how to set goals that actually stick.
I’ve been doing “goals” wrong for most of my life.
I’d get excited, set a bunch of goals, promptly forget about them, and then feel disappointed when, surprise, I missed them.
But a few years back, I got curious about how our brains work and realized that maybe I just needed to set goals in a way that stuck.
I started making small changes that ended up helping in pretty much every part of my life—work included.
Here’s what I learned: goals that aren’t flexible and adaptable don’t work for me. I need goals that adapt to my (real) life.
Now, I don’t hit my goals every single time, but I do make steady progress. Plus, I’m a lot more proud of myself along the way, and my confidence has grown along with it.
Here are some of my favorite strategies:
Chunk backwards and set daily priorities: I start by thinking about where I want to be in a year. Then I plan monthly check-ins, a weekly review, and a quick daily moment where I set a few priorities—always adapted to how I’m doing. I prefer to keep it soft and get things done than to overdo it and end up dragging my disappointment into the next day. Oh, and I try to celebrate every little thing—the dopamine boosts really help keep me motivated.
Have a “why”: This applies to, well, pretty much everything. If I’m unsure why I’m putting in extra effort, chances are that I won’t stick with it. I keep my goals and values on the same Notion page, so I’m always reminded of my purpose. And I stay open to changes—if something doesn’t feel right anymore, I’ll switch things up and make space for a new, more exciting goal.
Attach to an existing habit: If it’s a daily goal, I always try to stack it on something I’m already doing. Then, I’m less likely to forget about it and don’t have to form a completely new habit. For example, I set my daily priorities while having my coffee in the morning—I love this little ritual, and the happy feelings I get from holding my hot cup make the todos feel more doable.
Goal-setting is personal, and if you're looking to build goals that actually work for you, I have a few coaching spots available before the end of the year—don’t hesitate to reach out.
about the author:
Hi there! I'm Silja, the founder of the wholesome growth club, an inclusive hub for career coaching with a soft spot for introverts and perfectionists. I’m an Amsterdam-based expat, but I love connecting with people worldwide. With a background in recruiting, I know the struggle of crafting a career path that feels truly yours. At the wholesome growth club, we're all about fostering sustainable growth, meaningful engagement, and authentic connections. Our blog is dedicated to making coaching accessible and sharing insights to approach work and life with an extra dose of confidence, slow productivity, and self-compassion. If you are curious to make things happen for yourself, get in touch—we offer personalized coaching journeys that will get you closer to your (dreamy) goals in no time.
