A new year is the perfect time to reflect, reset, and refocus. Instead of setting vague resolutions that fade by February, I follow a structured planning process that helps me set clear goals, track progress, and achieve what I set out to do.
This process has worked for me year after year, keeping me focused, motivated, and intentional. Here’s how to set goals for the new year.
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Step 1: Set Aside Focused Time
I start by picking a dedicated day for New Year reflection and planning and clearing my calendar. No distractions. No multitasking. Just uninterrupted time to think, reflect, and devise goal-setting strategies for 2025.
Many people try to squeeze in goal-setting between daily tasks, but I’ve found that blocking off at least a few hours makes a huge difference. Treating it like an important meeting helps me take it seriously.
Step 2: Reflect on the Past Year
Before setting new goals, I take time to look back. Instead of jumping straight into achievements or failures, I start with how I feel about the year. I grab a notebook and free-write my review without overthinking.
I ask myself:
- How do I feel about this year overall?
- Am I better than I was last year?
- What were my biggest wins?
- Where did I struggle the most?
- Am I excited to build on this year, or just relieved it’s over?
This helps me understand the emotional side of my progress, which is often overlooked. Sometimes, a year that looks “successful” on paper doesn’t feel fulfilling, and that’s important to recognize.
Step 3: Make Three Lists
Once I’ve reflected, I break my new year planning process into three simple lists:
What do I want to do more of?
- What worked well last year that I want to continue or expand?
- What activities or habits brought the most progress or joy?
What do I want to do less of?
- What drained my energy or didn’t serve my goals?
- What needs to start, stop, or change to improve next year?
What specific goals do I want to accomplish?
- I write out concrete, measurable goals.
- I assign a probability of success to each goal.
- I list what needs to happen to increase that probability.
- I identify potential obstacles that could hold me back.
This step keeps me from setting vague resolutions. Instead of saying, “I want to get in shape,” I define specific actions, like:
“Work out 3x a week and track progress in an app.”
“Save $10,000 by automating transfers to a savings account.”
Breaking goals into actionable steps makes them far more achievable.
Step 4: Extra Goal-Setting Strategies for 2025
This year, I’m adding a few new elements to my new year planning process to stay even more focused:
- A Visual Board – A daily visual representation of my goals to reinforce motivation. This could be a digital vision board or a physical one with images, quotes, and milestones.
- A Personal SWOT Analysis – Listing my strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. This helps me leverage my strengths and address weaknesses before they become obstacles.
- Quarterly Mini-Goals – Breaking the year into 90-day sprints rather than long, vague resolutions. This keeps me engaged and allows for adjustments as needed.
- Regular Progress Reviews – Scheduling monthly check-ins to track progress, reflect, and make course corrections.
I’ve noticed that shorter timeframes and frequent check-ins make goal-setting more effective. Instead of setting a big goal in January and forgetting about it, I make small, steady progress all year long.
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Plan, Reflect, and Execute
This simple but structured process keeps me focused and intentional throughout the year. Regular adjustments help me stay on track, and breaking goals into smaller steps makes them easier to achieve.
New Year planning doesn’t have to be complicated. Set aside time, reflect, set clear goals, and track your progress. Small, consistent actions will lead to big results.
Additional Resources
→ My Lead Generation Reading List
$100M Offers by Alex Hormozi
$100M Leads by Alex Hormozi
Expert Secrets by Russell Brunson
The Art and Business of Writing by Nicolas Cole
Founder Brand by Dave Gerhardt
Predictable Revenue by Aaron Ross & Marylou Tyler
The Challenger Sale by Matthew Dixon & Brent Adamson
→ My Sales & Marketing Stack
Notion (Productivity)
