You're Not Failing—Your Plan Might Be: Making Goals Realistic (and Letting Go When You Need To)

Raise your hand if this sounds familiar: You set a goal—let’s say, “I’ll work out every day at 6am.” It sounds simple. Logical. Ambitious. You might even hit it for a few days. Then life gets real. And suddenly, it’s harder than it “should be.” Cue the guilt, the doubt, the spiral of “Why can’t I just do this?!”

Here’s the truth: you’re not failing—the goal just isn’t realistic for your life right now. And that’s not a personal flaw. It’s an opportunity to rethink the plan.

Why Simple Goals Still Feel So Hard

A goal might look good on paper:

• “Track everything I eat.”

• “Go to the gym every day.”

• “Cook all meals at home.”

But even simple goals demand time, energy, and mental bandwidth—and those are limited resources. Especially when you’re juggling work, stress, kids, chronic illness, or just being human.

What seems “simple” is rarely easy. That doesn’t mean you’re not trying hard enough. It means your plan might need a dose of real-life context.

What Makes a Goal Realistic?

A realistic goal is one that:

• Fits into your actual routine (not your fantasy schedule)

• Has some built-in flexibility

• Aligns with your current capacity, not your ideal circumstances

• Is satisfying, not punishing

That means:

• Maybe 3 workouts/week > 6 workouts you never do

• Tracking protein most days > logging every gram perfectly

• Prepping 2 meals > burning out on cooking every night

Small, consistent wins > big, unsustainable swings. Always.

Is It Ever Okay to Let Go of a Goal?

Yes. And sometimes, it's the healthiest choice you can make.

Letting go isn’t quitting. It’s recognizing when something isn’t working—and choosing to pivot instead of punish yourself.

Ask:

• Is this goal helping me feel better… or just more defeated?

• Is it something I genuinely want… or something I think I should want?

• Is there a different version of this goal that feels more doable?

Letting go isn’t failure—it’s strategy. It’s self-awareness. It’s maturity.

Try This Instead

If you’re feeling stuck, try reframing your approach:

Old: “I’m going to start tracking every bite I eat.”

New: “I’ll track breakfast and lunch 4 days this week.”

Old: “I need to lose 20 pounds.”

New: “I’m focusing on getting 25g of protein at each meal to support strength and fullness.”

Old: “I’ll go to the gym every morning.”

New: “I’ll schedule 2 workouts and take a walk on one other day.”

Does it feel less intense? Maybe. But it’s also more realistic—and that’s how real progress is made.

Final Thought: Your Plan Should Fit You—Not the Other Way Around

You don’t need to force yourself into a system that doesn’t respect your reality.

A goal is only useful if it supports your well-being—not if it drains it.

So yes—make goals. Set intentions. Have a vision. But also leave room to revise, simplify, or release them completely if they’re not serving you anymore.

Because success isn’t just about sticking to a plan. It’s about building a plan that sticks with you.