Stop Aiming So High (Seriously): Why Smaller Goals Create Bigger Results
“There’s something you could do, that you are regarding as trivial; that you could do, that you would do, that would result in an actual improvement. But it’s not big enough of an improvement for you. But you won’t lower yourself enough to take the opportunity.”
— Jordan B. Peterson
Most people don’t fail because they’re lazy. Or unmotivated. Or lack discipline.
They fail because they aim too high—too soon—and freeze.
They commit to working out 6 days a week, meal prepping every bite, cutting out sugar, carbs, wine, and anything that remotely resembles joy.
And then?
Nothing.
They never start.
Because what they’ve created isn’t a plan—it’s a trap. One that looks noble on the surface but collapses the second real life shows up.
The Real Reason All-or-Nothing Fails
The “all or nothing” mindset feels powerful. It makes you feel committed. But it’s rarely sustainable—especially for women over 40 juggling careers, kids, hormones, and life.
Here’s why:
- It leaves no room for error. The second you miss one workout or have one off-plan meal, you feel like a failure.
- It exhausts your willpower. Making huge changes all at once creates decision fatigue and mental burnout.
- It ignores your physiology. Especially in perimenopause and beyond, your body responds better to steady consistency than high-stress overhauls.
The truth? Success comes from momentum, not intensity.
The Psychology Behind Lowering the Bar (On Purpose)
It sounds counterintuitive, but setting smaller goals is one of the most powerful things you can do.
Why?
Because tiny wins:
- Are easier to start
- Require less resistance to maintain
- Build confidence and competence through repetition
- Reduce guilt and all-or-nothing spirals
- Create space for identity change—”I’m someone who shows up for myself”
This is what behavior experts call “minimum viable action.” The smallest action that moves you forward without triggering resistance.
What It Looks Like in Real Life
Let’s say your big goal is to lose 20 lbs, have more energy, and feel confident again.
Instead of writing out an intense plan that overwhelms you, we shrink it to actions that feel almost too easy:
- ✅ Walk for 5 minutes after lunch
- ✅ Drink 1 full glass of water upon waking
- ✅ Perform 1 bodyweight strength move (like squats or pushups)
These seem small, but they have compounding effects:
- Walking post-meal improves blood sugar and digestion
- Morning hydration boosts focus, energy, and digestion
- Daily strength primes your nervous system, joints, and metabolism
These habits are foundational. When repeated daily, they build structure into your life—and that structure makes everything else easier.
The Compounding Effect of Tiny Wins
Let’s go deeper.
When you show up consistently for your 5-minute walk, it eventually becomes 10. Or 15. Without forcing it.
When you hydrate daily, it becomes automatic—you stop relying on reminders and start feeling the difference.
When you master a single strength move, your confidence rises and you’re more likely to try a 10-minute workout, then 20. Then a program.
Each small win lowers the friction for the next one.
That’s what builds a lifestyle—not a 30-day sprint, but a rhythm you can actually live in.
What You Can Do Today
Here’s your challenge:
- Pick one habit that feels almost too easy to do.
- Commit to doing it daily for the next 7 days.
- Track your consistency—not your perfection.
- At the end of the week, evaluate how it feels.
The goal isn’t to impress anyone. It’s to prove to yourself that you can follow through.
Because when you do that? That’s when the real momentum begins.
Remember: You don’t need a radical plan. You need a simple win.
Shrink the goal. Stack the wins. Change your life.
