Do not just visualise the outcome
Fantasising about success measurably reduces the effort you put in. There is a fix.
Do this
Use the full sequence: name the Wish, imagine the best Outcome vividly, then identify the internal Obstacle honestly, then form a Plan in if-then form. The obstacle step is the one people skip and the one that does the work.
Why it works
Positive fantasies about a desired future lower energy and predict worse attainment across studies of job seekers, dieters and students - the mind treats the imagined success as partly achieved. Mental contrasting reverses this by binding the fantasy to present reality, and combined with implementation intentions it produces reliable behaviour change in randomised trials.
Where it fails
It works by revealing which goals are actually feasible, which means it will sometimes lead you to drop a goal rather than pursue it. That is the intended function, but it is not what people expect from a motivation technique.
How you’ll know
If the exercise leaves you slightly deflated and clearer about the obstacle, it is working. If it leaves you glowing, you skipped a step.