Many people assume that everyone should be able to work toward their goals with ease and consistent motivation, viewing this skill as a standard “strength” that everyone should possess. However, for many of us, especially those who are neurodivergent, it is actually a significant challenge that requires an entirely different approach than the one taught in school or the corporate world.

Goal-directed persistence is a skill of executive function, meaning it is a brain-based skill (Dawson & Guare, 2016). Goal-directed persistence is actually an incredibly challenging executive function skill, as it requires the coordination of several other brain-based skills, including planning and prioritization, sustained attention, emotional regulation, task initiation, time management, and more.

The Two Halves of the Journey: Setting vs. Getting

To master this skill, we first have to recognize that it is actually two different cognitive processes working together:

• Goal-Setting (The Planning Phase): This involves “defining and planning” using metacognition, organization, and planning skills.
• Goal-Getting (The Action Phase): This is the action phase of goal-directed persistence, requiring task initiation, prioritization, and the regulation of both attention and emotions.

Shifting the Mindset: Systems Over Outcomes

Traditional goal-setting can feel like a trap for neurodivergent brains—with distant outcomes requiring effortful willpower to make them a reality.

To make goals neurodivergent-friendly, you need to shift your mindset. Rather than obsessing over a distant outcome, try focusing on small systems, habits, and growth processes.

This means that you would focus on actions you can take most days to move forward, and embrace the notion that missing one day or doing less on some days does not mean you have failed; instead, you can constantly adjust your approach to achieve your goals. Here are a few strategies to try to boost your goal-directed persistence:

1. A Personal Mission Statement Values Exercise to Aid Goal-Setting

Connecting to your values can motivate you to take the steps towards your goals each day. Solden and Frank (2019) recommend reflecting on questions like the following to help determine what you want your efforts to achieve.

• What is most meaningful to you?
• What do you want to stand for?
• What do you want your life to be about?
• When you look back on your life, what would you like to be able to say about yourself?

This is an example of a short mission statement:

“My mission is to be kind and helpful to others. I want to advocate for myself so that others will treat me kindly in return, to the best of their ability. I want to learn to accept and have compassion for my challenges, while constantly seeking to grow in my areas of strength. I want to continue working on being honest, open, and authentic whenever I can.”

2. Tools for the “Goal-Getting” Phase

Once you know your values, create small habits, rituals, or processes that regularly move you towards your goals. Here are some examples:

• Mini Habits: Invest in tiny actions that are flexible enough for both your “good” days and your “bad” days. You might explore Stephen Guise’s Mini Habits for inspiration, as he shares how it can be helpful to have a habit you can do on a bad day (e.g., one push-up) and on a good day (e.g., going to the gym and doing numerous push-ups), and have both days contribute to building your habit streak (Guise, 2013).
• Habit Stacking: Try adding a new habit onto something you already do automatically to help cue the behavior.
• Rhythms and Rituals: Build “opening” and “closing” duties into your day (Davis, 2022). This could be as simple as grouping your errands or ensuring your phone is always charging before bed.
• Structure Through Apps: Tools like Habitshare or Brili can provide the external structure needed to manage these routines (these apps have options to add accountability from friends or rewards to make small daily actions easier to initiate).

A Final Thought: Progress Over Perfection

The most important thing to remember is to have Self-compassion. Living your values perfectly is not the point; simply reflecting on what is important and trying to connect your behavior to those values is significant progress.