journey's meaning and prevent feeling like you don't belong. 'Mindset' by Carol S. Dweck can help you turn setbacks into opportunities.

"Why hide deficiencies instead of overcoming them? Why look for friends… who will just shore up your self-esteem instead of ones who will also challenge you to grow?"

The author states that a fixed mindset can cause feelings of shame after failure, so it's better to adopt a growth mindset that supports ambition and patience.

Reason 4. Ignoring the gap between available resources and reality

Writing impossible to-do lists means you're disregarding your current circumstances and the limits of your potential. This "resource-reality gap" ignores what you can actually afford. 

It is much better to view disappointment from failure as a wake-up call to reassess our priorities than to allow it to lead us into a spiral of self-destructive behaviors. Angela Duckworth's 'Grit' and Seth Godin's 'The Dip' are two of the best books for boosting perseverance and breaking free from ruinous cycles.

The aftereffects of overambitiousness: 5 major consequences

Sky-high plans can adversely affect mental health and social skills. In fitness, this might mean rushing through workout sets or adding more steps to see quick results. In entrepreneurship, it can involve expanding a new business too rapidly and hiring more employees than you need. Here are five areas affected by unrealistic goals to watch out for:

1. Loss of motivation and disengagement

What is difficult to achieve motivates us, but can quickly become discouraging. Repeated setbacks can lead to self-doubt, feeling less engaged, and choosing easier tasks — what we often call the "motivation paradox." For instance, missing a target or deadline can distort our self-worth, making everything feel too overwhelming.

2. Burnout and mental fatigue

When we don't finish what we start, we experience emotional exhaustion and reduced effectiveness. Chronic stress from overexertion results in absenteeism, lower engagement, and declining health, fostering a damaging "burnout culture."

3. Damaged self-esteem 

When high hopes don't come true, like when a long-hours project fails, self-esteem becomes the first victim. Constantly missing targets creates feelings of inadequacy and reduces confidence, which lowers self-worth and makes people hesitant to take on new challenges. 

4. Procrastination and avoidance

Overambitious goals often trigger procrastination, anxiety, and sometimes even panic attacks. You might even end up doing everything except the tasks on your worksheet. When we're not productive enough, we risk developing cognitive inflexibility (a difficulty in adapting), disconnecting us from our emotions, community, and reality.

5. Breakdown in trust

When we underperform despite all our efforts, these irrationally high expectations dissolve into lowered standards and morality lapses. Relationships worsen, and trust within the team erodes. The results? Poor-quality work, ethical issues, and a hostile environment.

Saying "alternatives are impossible" without a solid ground to stand on is usually the fastest route to emotional breakdown. How we perceive falling short affects our stress levels, sense of responsibility, and mental health. 

Realistic vs. far-fetched goals: A dynamic breakdown

We all make plans — for another Monday, a new year, or a fresh chapter in our lives. During these times, it's crucial to differentiate between what's realistic and what's not. This distinction helps you avoid many pitfalls, whether in a corporate environment or personal life, and guides you more effectively toward success.

Characteristics of achievable goals

Practical or realistic pursuits are key to improving ourselves because they align with what we're good at and care about. The SMART method can be your secret weapon to keep them not just ambitious, but also doable.  

• Specific. Keep it clear and precise. Instead of saying, "I want to get fit," you might say, "I want to run a 7K in three months."

• Measurable. Track your progress numerically. For example, you can save a specific amount of money each week.

• Attainable. Your intentions are challenging yet realistic, and all required resources are available.

• Relevant. The aspirations you have in mind align with your values and what you truly want to accomplish in the long run.

• Time-bound. There is a deadline, such as "I want to be able to have a conversation in Korean in six months."

Attempting the London Marathon untrained or designing a safe house without an architect are classic examples of unrealistic goals. Pursuing SMART goals with a justified time frame helps build a clear action plan, keeps you grounded, enhances your time management, and ensures your resources are sufficient.

What makes healthy ambition different from the toxic drive for outperformance?

Confusion is common. How can we stay unbiased and recognize when our ambitions become counterproductive? Concepts like Grant Cardone's "10X Rule" inspire us to aim high, yet the best prize is how we grow along the journey. However, reality may eventually catch up if we hunt for success without adequate resources.

