In recent years I’ve started to take new year’s goals more seriously. I’ve tossed out the old perspective of SMART goals where you set and forget them and replaced it with goals that I am actually going to achieve instead that are more aligned with the person of who I want to become.

Now I’m sharing my goals for you to read in the hopes you can find some inspiration to take your goals more seriously as well. 

How to Choose a Word of the Year That Aligns With Your Goals

I can’t remember where exactly I first heard of this idea, but I remember loving it. Basically, at the end of every year I start reflecting on what word I would like to encompass for the upcoming year. This is a word that I can turn to when I need some direction throughout the year and a word to help me feel aligned with my goals. Picking a word that means something to me or something that I want to achieve helps me stay true to myself and who I am becoming. 

In recent years I’ve chosen words like alignment and growth. 

In 2023, the word alignment helped me start taking my mindset and values to a whole new level. There was a lot of learning that took place and I started focusing on actions that aligned with my purpose and values a lot more. Like hiring a fitness and nutrition coach, going to therapy, practicing meditation, and reading more books. It was a very eye-opening year for me. 

This past year, I chose the word growth. Not only was I, in fact, growing a human inside of me, but I was also growing in my goals, values, and purpose as well. I was determined to build upon the values I created in the year prior. The mantra “1% better every day” was constantly replaying in my head this past year. I can honestly say I’ve grown as a person by becoming a mom, something I’ve dreamed of my entire life. I’ve also had a lot of growth in my confidence and mindset.

For 2025, I’ve started thinking about what word I want for the upcoming year. Some options are: momentum, value, or worth. 2025 is going to be the year of life changing decisions- I just know it. I haven’t landed on what my word is quite yet, and that’s ok. My favorite part of deciding on a word of the year is that it’ll randomly just come to me, and that word will feel like the right fit. Sometimes I just have to reflect on a few ideas first. 

How to Find Your Word of the Year for 2025

There is no “set” way to do this. I’ve journaled, reflected, and meditated in order to come up with my word of the year. You can do the same and try on a few different words before selecting the one for you this upcoming year. If you need some ideas to get started I’ve included a list of words of the year below to spark inspiration. 

Why Traditional SMART Goals Fall Short

I spent a majority of this year learning about mindset and behavior change. I pride myself on the routines and values I’ve created that align with who I am becoming. With that said, goal setting has been the foundation of my learning.

I have listened to so many podcasts, read dozens of articles and books, and consumed plenty of media and webinars related to goals. 

My favorite concepts I’ve come across throw out the conventional goal setting methods. I’m sure you are familiar with the idea of SMART goals. This version means well, but it lacks some applicable ideas. I’ll explain how. 

What Makes BETTER Goals More Effective

Atomic Habits author James Clear stated, “Unsuccessful and successful people share the same goals. It was only when they implemented a system of continuous small improvements that they achieved a different outcome.” 

Effective goal-setting practices should focus not only on the goal itself but also on the how and the why required to achieve it. 

Key goal-setting practices include:

Break It Down: Large goals can feel overwhelming. Chunk them into smaller, actionable mini-goals and set timeframes for completion.

Create a “Why”: Understanding the deeper motivation behind your goal increases commitment.

Plan for Obstacles: Acknowledge challenges and create actionable solutions ahead of time.

Neuroscience-Backed Goal-Setting Method: WOOP

The WOOP method, developed by psychologist Gabriele Oettingen, combines visualization and planning for obstacles to supercharge your goal-setting process.

How the WOOP Method Works for Achieving Goals

Wish: Identify a meaningful, challenging goal that excites you.

Outcome: Vividly imagine the positive benefits of achieving your goal. This fuels motivation.

Obstacles: Realistically assess the internal and external challenges that could prevent success. What personal habits or behaviors might get in the way?

Plan: Develop an actionable plan using “if-then” statements to overcome obstacles. For example: If I feel tired after work, then I will do a 5-minute warm-up to get started.

Why WOOP Is So Effective

WOOP taps into both motivation and problem-solving, making it more likely you’ll follow through with your goals, even when challenges come up.

Breaking Down Big Goals into Manageable Steps

Doctor and productivity expert, Ali Abdual, wrote in his book Feel Good Productivity about NICE goals. While traditional SMART goals work well for long-term planning for some people, SMART goals don’t always translate to the day-to-day grind. 

The NICE Goal Framework: Focus on Small Wins

Near-Term: Focus on immediate, daily, or weekly steps.

Input-Based: Prioritize what you can control right now.

Controllable: Keep goals realistic and achievable in your current environment.

Energizing: Incorporate elements of play or collaboration to keep your goals exciting. 

Example: Turning Overwhelming Goals Into Actionable Steps

A SMART goal might be: Complete a master’s degree in 2 years.

While a NICE Goal could be: Dedicate 30 minutes daily to course materials and assignments.

Notice how a big goal can make your brain freak out because of how much it feels there is to do vs. breaking your goal down into small mini goals can help you feel like your goals are much more manageable. 

The Power of Your “Why” in Goal Achievement

Thinking of your goals as something rewarding you are adding to your life, may help boost your confidence for achieving them. 

Mel Robbins suggests writing your goals down for the day and creating check-ins with yourself to look at your goals in order to keep you on track as well. 

How to Use Motivation to Stay on Track

So far my advice has included thinking and planning for your goals, but if you want to actually achieve your goals, you must check-in with yourself and make adjustments to your goals on a regular basis. 

How to Reverse Engineer Your Goals for 2025 Success

If you really want to make your goals work, first, think of the big picture and then reverse engineer your goals. This means making yearly, quarterly, monthly, weekly, and daily goals and check-ins to help you actually achieve your goals.  

A Simple Goal-Setting Roadmap for 2025

Yearly Goals: Keep It Focused and Achievable

Yearly Goals: Focus on 1-2 major objectives for the entire year. (Too many goals will only overwhelm you)

Breaking It Down: Quarterly, Monthly, and Weekly Actions

Quarterly Reviews: Break goals into projects and strategies. Breaking the year into quarters is a seamless way to hit smaller targets that are working towards the bigger picture. 

Monthly Check-ins: At the end of the month, reflect on the previous month and plan for the upcoming month. Adjust for life’s changes and identify obstacles. 

For example, if you have a vacation planned in the upcoming month, adjust how your goals might look for the month and plan for what obstacles might arise. 

Weekly Plans: Create a weekly schedule and review progress.

Whether you are a paper and pen person or digital tracker person, schedule what you are going to accomplish related to your goals for the week. At the end of the week take some time for reflection and adjust for the next week. 

Daily Accountability: Tracking Small, Consistent Steps

Daily Actions: Track habits or tasks in a journal or Google Sheet for real-time accountability. 

Goal achievement happens through small, consistent actions. If you do not track your actions you are likely just guessing, and that will ultimately be a letdown for your future self. 

TL;DR: The 6 Key Steps to Achieving Your 2025 Goals

If you truly want to reach your goals you must: 

1. Set big goals 
2. Get specific on those goals
3. Break down your goals into mini goals along the way
4. Set a timeframe to check-in with yourself regarding your goals (is that going to be quarterly, monthly, weekly, daily?)
5. Plan for obstacles 
6. Use your “why” to drive your decisions 

I’m looking forward to the goals I’m creating for 2025, and I hope you are too. Consider the frameworks above and experiment with them. Which strategy resonates the most with you? I would love to know! Let’s reimagine how we set and achieve our goals together. Cheers to 2025! 

Rooting for you,

Sarah