The Indie Dev’s Guide to Choosing Goals vs. Tasks

Dev Diary Entry 1: The “Busy” Trap

Another late night. The code compiles, assets are mostly organized, and I’ve fixed a dozen bugs. I feel productive. Yet, when I look at the game, it barely resembles the vision I started with. I’m constantly “doing” but never truly “finishing” a significant chunk. This cycle of busywork without tangible progress is exhausting. It’s a common trap for indie developers, a treadmill of tasks that leads to burnout rather than a released game.

Dev Diary Entry 2: Goals vs. Tasks Defined

The core issue is a blur between goals and tasks. Goals are the "what"—the big picture, the desired outcome. For instance, “Release a playable demo by Q3” is a clear goal. Tasks, on the other hand, are the "how"—the specific, actionable steps needed to achieve that goal. “Implement player movement,” “Design level 1 layout,” or “Create character sprites” are all tasks supporting the demo release. Understanding this distinction is crucial for effective game development progress.

Dev Diary Entry 3: Common Pitfalls & How to Avoid Them

Pitfall 1: Vague Goals

“Make a fun game” sounds good, but it’s a terrible goal. It’s too abstract to be actionable. The solution lies in SMART goals: Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound. Instead of “make a fun game,” aim for something like “Develop a 2D pixel art platformer with three unique levels and a boss fight, playable in 15 minutes, by December 31st.” This provides a clear target for your game development log.

Pitfall 2: Task-Overload / No Goal Alignment

It’s easy to get lost in the weeds, endlessly polishing a single animation or tweaking minor UI elements. This happens when tasks aren’t clearly tied to a larger objective. The fix is top-down planning. First, define your overarching goal. Then, break it into key milestones, like “Alpha version complete” or “Core gameplay loop implemented.” Finally, break those milestones down into actionable tasks. Every task should directly contribute to a milestone, and every milestone to the main goal. This ensures all your game development efforts are aligned.

Pitfall 3: Shiny Object Syndrome / Scope Creep

You start with a simple idea, then suddenly you’re adding multiplayer, a crafting system, and an open world. This “shiny object syndrome” leads to an ever-expanding project that never gets finished. Combat this with prioritization frameworks. The MoSCoW method is excellent: Must-have, Should-have, Could-have, Won’t-have. Focus strictly on “Must-have” features for your initial goal. Park other ideas for a potential “version 2.0” or future updates in your game dev journal.

Pitfall 4: Lack of Tracking & Accountability

Without knowing your game development progress, it’s impossible to tell if you’re on track or falling behind. This lack of visibility can be demotivating. Implement regular check-ins. Daily or weekly, review your progress against your set tasks and milestones. Visually track your accomplishments. This creates accountability and allows you to adjust your plans proactively, preventing significant delays in your game development log.

Dev Diary Entry 4: The Power of Purposeful Action

Shifting from aimless busywork to goal-oriented action transforms the development process. When you clearly define your “what” and break it into manageable “hows,” you experience tangible results. Each completed task is a step closer to a defined milestone, which in turn leads to the ultimate goal. This purposeful action builds momentum, increases motivation, and drastically reduces burnout because you see genuine movement forward. There’s a profound psychological benefit to knowing your efforts are truly contributing to a larger vision. It turns chaotic work into a focused game development journey.

Dev Diary Entry 5: Your Dev Journey Starts Here

It’s time to stop just “doing” and start “achieving.” Apply these principles to your next project, or even your current one. Define your big goals using the SMART framework, then meticulously break them down into actionable tasks. Prioritize ruthlessly and track your game development progress relentlessly. As you refine your goals and systematically tackle your tasks, a comprehensive game dev journal or game development log becomes indispensable for tracking your progress and maintaining consistency. Start documenting your vision, breakthroughs, and challenges with our game dev journaling tool. It’s the perfect companion to track game development progress and ensure your brilliant ideas become reality.