Disengaging from unattainable goals and reengaging in alternative goals is essential for effective goal pursuit; yet, surprisingly little is known about associated personality factors. Here, we focused on individual differences in self-control (domain-general self-control, if–then planning) and boredom (boredom proneness, boredom avoidance and escape tendencies). Concerning goal adjustment in everyday life (Study 1; N = 323 crowdworkers), if–then planning was associated with worse disengagement and better reengagement. While boredom proneness was associated with poorer reengagement, boredom avoidance and escape tendencies were associated with better reengagement. When goal striving was thwarted during the COVID-19 pandemic (Study 2; N = 97 students), similar associations emerged along with links to anxiety and depression. However, disengagement was no longer associated with if–then planning but instead with better self-control and higher boredom proneness. These results show differential relationships of goal disengagement and reengagement with self-control and boredom, paving the way to a better understanding of who struggles or shines when effective goal adjustment is required.

摆脱无法实现的目标并重新投入替代目标对于有效的目标追求至关重要；然而，令人惊讶的是，人们对相关的人格因素知之甚少。在这里，我们专注于自我控制（领域一般自我控制，if-then 计划）和无聊（无聊倾向、无聊回避和逃避倾向）方面的个体差异。关于日常生活中的目标调整（研究 1；N  = 323 众包工作者），if-then 计划与更糟糕的脱离和更好的重新参与相关。虽然无聊倾向与较差的重新参与有关，但无聊回避和逃避倾向与更好的重新参与有关。当目标努力在 COVID-19 大流行期间受阻时（研究 2；N = 97 名学生），类似的关联与焦虑和抑郁的联系一起出现。然而，脱离不再与 if-then 计划相关，而是与更好的自我控制和更高的无聊倾向相关。这些结果显示了目标脱离和重新参与与自我控制和无聊之间的不同关系，为更好地了解在需要有效的目标调整时谁在挣扎或发光铺平了道路。