Open any productivity app, and you'll see the same thing: endless lists of tasks waiting to be checked off. But there's a fundamental problem with task-based thinking that no one talks about.
Tasks assume you know exactly what needs to be done.
They're rigid, prescriptive, and often become outdated the moment you write them down.
The Task Trap
Picture this: You're building a new feature for your app. You create tasks:
- □Design the UI mockup
- □Write the backend API
- □Implement the frontend
- □Write tests
- □Deploy to production
Looks organized, right? But what happens when you discover the API needs a complete redesign halfway through? Or when user feedback suggests a totally different approach? Your neat task list becomes a source of stress, not progress.
Enter Objectives
Objectives are different. Instead of "Design the UI mockup," you have "Create an intuitive way for users to track their habits." See the difference?
An objective describes the outcome you want, not the specific steps to get there. This gives you:
🎨 Flexibility
Change your approach as you learn
🎯 Focus
Remember why you're doing something
💡 Creativity
Find better solutions you hadn't considered
🔥 Motivation
Connect with the purpose, not just the process
Real-World Example
I used to have a task: 'Write 1000 words daily for my book.' I'd force myself to hit that number, even when I had nothing to say. I'd write garbage just to check the box.
Then I switched to an objective: 'Develop compelling characters readers care about.' Some days I write 2000 words. Other days I spend hours thinking about character motivations without writing a single word. Both move me toward my real goal.
How Objectives Change Everything
1. They Embrace Uncertainty
You don't need to know every step. You just need to know where you're heading. The path reveals itself as you walk it.
2. They Encourage Learning
When you're focused on an outcome, every attempt teaches you something—even the "failures." Tasks just create a binary: done or not done.
3. They Reduce Overwhelm
Instead of 50 micro-tasks, you might have 3-5 meaningful objectives. Your brain can actually hold these in working memory.
4. They Stay Relevant
While tasks become stale, objectives evolve with your understanding. They grow more refined, not obsolete.
Making the Switch
Start small. Take one of your current task lists and ask: "What am I really trying to achieve here?"
❌ Instead of:
- • Research competitor pricing
- • Create pricing comparison chart
- • Write pricing page copy
✅ Try:
Develop a pricing strategy that feels fair to customers and sustainable for us
Notice how the objective leaves room for discovery? Maybe you'll find that your competitors' pricing models are all wrong. Maybe you'll invent something entirely new.
The Bottom Line
Tasks are about doing. Objectives are about achieving.
And in a world where the best path forward is rarely clear from the start, that distinction makes all the difference.
Your projects aren't assembly lines. They're explorations. It's time your project management approach reflected that.
Ready to work with objectives?
Gime is built around objectives, not tasks. Because your best work happens when you focus on what matters, not what's next on the list.