The New Year’s here, and as usual, the pressure to make big changes looms large. You might be thinking: “I should set grand, epic, paradigm-shifting goals! I should transform my life! This is my time!” But let’s be real. That can feel overwhelming—especially if you don’t know where to start or if past resolutions have fizzled out faster than you can say “1.21 jiggawatts” and you’d like to the back to the future that you’ve always wanted.
Don’t worry. I’ve been there too. The trick is to start small. Really small. In fact, the simpler your goals, the better.
Why Keep It Simple?
I’m a firm believer that progress doesn’t come from aiming for the stars and hoping for a miracle. It comes from building habits, one small step at a time. When we set simple goals, it’s easier to stay motivated, track progress, and celebrate wins—even the tiny ones. And when those small wins stack up, they lead to bigger changes than any big, vague goal could ever promise.
Here’s how you can set simple goals for the New Year:
1. Focus on One Thing, Not Everything
You know that feeling when you try to do everything at once? You end up doing nothing. Instead of a laundry list of goals (and the overwhelming anxiety that comes with it), pick ONE thing you want to improve this year.
That’s it. One goal. If you’re a freelancer, maybe it’s landing your first client. If you’re trying to improve your fitness, maybe it’s getting out for a walk three times a week. The key is to make it manageable, something that feels doable even on your toughest days.
2. Make It Tiny
Go ahead. Make your goal even smaller than you think. This sounds counterintuitive, but hear me out. If you’re a freelancer, instead of “Book more clients,” aim for “Email one new prospect every week.” If you want to read more, commit to 10 minutes of reading a day. Tiny actions have compounding power. When you make the goal small enough that it doesn’t feel daunting, you’re more likely to stick with it.
3. Be Specific
“Get better at my job” or “Be healthier” is way too broad! What does that really mean? Nothing. Instead, narrow it down. Instead of saying “I want to write more,” make it “I’ll write one blog post per month.” Instead of “I’ll get fit,” say “I’ll walk 30 minutes three times a week.” Specificity makes it easier to track and gives you clear direction.You can even break your targets down even more if it gets too much or life’s tasks get in the way of your progress. 30 minutes of exercise can easily be broken into three 10-minute intervals and so forth. Progress is the point, not perfection.
4. Don’t Overestimate Your Motivation
This is one I’ve learned the hard way. I used to think motivation would carry me through. You’ll be tired some days or emotionally just going though it. Forgive yourself, take a beat snd maybe take it easier than you’d initially planned to do. Motivation ebbs and flows, but habits don’t. Your goal needs to fit into your life even when you’re not feeling motivated. That’s why keeping it simple is key. You don’t need a grand burst of inspiration to email one person, read one chapter, or take one walk
5. Celebrate the Small Wins
We often dismiss small wins as not enough, but in reality, they’re everything. Acknowledge each tiny step forward. When you email that prospect, when you hit the gym once, when you finish that book chapter, celebrate it. The more you recognize these wins, the more motivated you’ll be to keep going
6. Reassess Every 30 Days
At the end of each month, check in on your goal. Did you meet it? Did you miss it? If you missed it, no big deal. It’s not a failure—it’s feedback. Use it to adjust your approach. This reassessment keeps your goals fluid and adaptable, which is important when life inevitably throws curveballs.
A Real-World Example
Let’s put this into perspective with an example. If you’re a freelancer like me, you might set a simple goal like: “I will reach out to three potential clients per week.” You could even break it down further, to make it even more bite-sized: “I’ll send one cold email a day.”That’s it.
The beauty here is that you can build on this. If you hit that goal consistently, you might increase it to five emails a week. Or you might decide that engaging with clients on social media is a more natural fit for you. Either way, as I said, you’re setting yourself up for progress, not perfection.
Final Thoughts
Let’s recap: Goals don’t need to be complicated. They don’t need to be grandiose. They don’t need to be earth-shattering. In fact, the simpler they are, the more likely you are to stick with them. So if you’re feeling lost this New Year and don’t know where to start, try taking one small step toward something that excites you, scares you, or just needs to be done.
Small wins, over time, lead to big transformations. And trust me, that’s all you really need to get ahead.
Let’s make 2025 the year of small, simple, sustainable goals. You got this!
