The ‘Emotional ROI’ Filter to Use to Prioritize Your Goals
Let’s be honest. Most goal setting advice out there sounds good on paper, until real life kicks in.
You've probably tried vision boards, productivity apps, color-coded planners. Maybe you’ve Googled how to set SMART goals that actually work more times than you'd like to admit.
But here's the truth: goals that only make sense logically will eventually fall apart when life gets messy.
What really sticks?
Goals with emotional ROI.
Not the hustle-harder kind of ROI. I’m talking about the return on how it feels to live your life. The kind that gives you energy instead of draining it.
In this blog, I’ll walk you through how to use the Emotional ROI Filter in your daily goal setting routine for entrepreneurs to cut through distractions, avoid burnout, and stay true to the life you’re trying to build. Plus, I’ll share our printable goal setting worksheet for adults to help you try it yourself.
What Is Emotional ROI?
Emotional ROI is the emotional return you get from the effort you put into something.
Think of it like this: just like financial ROI tells you if a business move was worth it, emotional ROI tells you if a goal is worth your energy, time, and mental load.
Ask yourself:
Will this goal make me feel more free, aligned, or fulfilled?
Does this outcome actually excite me, or just look good on paper?
Would achieving this feel like a full yes?
Using emotional ROI as a filter gives you clarity, not just on what to do, but why it matters to you.
This is especially helpful when choosing between long-term vs short-term goal strategies, so you don’t waste your energy chasing goals that feel flat once you get there.
Why Most Goal Setting Advice Falls Flat
If you’ve ever:
Set a goal in January and forgot about it by March
Created a daily checklist but always felt behind
Felt overwhelmed even though your planner is full of “productive” tasks
…you’re not alone. That’s because most goal setting advice is built around external metrics, money, time, deadlines.
But for creatives, entrepreneurs, and anyone building a purpose-driven life, those metrics miss something big:
Emotional sustainability.
It’s not enough to know how to set and stick to your goals, you have to know which ones are worth sticking to in the first place.
This is why effective goal setting for creatives with a holistic lens is important. It’s not about being more disciplined, it’s about being more intentional.
The 3-Question Emotional ROI Filter to Use
Before committing to any goal, run it through this emotional ROI filter:
1. Does This Goal Excite Me Enough To Make Me Show Up On My Worst Day?
This is the “rainy Tuesday” test. If everything’s going wrong, would I still care about this goal?
This helps filter out goals that are inspired by FOMO or comparison, not internal alignment.
2. Will The Process Of Reaching This Goal Teach Me Something I’ll Use Again?
This question helps me lean into goal setting for career growth instead of chasing achievements that don’t compound over time.
Even if I don’t hit the goal, the emotional ROI is high if I’ve developed a skill or created something meaningful.
3. Will I Be Proud Of How I Reached This Goal?
This one’s about integrity. Am I reaching this goal in a way that honors my values, energy, and well-being?
Use this when you're overwhelmed by long-term vs short-term goal strategies and need to find what’s really worth your time.
How To Use This Filter In Your Daily Goal Setting Routine
If you’re an entrepreneur, a freelancer, or a multi-passionate creative, your to-do list is never-ending.
Here’s how to integrate the Emotional ROI filter into your daily goal setting routine for entrepreneurs:
Morning
Start your day with 3 intentions. Use the filter above to choose which tasks or goals deserve your energy today.
Weekly
Each Sunday, I do a mini “goal audit”:
What drained me last week?
What gave me energy?
Which goals am I avoiding, and why?
This will keep you from chasing “shoulds” and helps refine your long-term vs short-term goal strategies.
Monthly
Each month, revisit your core goals using this filter. If something no longer passes the emotional ROI check, you can either:
Break it into a more emotionally aligned micro-goal
Or drop it completely (yes, that’s allowed)
How To Set SMART Goals That Actually Work (With Emotional ROI In Mind)
SMART goals are great, but they often miss the soul part.
Here’s how to tweak them using the Emotional ROI lens:
SMART Element Emotional ROI Twist Specific Does the goal clearly express what I really want emotionally? Measurable Can I measure how this goal feels, not just what I get? Achievable Is it doable without burning myself out? Relevant Is it aligned with my deeper values and creative vision? Time-bound Am I giving this goal time to unfold in a way that feels sustainable?
If you’re asking how to set SMART goals that actually work, this emotional alignment piece is the secret sauce most templates miss.
Tools to Use To Stay Aligned, And Actually Follow Through
Here’s how to set and stick to your goals, especially as a busy creative:
1. Printable SMART Goal Setting Worksheet For Adults
It’s simple. And it helps you show up for yourself without needing a 10-step system.
2. Accountability Partner Check-Ins
Once a week, send a voice note to your accountability partner updating them on your progress. No pressure, just connection. It will keep you grounded in your goal setting for career growth, and not just busy work.
3. Monthly Creative Review
This is your time to reflect. Ask yourself:
Which goals are still emotionally aligned?
Which ones feel forced?
What new ideas am I excited about?
Long-Term Vs Short-Term Goal Strategies: How To Choose What Matters Now
Not all goals need to be forever goals.
Here's how to separate the two:
Short-term goals: Use them to build habits, test ideas, or create quick wins. They should have fast emotional ROI.
Long-term goals: These are legacy moves. Use them when you’re clear on your big vision and ready to play the long game.
Revisit both every quarter and let the Emotional ROI filter tell where to focus.
Why Emotional ROI Makes You More Productive, Not Less
If you’ve been stuck in a cycle of productivity guilt, maybe you’re not the problem. Maybe your goals just aren’t emotionally aligned.
When you apply this filter, you stop wasting energy on things that don’t matter, and double down on what does.
This isn’t about doing less. It’s about doing what actually moves the needle in a way that feels good.
So whether you're diving into goal setting for career growth, figuring out how to set SMART goals that actually work, or building a sustainable daily goal setting routine for entrepreneurs, the Emotional ROI filter might be the compass you didn’t know you needed.
Want more tips like this?
👉 Subscribe to our newsletter for weekly dose of glow-up tips.
No fluff. Just clarity, alignment, and space to breathe.
