You may seem focused on your goals today, which may make you feel extremely productive. It could seem that your expectations are steering you to work harder in order to attain what you want. If you feel pressure as a result of your ambition, you may want to reevaluate your expectations of yourself. You might imagine that you are viewing yourself from the position of another person. Think about what that person feels about your work and what they expect from you. You may notice that when you view your work through a different lens, you will find a less critical view of yourself. You could be surprised to find that achieving your goals requires less zeal than you originally thought.

Realigning our expectations helps us reach our dreams in a way that is more constructive. There are times when we expect perfection from ourselves and overwork as a result. We can be our own worst critics and make up for any perceived lack through our work. But when we learn to set goals that are realistic, we create more rational expectations of ourselves. We become less apt to burnout and increase our efficiency and creativity. Seeing ourselves as we are allows us to find satisfaction in our present circumstances rather than looking beyond ourselves for it. This helps us realize that what we do in the moment is one step closer toward obtaining our goals. By setting realistic goals today, you will find that your work will become more prolific and creative.