Setting goals is both challenging and essential. Some people might argue that goal-setting is unnecessary or even a waste of time.
I say, “Just do what works for you because there will always be someone who thinks differently.” – Michelle Obama.
If you’re living the life you’ve always dreamed of, that’s amazing, and I wish you the best. But if you’re like me, still navigating through this sea of uncertainty, let’s try something different for the upcoming year. Let me help you set your goals differently this time.
I’ve spent time, with help from various resources, crafting a Notion template that I believe will help you set your goals without much hassle. I’ll share it with you at the end of this write-up.
To me, a goal is like a compass that guides you through the unpredictable storm of life. Let’s see what some of the greatest minds have to say about it:
The wisdom in these quotes shows that setting goals is vital for progress. If you find goal-setting helpful, I hope I can offer a fresh perspective this time around. Remember, you still need to take action for these ideas to work.
As Bo Bennett said, "A dream becomes a goal when action is taken toward its achievement." Without action, all this effort will have been in vain.
Let’s approach this process with a fresh perspective. I’ve broken it down into five actionable steps. While you can go through them quickly, I believe three days is a reasonable timeframe to plan for a whole year. Let’s dive in:
There are many ways to document goals, from pen and paper to digital tools like Microsoft Word or specialized apps. I recommend Notion because it’s free, versatile, and available on multiple platforms.
Plus, I’ve created a Notion template to make the process easier for you. It includes comprehensive components for 2025 yearly goal setting, such as current state reflections, quarterly goals, and a 2025 goals database. It also offers a weekly reflection section for each quarter and incorporates motivational quotes and images for inspiration to keep you engaged and on track.
I know you might be eager to jump straight into setting goals, but this step is crucial. Take time to reflect on your current state. How are you doing emotionally, mentally, physically, financially, and in your relationships? Dive deep. My Notion template includes examples and guidance to help with this reflection.
Why do this? As Confucius said, “Learning without reflection is a waste. Reflection without learning is dangerous.” Over the past year, you’ve learned and grown through challenges, and this is your chance to acknowledge that. The goal is to compare yourself today with who you were yesterday, not with others. Several quotes echo this sentiment:
Taking this step allows you to measure progress and celebrate how far you’ve come.
Now we are getting into the exciting part of setting your goals. Think about the entire year of 2025: 52 weeks, 365 days, 8,760 hours, 525,600 minutes, and 31,536,000 seconds. That is a lot of time, and the possibilities are vast. Think of big goals, but keep them realistic by considering your current state and abilities as your starting point.
For example, if your goal is to make $1 billion, that is ambitious and possible. But as you set that goal, also consider what skills or knowledge you currently have that can help you achieve it. If you don’t yet have the skills to generate such wealth, your goal should include acquiring those skills. And no, I don’t know any skill that can generate $1 billion, but the point is to align your goals with your reality while leaving room for growth.
Your goals should excite and inspire you, something that makes you want to yell, “Yes!” when you think about achieving it. These goals should also be meaningful to you, giving you a sense of accomplishment by the year’s end.
When you write these big goals, remember that we will later break them into smaller, manageable quarterly goals and actionable steps or systems. For now, focus on setting clear, detailed goals. Describe in as much detail as possible what each goal means to you and the tangible outcomes that will show you have achieved it. This level of clarity will make your goals more actionable and motivating.
To help you articulate and define your goals effectively, use the ChatGPT prompt included in my Notion template. It is a handy tool for structuring and refining your ideas into beautifully worded and inspiring goals.
Let us set those goals and make 2025 a year worth remembering.
A year can be divided into 4, 3, 2, or even just 1 quarter. It’s entirely up to you. Let’s say you’re like me and decide to go with 4 quarters. For this blog post, we’ll focus on Quarter 1 (January to March). Once you complete Quarter 1, you can tackle Quarter 2, and so on. However, this process is flexible, and you can plan all quarters at once if you prefer.
Now, let’s dive into Quarter 1, which spans 90 days. Begin by breaking down your annual goals into achievable targets for this period. The key is to make these quarterly goals realistic and meaningful. Write them down.
Next, for each quarterly goal, create a system, which is a set of actionable steps to help you achieve it. Think about what you can do daily, weekly, monthly, and periodically to stay on track. Write these actions down as part of your system.
Example:
Say your Annual Goal is to save $100,000.
Your first Quarter Goal (Q1): Save $25,000
Systems:
In my Notion template, I’ve simplified this process. It includes a customizable prompt you can use with ChatGPT. Simply fill in your details, paste the prompt into ChatGPT, and let it generate a detailed plan for you. Review the output and add it to the template.
Repeat this process for each quarter of the year to align your annual goals with actionable plans. This structured approach makes it easier to answer the question: What can I start doing today to meet my goals?
A goal is not truly a goal if it holds no meaning for you. Take the time to review everything you have written and ensure it reflects something that would genuinely make you happy and fulfilled when achieved.
Avoid setting small goals just to avoid hard work. Instead, create goals that challenge you, encourage growth, and push you to become a better version of yourself. Your goals should inspire you to strive for a happier and more fulfilling life.
Carefully reread your goals, make any necessary adjustments, and keep your first-quarter goals and systems easily accessible. Notion is an excellent tool for tracking your progress since it is available on the web, mobile, and desktop platforms.
If you have reached this point, congratulations. You have taken a meaningful step toward shaping your future by setting purposeful goals.
Here we go again, reflection. It might seem repetitive, but it is incredibly important. As Confucius said, “Learning without reflection is a waste. Reflection without learning is dangerous.”
You have spent an entire week working towards your goals. Take some time at the end of each week to think and write about your experiences. What did you learn? What difficulties did you face? What challenges stood out? How can you improve?
This process helps you identify areas where adjustments might be needed. Use these insights to refine your quarterly goals, ensuring they continue to guide you effectively toward achieving your annual objectives.
Reflection is not just an exercise, it is a powerful tool to keep you aligned, motivated, and on track.
“When it is obvious that the goals cannot be reached, don’t adjust the goals, adjust the action steps.” – Confucius.
If you find yourself falling short of your goals, resist the urge to lower your annual goals. Instead, use insights from your weekly reflections to craft new systems and strategies to achieve them. That said, it is okay to adjust your goals if, upon reflection, you realize they no longer align with what you truly want. After all, no one knows you better than you know yourself.
Creating this template was made easier with inspiration from Shravani, the creative mind behind:
Here are some links to her work:
To access my Notion template, submit your email below, and I will send it to you instantly. When you receive it, click the link. Once it opens, click the “Duplicate” button to enable editing and make it your own.
If you prefer, you can also reach out to me on LinkedIn or Instagram, or comment on the Nders Studio LinkedIn or Instagram post to request it. While I initially considered charging a small fee for the template, I decided to offer it for free to help this blog reach more people who need it, support my business Nders Studio, and connect with others who share the same drive for growth.
Nders Studio is a digital agency dedicated to turning your ideas into reality. I look forward to connecting with you and supporting you on your journey.
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