Constantly Reevaluate the “why” When Tracking Your Goals
If you spend too much time focusing on how to achieve a goal or develop a new habit, you will forget if it was worth it at all. Whenever you take the time to monitor your progress, remember to also evaluate the personal value of the goal to you.
You should never think that what works for others will work for you. This is why Elizabeth Grace Saunders of the Harvard Business Review suggests that you always try to reassess the “why” when you are pursuing a goal:
If you start work at 6:30 AM because it makes you happy, go for it. But if you do feel healthier by sleeping a little later and getting in at 8 am, that’s okay too. The problem is not being disciplined or doing certain things in a certain way, but whether you do what you do because it works for you, or because you think you should be doing … each person has a unique combination of routines that make them happy and healthy. Make sure you live according to those needs and not someone else’s.
Ask yourself if what you are doing is of value to you. What benefits do you get from this? If you can’t think of anything, you are simply wasting your time and energy on what you thought was useful. Always remember to overestimate the “why” and you will stop these unnecessary waste of energy and time before they go too far.
The Dangers of Over-Controlling Your Behavior and Goals | Harvard Business Review