Before You Plan Your Year… Read This
There’s something about this time of year that sweeps us up.
Fresh calendars. New notebooks. That promise of a “new me”. The new year ahead feels long and full of possibility,and it’s so easy to think, “Right, this is it. I’m going to change everything.”
While that’s a lovely feeling, it’s also the moment where we can accidentally set goals that look shiny… but don’t actually fit our real life.
Before you leap into planning the next 12 months, it’s worth pausing for a moment. This isn’t to get rid of the the excitement, but to check:
Is this the right goal for me?
Is this the right time to be working on it?
You don’t need to wait until January to make changes and you don’t need to commit to everything now. Think of your year in seasons, not everything blooms in nature at the same time. Your goals are the same.
Let’s break it down. Here are some questions you need to ask for every goal you’re considering:
Where did this goal come from?
Not every long-held goal is automatically the “right” one. Just because you’ve talked about doing something for years doesn’t mean it still fits who you are now.
It’s worth asking:
Has this stayed on my list because I genuinely want it?
Is it there because I’ve felt I should want it?
Am I keeping it because of habit?
If I haven’t made progress, is it truly down to circumstances or is my heart no longer in it?
On the flip side, brand-new goals can be completely valid. A shift at work, a change at home, or a sudden realisation can spark something that feels right straight away.
The timescale doesn’t make it more or less worthy. The key question isn’t how long you’ve wanted it.
It’s: is this goal actually mine?
Does it come from your own wants, needs, curiosity or growth or from comparison, expectation, or old stories about who you think you’re supposed to be?
What’s the real motivation behind it?
Let’s be honest, sometimes we set goals because we’re moving towards something we genuinely want and sometimes we set them because we’re trying to avoid something uncomfortable.
When the goal is genuinely yours it feels like it would add something good to your life.
Eg:
• More family holidays because you love the time together
• A new job because you’re ready for a fresh challenge
• Picking up a hobby because you miss doing something just for you
However, when the goal is actually covering something up, it’s a distraction from something you don’t want to face.
Eg:
• Holidays to avoid tension at home
• A new qualification because you’re dodging a big decision
• A big declutter because everything else feels overwhelming
If you’re setting a goal to hide from something, then it might not be the right goal at the moment and you need a rethink.
Once you know the real reason, you can choose the right next step.
What outcome are you hoping for?
Close your eyes and imagine you’ve achieved it. What’s different?
Does it add something positive to your days?
Does it help you feel a bit more like yourself?
Does it open doors or give you breathing room?
If the outcome feels heavy, pressured, or driven by other people’s expectations… that’s a sign to pause.
How do you feel when you picture doing the work?
Not finishing it but actually doing it. If your whole body winces, if you instantly want to tidy the kitchen instead, or if you already feel exhausted, it might not be the right match right now.
A good goal might make you a bit nervous, but it shouldn’t drain you before you start. Look for feelings like curiosity, readiness, a spark of excitement, or a gentle “yes”.
What’s the real cost?
Every goal needs resources. Nothing wrong with that but it’s worth being honest about what’s required.
Cost might look like:
Time (and not imaginary future time, real weekly time)
Energy (are you stretched thin already?)
Money (does it need investment?)
This isn’t about shutting the goal down. It’s about choosing the version that fits the life you have and adjusting accordingly.
What support do you need?
Most goals aren’t solo missions. Think about what would make it easier:
Accountability
Coaching
A cheerleading friend
Regular check-ins
Practical advice
Community support
If you don’t have the support you need yet, that doesn’t mean the goal is wrong, it might just not be a right now goal. Or you need to make a plan to get the right support.
What else is going on in your life at the moment?
You might want something deeply. But wanting it doesn’t automatically create time or headspace. If you’re juggling work, caring, a house that seems to constantly need attention and a brain that doesn’t stop… you may need to scale the goal to match your actual life, not the life you wish you had.
Eg
“Publish my first book in 12 months”.
Lovely idea (and one that I have). But if you haven’t started the story, have one hour a week and no budget for editing or submissions… it’s going to end in frustration.
That doesn’t mean give up. It just means reshape it to something sustainable:
Outline the plot
Draft the first version
Send it to beta readers
Right dream, different scale.
Is there a simpler way to get what you want?
Often the goal is fine, it’s just too big for what’s going on at the moment. You can still move towards the same feeling with a lighter step.
Eg:
You don’t need to run a marathon to feel healthier.
You don’t need to launch a whole business to explore an idea.
You don’t need to declare a massive transformation to make progress.
Find the smallest meaningful step. Start there.
The seasonal check: does this belong now or later?
Some goals are perfect for spring energy. Some thrive in outdoor summer days. Some need autumn’s reflective mood and some are winter goals, slow, steady, behind the scenes.
If something feels “not now”, that doesn’t mean “never”. It might belong to a different season of the year or a different season of your life.
Remember, the goals you set now don’t have to be the be all and end all for the year. They can be tweaked or even changed completely. You can add to them or take away.
You’re not limited to January. Your year is flexible, and so are you. Set goals that feel good to work on, not just good to say out loud. Choose goals that support the life you’re living now, while still nudging you towards the life you want.
If you want support choosing the goals that genuinely fit your time, energy and circumstances, my
“Ready, Set, Goal!” session is ideal. In 90 minutes, we’ll shape clear goals and a realistic plan that helps you make steady progress without dropping any balls.