A quick guide to realistic vs. unrealistic goals

This table compares effective to ineffective "dreaming big" and what it does to us.  

Are your goals realistic? Take this fun quiz to find out!

After examining the "realistic" and "unrealistic" features of ambitious undertakings and their negative consequences, take this brief quiz to discover if you value relentless determination or prefer a balanced approach. Choose the answer that resonates with you the most.

Changing how you think and what you do can help you turn your goals into a clear path to success. Use feedback and your skills to take actionable steps forward.

How to redirect from unattainable goals: 4 actionable steps

Recovering from the "reaching for the stars" era requires taking practical steps and paying more attention to your emotions and health. This way, your big goals don't leave you demotivated.

Step 1: Reflect, reframe, and reassess 

Accept reality to break the cycle of self-criticism. Practice self-kindness to escape the "shame spiral" of not keeping up with a preplanned line of actions and gain a clearer perspective. A growth mindset turns failure into helpful feedback to build resilience.

Step 2: Regroup and adjust

Access all tangible and intangible resources. Adjust if needed to make your monumental quest affordable. In 'Smarter Faster Better,' Charles Duhigg explains that productivity means finding the best ways to control our energy, thinking, and time.

"People who believe they have authority over themselves often live longer than their peers."

Step 3: Build a support system 

A strong support system of accountability partners and life coaches with degrees in psychology and business will keep you going and prevent procrastination. For further expert advice, refer to Headway's "How to Overcome Procrastination and Get Things Done" article.

Step 4: Sustain with mindfulness activities

Consider Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy to grow in self-compassion and develop mindfulness skills for dealing with anxiety and underperforming. Ideas from 'Essentialism' by Greg McKeown serve as an advisor's compass on how to use your time and energy wisely:

"Sometimes what you don't do is just as important as what you do."

Becoming an Essentialist allows you to contribute your best while prioritizing what will define your future.

Best books to help you learn how to set SMARTer goals

This selection of expert books is packed with strategies to help you confidently set foot out of your comfort zone and achieve your SMARTer milestones.

1. 'The ONE Thing' by Gary Keller & Jay Papasan  

In 'The ONE Thing,' Keller and Papasan ask: "What's the ONE THING I can do that will make everything else easier or unnecessary?" The answer should reveal the most critical task to focus on to achieve great results.

"The people who achieve extraordinary results don't achieve them by working more hours. They achieve them by getting more done in the hours they work."

This little exercise helps you find high-impact activities and debunks the myth of multitasking. When looking for inspiration for new goals, try reading "100+ Examples to Inspire Your Personal Growth," and feel free to visit our motivational blog.

2. 'The Power of Habit' by Charles Duhigg

In 'The Power of Habit,' Charles Duhigg explores the "habit loop" of cue, routine, and a sense of accomplishment and how it molds our habits. Deconstructing this loop opens the door to a promising change. 

"Change might not be fast, and it isn't always easy. But with time and effort, almost any habit can be reshaped."

To learn more about how small habits build up, check out "Unpacking 'Atomic Habits' by James Clear: It's Not Your Usual Self-Help Guide." This resource will help you identify triggers and rewards and consistently act toward your desired outcome.

3. 'Deep Work' by Cal Newport

In his bestseller 'Deep Work,' Cal Newport offers working strategies for any goal. He suggests reducing shallow work, scheduling deep work sessions, and limiting communication to make meaningful progress. 

"If you don't produce, you won't thrive — no matter how skilled or talented you are."

For more tips on building positive routines, check out "How to Stay Motivated: Build Habits and Reach Your Goals," one of Headway Team's most anticipated blog posts.

Start your growth journey towards a sustainable future with Headway

Defining personal and professional targets can be hard, particularly if those targets are far-fetched. The result? Feeling unmotivated, overwhelmed, and burned out. Review your current goals to get back on track and ensure they match your values. This way, you can develop habits that foster real growth. 

Headway provides a working microlearning toolkit with short, 15-minute summaries of popular nonfiction books, helping you pick up and understand their key ideas. 

The app also includes fun, interactive features like challenges, progress tracking, personalized content, audio mode, and spaced repetition. These tools help you strategically navigate the goal-setting process, making it smoother and more rewarding.