Conquering your Goals Series: System vs Goals

Hi everyone! I hope you are doing well. Now that we have some knowledge of how to set the right goals, it is time to start looking at other factors that dictate our ability to achieve them. This is important as we want to save our energy and willpower to be used only when necessary. One book that has been instrumental in getting people to think about systems vs goals is Atomic Habits by James Clear. It's worth reading if you are struggling to build better habits. The author argues that we do not rise to the level of our goals but rather fall to the level of our systems.

Goals are results-oriented, whereas systems are process-focused. A big part of a system is the environment. For example, if you put an open, uncovered basket and a coin box with a lid next to it, where do you think you will end up adding your coins? If you wash your apples and put them in a bowl in the fridge, and you have unwashed pears in the same place, what are you more likely to eat? How much more likely are you to eat healthily if you have prepped your meals in advance? These are all examples of systems we either benefit from or fall prey to. To facilitate our goals, we need to create smart systems that work for us and avoid faulty systems that sabotage us.

Why Systems Are More Effective

• Avoiding the “Yo-Yo” Effect: With goals, once achieved, there’s a risk of reverting to old habits. Systems ensure you maintain progress by embedding good habits into your routine.
• Reducing Pressure: Goals can create pressure and anxiety, especially if they are not met. Systems encourage a focus on daily progress, reducing stress and promoting a positive mindset.
• Building Identity: Systems are aligned with your identity. For example, if you see yourself as a "writer" (identity), you will naturally write every day (system), rather than just aiming to "publish a book" (goal).

Examples of Common Goals and How to Set Up Systems That Aid Them

• Hydration: Get yourself a water bottle that keeps the water at your desired temperature and put it where you spend most of your time.
• Eating Healthy: Prep meals in advance so you don’t have to make decisions when hunger hits you.
• Walking: Wear shoes and clothes that are comfortable for walking. You are much more likely to park your car farther away or take the stairs if you are dressed for it.
• Reading: Put your book next to your bed and keep your phone outside the room. No phone and just a book in sight? Maybe reading is not that hard after all.

Let's Take One More Challenging Goal and the Systems That Aid It

Alicia wants to get healthy. She defines health as being able to walk 10,000 steps on average, eating 2 healthy meals every day where each meal has 20 grams of protein and 2 servings of vegetables. She also wants to drink 8 cups of water and cut down on coffee. Here are some systems she has set up to reach her goals:

1. 10,000 steps: She has purchased a steps tracker watch so she does not have to guess her steps. She connected it to an app so she is aware of her daily average. She put up a calendar and notes down the steps she takes each day. Additionally, she only wears comfortable shoes to work so she can squeeze in steps whenever she gets the chance. She also requested that her team do walking meetings whenever possible.
2. Cutting Coffee: She changed her route from the one where she passes her favorite coffee shop to one that has none of her interest. This way she has eliminated a key trigger. She also no longer visits her office kitchen where free coffee is available.
3. Hydration: She bought herself a water bottle that keeps her water cold and holds the 8 cups of water she needs. She carries it to work and always has it on her desk.
4. 2 daily healthy meals: Alicia has free time on Sundays, so she buys her protein and preps it in advance. She cooks half and puts it in the fridge and freezes the rest. She also learned that some vegetables she enjoys can be prepped in advance. She washes, dries, and stores her kale. She bakes sweet potatoes to be eaten later. She also has frozen veggies ready to be used in a pinch. She has uninstalled all her food delivery apps.

If you think about all these adjustments Alicia has made, it is clear that she is focused on eliminating unhelpful triggers and introducing helpful ones. She is not leaving things to chance and has reduced her level of mental exhaustion by making decisions in advance when she has the energy.

Think of yourself as a log floating in a river. Your systems will determine if reaching your goals feels like you are flowing with the water or trying to fight the current.

🎯Let's reflect on the systems that surround you

For this task, you can choose between two. Either talk about a habit you have or a goal you have already achieved. You can talk about both but it is not required. 

Option 1. (Habit)

Think of a habit you have. Any habit no matter how small or big and reflect on the systems that surround it. 

1. What is the habit?
2. What system is in place that has helped you form or maintain this habit?
3. What are some conscious or subconscious ways you have managed to avoid sabotaging the habit?

Example

Habit: Drinking 10 cups of water

System in place: Carrying a water bottle wherever I go

Preventing sabotage: Stopped buying energy drinks and soft drinks. 

Option 2. (Goal)

Think of a goal you have already conquered. 

1. What was the goal?
2. What system helped you achieve this goal?
3. What step helped you avoid key triggers that may have sabotaged the goal?

Example

Goal: Running 5k 

System: Joining a running group 

Avoiding key triggers: Choosing the group that runs in the evening so I don’t skip running for sleep. 

Further Reading

1. Atomic Habits by James Clear
2. Summary of Atomic Habits
3. System vs Goals

This post is part of the Conquering Your Goals Series. Check out all the posts here.