The Physics of Working Towards a Goal vs. Wasting Time and Energy
In physics there is a simple formula for calculating work.
Work = Force x Distance
The basic explanation for this formula is that work is only done when an object is moved. This means that no matter how hard you try, if an object doesn’t move then there is no work.
To that end, this physics formula for work does not only apply to objects, it also applies to working towards goals. This means that no matter how hard you’re trying to achieve a goal, if you’re not actually moving closer to achieving that goal you’re not actually working. Instead, what you’re doing is just exhausting yourself as you do no work. This is actually worse than doing nothing, because you’re wasting time and energy.
Furthermore, the only way to know if you’re moving closer to achieving your goal is by measuring progress. As a result, failing to measure progress is the #1 indicator that you may be wasting your time and energy.