How to Trick Your Brain Into Achieving Long-Term Goals
Photo credits: Pinterest
Have you ever started a goal strong only to ghost it in 3 weeks? If so, you’re not alone.
See, long-term success has very little to do with “trying harder”. It’s understanding what works and how you can make it work for you. That’s where systems thinking, process improvement systems, and goal setting hacks come in.
Why Traditional Goal Setting Doesn’t Work
You’ve probably heard this before:
“Just set SMART goals and stay motivated!”
But here's the thing, as much as we want to set long-term goals, our brains are wired for immediate rewards. It takes a lot of faith, discipline, grit, and willpower to consistently do things without instant gratification.
When you set a huge goal like “start a business” or “lose 30 pounds,” your brain doesn’t get any dopamine until you hit the finish line. That’s why most people get off track along the way.
So what can you do?
This is where gamified goal setting framework comes in. Break your goals into daily wins that release dopamine and insert mini rewards in each milestone to build momentum. For example, let’s say you wanted to lose weight and be healthy. In order for you to lose weight the healthy way, there are 3 things you need to focus on: muscle mass, body fat, and diet. To increase your muscle mass, you’d need to do strength and resistance training while increasing your macros or protein intake. Let’s gamify it by having a protein chocolate bar at the end of a good workout. Pair that with discipline habits for success, and now you’re no longer relying on willpower.
So, let’s break it down step by step.
Step 1: Use Systems Thinking To Outsmart Your Excuses
Systems thinking isn’t just for CEOs and engineers. It’s a mental model that helps you see why certain habits stick and others fade.
Instead of asking, “How do I reach this goal?”, ask:
👉 “What system would naturally lead me there?”
For example:
Goal: “I want to write a book.”
System: “Write 250 words every weekday before coffee.”
Now you’ve built the behavior into your routine. It no longer relies on motivation, it runs automatically.
That’s the magic of systems thinking. And when you pair it with goal setting techniques that work, you finally stop spinning your wheels.
Step 2: Design Process Improvement Systems That Self-Correct
Here’s where most people drop the ball: they build a system, but never audit it.
Without reflection, even your best goal setting hacks can lead to burnout or misalignment.
This is where process improvement systems come in. Think of them like weekly check-ins between Future You and Present You.
Try this:
Every Sunday, ask: “What slowed me down this week?”
Adjust your environment, not just your effort.
Remove friction. Add rewards.
These tiny course corrections are how high-achievers scale their goals, without scaling their stress.
Step 3: Trick Your Brain With Immediate Wins
Here’s a fun psychological hack: your brain doesn’t know the difference between a big win and a small one — it just wants the reward.
That means you can “trick” yourself into consistency by stacking small wins with built-in celebration.
💡 Example:
Instead of “Run 5km every morning,” start with “Put on running shoes and step outside.” Then reward yourself with a podcast you love.
These micro-successes build your confidence. Over time, they wire your brain to want to show up, even on hard days.
That’s how real discipline habits for success are born.
Step 4: Use Goal Setting Techniques That Actually Work
Let’s talk tactics.
Here are a few goal setting hacks that work better than vague intentions:
1. Habit Stacking
Tie your new goal to an existing habit.
📌 “After I make coffee, I’ll open my planner.”
2. Identity-Based Goals
Think: “I’m the kind of person who journals daily” instead of “I want to journal more.”
3. Visual Triggers
Keep your goals visible. Post sticky notes on your bathroom mirror, fridge, or desktop.
These techniques align with both systems thinking and process improvement systems, making your goals part of your lifestyle — not just your to-do list.
Step 5: Follow the SMART Goal Setting Framework… With a Twist
Let’s be real: the SMART goal setting framework can feel corporate and cold. But if you tweak it with intention, it becomes your best friend.
Using this updated version of the smart goal setting framework ensures your goals stay aligned with your real life, not just your fantasy productivity version of it.
Step 6: Stack Discipline Habits For Success
Everyone wants to be “disciplined.” But discipline isn’t about punishment. It’s about removing decision fatigue.
If you wake up and decide to work out, journal, meditate, etc., you’ve already lost.
But if it’s built into a ritual, non-negotiable, frictionless, and satisfying, it becomes second nature.
Examples of discipline habits for success:
Sleep with your gym clothes next to your bed
Meal prep the same lunch every Monday
Use a recurring timer for “deep work” sessions
Over time, these habits become your baseline and your baseline becomes successful.
You Don’t Need More Motivation, You Need a Better System
Achieving long-term goals isn’t about grinding harder. It’s about understanding how your brain operates and using that knowledge against your old patterns.
When you combine:
Systems thinking
Process improvement systems
Discipline habits for success
Goal setting techniques that work
A SMART goal setting framework tailored to YOU
...you create a self-sustaining system that runs even on low-energy days.
This isn’t just productivity. It’s self-respect in motion.
Ready To Level Up?
You don’t need another goal. You need a system that actually works with your brain, not against it.
Start small. Celebrate often. And let systems thinking do the heavy lifting.
If you found this helpful, save it to your Sunday ritual folder or share it with your accountability partner. Because real change doesn’t happen overnight but it does happen with the right process.
