Why I stopped chasing goals and started building daily systems
I used to chase goals like they were everything. “Lose 5 kilos.” “Write a book.” “Wake up at 5am.” I’d write them down, feel a rush of motivation for a few days, maybe even tell a few friends. But most of them? They quietly disappeared.
Not because I didn’t care. But because I didn’t build a system to keep going when motivation vanished (which it always does).
What’s the real difference?
A goal is a result. Something you want.
A system is how you show up daily to make that result possible — whether motivation is there or not.
Example?
- Goal: Run a half marathon.
- System: Run 3 times a week no matter how I feel.
I’ve learned that goals don’t get me results. Systems do.
How systems helped me
When I wanted to write more, I stopped telling myself “Write a book.”
Instead, I made it super boring: write 200 words a day. That’s it. Even if they were bad. Even if I deleted them later.
And that small system? It turned into blog posts, ideas, pages.
Same with fitness. I stopped obsessing over weight. I just made sure I moved my body for 20 minutes daily.
Some days it’s walking. Some days it’s stretching. But it keeps me in motion.
Why systems work better
- They reduce pressure.
- They make action a habit, not a decision.
- They help you feel progress, even when results are far away.
Goals feel great on paper. But systems make you show up on bad days. And honestly, that’s where growth actually happens.
What I do now
- Instead of “Grow Prosnic,” I write 1 blog post daily.
- Instead of “Be more productive,” I use my planner for one Focus Hour.
- Instead of “Reach inbox zero,” I check mail twice a day, not 47 times.
It’s not sexy. But it’s real.
And it’s what keeps me calm and moving forward.
Goals give direction. But systems build momentum.
Now, I don’t worry too much about what I want. I just focus on showing up the way I said I would.
And that’s when results sneak up on me.
