Good Systems · public information library

Why do I keep moving the goalposts after I meet them?

People come here to understand why something in everyday life feels harder, different or more costly than it should — and what might make it work better.

Short answer

Moving goalposts can protect you from feeling finished, but it can also make achievement impossible to register.

What this can look like

You may meet the original goal, then immediately create a harder one so success never lands.

Why it can happen

Keep the original target visible and decide deliberately if the target really changed.

What might help

Keep the original target visible. Change it only when the job genuinely changed.

What the research helps explain

Research and public guidance describe perfectionism and overcontrol by their impact on flexibility, finishing, relationships and quality of life. High standards can be useful; a public page cannot diagnose OCD, OCPD, anxiety or another experience.

What can vary

The same behaviour can have different meanings in different contexts. This information must not be used to label yourself or someone else.

For this situation

For you, record what was enough before adding an improvement.

More info and original sources

Poko summarises the relevance of public original sources and links out for anyone who wants to read more.