How to Set and Stick to Your Goals for the Year
Every morning, when I step into the shower, I read a laminated sheet with all my goals for the year. It’s a daily reminder of what I want to accomplish, who I want to become, and how I’m going to make it happen. This simple practice keeps me focused, eliminates guesswork, and reinforces the habits that lead to real progress.
Over the years, I’ve refined this system—sitting down with intention, writing and rewriting my goals, and structuring them in a way that provides clarity and direction. The process isn’t about vague resolutions; it’s about creating a clear roadmap for the year ahead.
In this guide, I’ll walk you through my approach, share my methods, and provide a goal-setting template to help you design your own system. If you already have a practice in place, I’d love to hear how you approach it—let’s learn from each other.
Step 1: Reflect on the Past Year
Before setting new goals, take time to review the past 12 months. Every holiday season, I carve out time for this process—headphones on, lo-fi beats playing, and total honesty with myself.
I ask myself:
• What did I accomplish?
• Where did I struggle?
• What patterns am I noticing?
This is a sacred moment of reflection, and I use two main tools to guide me:
1. Visual Reflection
One of my favorite parts of the process is scrolling through my photos from the year. I pull out the most meaningful ones and either create a digital album or a simple slideshow. This acts as a highlight reel—something I can share with family but also a tool for personal reflection.
It’s always surprising to realize, “That happened this year? Time flies.” These pictures not only bring back great memories but also remind me of experiences I want to build on in the coming year.
2. Reviewing Last Year’s Goals
Next, I pull out my goal sheet from the previous year and take detailed notes. I jot down the good, the bad, and the ugly for each category.
Step 2: Categorizing Life into Six Areas
I use a framework inspired by Patrick Bet-David, an entrepreneur who breaks life into six categories. His philosophy is that you can’t pour everything into one area (like business) without the others suffering (like health or relationships).
Here are the six categories I use:
1. Health
2. Business
3. Financial
4. Relationships
5. Spiritual
6. Personal Development
This approach ensures that no major aspect of life is neglected. But you can customize it—if “Spiritual” doesn’t resonate, redefine it as “Meaning & Purpose” or “Mindfulness & Creativity.”
Step 3: The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly
For each category, I write down:
✅ The Good – What went well? What progress did I make?
❌ The Bad – What held me back? What bad habits crept in?
⚠️ The Ugly – What did I ignore or neglect that led to problems?
For example, in the Health category:
• Good: I lost 25 lbs and felt strong in my endurance training.
• Bad: I still eat way too much sugar.
• Ugly: I skipped doctor check-ups and let small injuries linger.
The point isn’t to only celebrate wins. This is about brutal honesty—recognizing weaknesses so I can take action in the new year.
Now, do this exercise for all six categories.
Step 4: Creating Goals & Habits for the Year
Once I’ve reviewed the past, I look ahead and set clear goals and habits for each category.
The Difference Between Goals & Habits
• A Goal is a measurable outcome (e.g., “Run a 5K race”).
• A Habit is a daily/weekly action that leads to success (e.g., “Exercise for 20 minutes every day”).
Both are essential. Habits create momentum, and goals provide direction.
Example for Health:
• Goal: Run a 50K ultra-marathon.
• Habit: Stretch every morning and train 5x per week.
Write three (3) goals and three (3) habits for each category. Refine them, tweak them, and make them realistic yet challenging.
Step 5: Defining Your Year with a Title
Once I’ve finalized my goals, I give my year a theme—something that encapsulates my mindset and intentions.
For example:
• 2024: The Year of Expansion
• 2023: The Year of Adventure
• 2022: The Year of Consistency
This acts as a mantra for the year—a guiding principle that reminds me what I’m working toward.
Step 6: Printing & Reading Daily
Once everything is finalized, I print it, laminate it, and post it where I’ll see it every day—for me, that’s the shower. It’s the perfect place because there are zero distractions.
By reading it daily, I keep my vision top of mind, making it far more likely that I’ll follow through.
Step 7: Share, Adjust, and Keep It Fun
Now that your goals are set, share them with someone you trust. Saying them out loud helps with accountability and clarity.
And remember: this is a living document. If things change mid-year, adjust your goals! The point isn’t perfection—it’s progress.
Final Thoughts & Downloadable Template
This goal-setting practice has been a game-changer in my life. It eliminates guesswork, keeps me accountable, and ensures I’m focusing on what truly matters.
🔹 [Download the Goal-Setting Template Here] 🔹
Make it your own. Draw on it, create a spreadsheet, record an audio version—whatever works best for you.
I’d love to hear how you approach goal setting! Do you have a yearly review process? What works best for you? Drop a comment and share your insights.
Let’s make this year the best one yet!