It’s that time of year again when everyone’s talking about goals. And sure, setting goals can be exciting, but let’s be honest; it’s also easy to lose steam if your goals don’t feel clear or meaningful.
So how do you set goals that actually work? Goals that matter to you, not just ones that look good on paper or make you feel productive for five minutes?
It starts with asking the right questions.
The first thing I always ask myself when setting a goal is: What do I actually want?
What do you want, really?
I don’t mean the vague “I want to be healthier” or “I want to do better at work.” I mean specifically. What does success look like to you?
Maybe it’s:
- “I want to feel calm and focused at work instead of rushing from task to task.”
- Or: “I want to spend three evenings a week unwinding instead of scrolling on my phone.”
Get clear on what you want and frame it in a positive way. Instead of focusing on what you don’t want (“I don’t want to feel stressed anymore”), focus on where you want to go (“I want to feel calm and in control of my time”).
When you know what you’re aiming for, it’s so much easier to figure out how to get there.
Where Are You Starting From?
Once you know what you want, take a look at where you are right now.
This is about being honest with yourself—not to judge where you’re at, but to give yourself a realistic starting point. For example:
- “Right now, I’m exercising once a week and feel too tired most days to do more.”
- Or: “At the moment, I’m booking two new clients a month, but I’d like to double that.”
Knowing where you’re starting from gives you a foundation to build on. It’s like plotting your location on a map before figuring out the best route to your destination.
What Will Success Look Like?
Here’s a little trick: Picture what your life will look and feel like when you’ve achieved your goal.
What will you see, hear, or feel?
- Maybe it’s seeing your workout gear packed and ready every morning because you’ve made it a habit.
- Maybe it’s hearing praise from your manager because you’ve taken the initiative on a project.
- Maybe it’s just feeling a little more confident at work.
The clearer you can make that picture in your mind, the more real and achievable your goal will feel.
Who Can Help You?
Here’s something we don’t think about enough when setting goals: You don’t have to do it alone.
Take a moment to think about who could be part of your “team.” This doesn’t mean hiring a whole crew—it could be:
- A friend who’ll check in with you to see how you’re doing.
- A mentor or coach who can give you guidance and perspective.
- A partner who can help create space for your goals by sharing responsibilities.
Ask yourself: “Who can I reach out to for support?” Sometimes, just having someone to cheer you on or hold you accountable can make all the difference.
How Will You Know When You’ve Made It?
This is such an important question: How will you know you’ve succeeded?
Success doesn’t always have to be a number, but it does need to feel measurable in some way. It could be:
- “I’ll know I’ve succeeded when I can comfortably run 5km without stopping.”
- “I’ll know I’m on track when I’m consistently signing four new clients a month.”
Having something tangible to measure keeps you motivated—and gives you something to celebrate along the way.
Why Does This Matter?
And finally, ask yourself: Why is this goal important to me?
This is the game-changer. When you know why a goal matters—when it’s tied to your values or the life you want to create—it stops feeling like a chore and starts feeling like something worth showing up for.
Maybe you want to be healthier because you want to feel energised for your kids. Maybe you want to grow your business because it gives you the freedom to spend more time doing what you love.
Whatever it is, your “why” is what keeps you going.
What About You?
If you’re setting goals for 2025, take a moment to ask yourself these questions:
- What do I really want?
- Where am I starting from?
- What will success look and feel like?
- How will I know when I’ve achieved it?
- Who can I enlist to be on my team?
- Why does this matter to me?
Start small, keep it real, and remember—it’s about progress, not perfection.
Are you setting goals for the New Year? If you would like some support, I’d love for you to get in touch.