1. Set small and achievable goals. [26] Often, people set unrealistic or unattainable goals, and either become overwhelmed with the challenge or never get started.[27]This is a real damper for self-confidence.
• Gradually adjust your small goals to make the larger goal achievable.
• Imagine you wish to run a marathon, but are worried you would not be able to achieve this goal. Do not go out and try to run 26 miles on the first day of training. Begin where you are. If you are not a runner at all, set a goal to run just 1 mile. If you can run 5 miles relatively easily, then begin with 6.
• For example, if you have a messy desk, perhaps it is too overwhelming to think about cleaning the entire desk. Begin by just removing the books and placing them back on the bookshelf. Even stacking the papers neatly to be sorted through later is movement toward the goal of cleaning your desk.