We’ve made it to the end of the year. On to 2025! As we wrap up 2024, it’s the perfect time to hit pause and take a moment to reflect. Whether this year was full of wins or challenges (or a mix of both), there’s so much value in looking back with gratitude and setting meaningful intentions for the year ahead. Forget those rigid New Year’s resolutions—let’s talk about flexible, creative ways to approach 2025 with purpose and excitement. Ready to dive in? Let’s go!

It's been a blur of a year at The Everyday Creative. We are infinitely proud that we've maintained our original podcasting schedule and still going strong. We've also become more comfortable being in front of the mic and think we've improved (although, you'll be the judge of that). 
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​The website is up and running (with some much needed tweaks). And we have lots of things in the works for 2025.
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​As we flip over that last page in our calendar, our thoughts naturally turn to goals and resolutions. New year, new me, right?

With New Year energy coursing through our veins, let's take a look at different types of goals - because not all goals are created equal. 

Outcome goals are all about the big picture and the end result you want to achieve. Think of them as your ultimate destination, like losing 20 pounds, running a marathon, or getting a promotion.

Process goals are all about the journey and the small, manageable steps you take along the way. Instead of focusing on the end result, they help you zero in on the actions you can control, like running three times a week, eating veggies with every meal, or dedicating 30 minutes a day to learning a new skill. They’re great for building habits and staying consistent without stressing too much about the outcome.

Whatever your relationship with New Year's resolutions and setting goals (love 'em or hate 'em), if you are planning the upcoming year, it's critical to have both types of goals. Your outcome goals set the destination with process goals providing the road map. 

Spend most of your time and energy on process goals as these are your daily action over which you have control. Outcome goals, on the other hand, are often too big to be actionable and the final result may not be within our control.

Setting goals sounds simple, right? But let’s be real—it’s not always as easy as it seems. From getting distracted or losing momentum to setting goals that feel too big (or not realistic), there are plenty of ways things can go sideways. Whether it’s lack of motivation, unclear priorities, or just life getting in the way, we’ve all been there. Let’s break down some of the most common goal-setting obstacles and talk about how to tackle them!

Most goals are rooted in an external result that is not in your control.
The typical approach to setting goals is to set an outcome goal and call it good. We want to lose X number of pounds, have a certain balance in our checking account, or get a promotion.

The problem is the we only have some control over these outcomes. We don't control our genetics or an injury that keeps us from exercising. We don't control financial setbacks like car repairs or other unexpected expenses (and isn't there always an unexpected expense each month). And it's unlikely that we are making our company's promotion decisions.

​The deadline or achievement is too far in the future.
When your goal is in the distant horizon, it's less likely to feel real or tangible. This can create several issues. You can lose sight of your purpose, get bogged down with life, or simply forget about it for awhile.
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​Our goals are too big or unrealistic.
​When you set a year-long goal, it's inevitably going to be big. Probably too big. It's also easy to overestimate what we can get done in a year (or even a day). With really big goals, we get overwhelmed, lose sight of end results, and motivation wanes. 
​The goal doesn't always get to the root of the issue.

That’s why it’s so important to break those big goals into smaller, manageable steps. Instead of focusing on the entire mountain, think about the next hill you need to climb. Smaller milestones not only feel more achievable but also give you a sense of progress along the way. Plus, they help you stay motivated by turning your big vision into a series of wins you can celebrate as you go.
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​You are not prepared.
​All goals require some level of preparedness to be ready to start. For example, if your goal was to eat healthier in 2025, you can't start on January 1st if you don't have any veggies in the house. 
 
​Goals have an end date.
The problem with goals that have an end date is that they often create a “what now?” moment once the deadline passes. You might feel lost or unsure of what to do next, especially if the goal was your main focus for a while. For example, after completing a 30-day fitness challenge or running a marathon, it’s easy to lose momentum without a clear plan for what comes next. Goals with end dates can also feel like they’re all-or-nothing—if you miss the deadline, it can feel like failure, even if you made significant progress along the way.

Despite all the problems with goals, we still like to set them. But let's give them a reframe and set intentions instead. Goals are specific, measurable outcomes you want to achieve. They’re all about the end result. Intentions, on the other hand, are more about the mindset or purpose behind your actions. They focus on how you want to feel or who you want to become, like living a healthier lifestyle or being more mindful. While goals are destinations, intentions are the compass that keeps you aligned with your values.

Here are a few ways you can set intentions or adjust how you set your goals:

Change your idea of "success."
Our society values money, high-powered careers, and thin bodies, so it's natural that those things are our metric of success. But it doesn't have to be! We decide what success means for us: a loving family, time freedom, or contentment. 

Set process goals instead of outcome goals.
Instead of focusing on the outcome (or end) goal, turn your attention to actions and steps you can take each day to get you closer to the goal. These are process goals.

Set a Word of the Year.
A Word of the Year is like a personal theme or guiding star for the year ahead. Instead of setting rigid goals, you choose a single word that reflects the mindset, focus, or energy you want to bring into your life. It could be something like “balance,” “growth,” or “courage.” This word serves as a gentle reminder to stay aligned with your values and intentions, helping you make decisions and approach challenges in a way that resonates with your vision for the year.

Make a 25 for 2025 list.
A 25 for 2025 list is a fun and creative way to plan for the year ahead. It’s a list of 25 things you want to accomplish, experience, or work on in 2025. Unlike daily tasks or habits, this list is perfect for bigger, year-long projects or goals that excite you. It can include a mix of fun, lighthearted items—like visiting a new city or learning a dance move—and more meaningful ones, like starting a creative project or prioritizing self-care. It’s a flexible way to keep the year intentional and exciting! 

Keep things novel by setting new monthly challenges.
Any big goal has several parts, making it almost impossible to focus on everything at once. Break your goal into 12 monthly challenges and only concentrate in one area at a time. For example, if your goal is to cook more at home, in January you could focus on learning new cooking skills. February could be the month for upgrading your cooking tools. In March, set a goal to cook at home two times per week. Other months can concentrate on certain types of food. And on and on until you reach the end of the year. By the end, you'll definitely have achieved your of cooking more at home.

Think of your future self.
If you're lacking in direction, take some time to think of your future self. Visualize your self in the future - it could be near future (at the end of next year) or far future self (retirement and beyond). How do you want to feel? How do you spend your time? Who are you surrounded by?

This could be a thought exercise, a journal prompt, or depicted through art or a vision board. Once you know more about your future self, work backward to actions you could be taking today and throughout the upcoming year to achieve your vision. Those will guide your intentions for 2025.

Set quarterly goals.
As we've mentioned, a yearlong goal can be an overwhelming project. Divide your big project into quarterly chunks. You can also do this with a 25 for 2025 list to ensure your list is spread out over the year. 

Getting started with your goals can be tough because the first step often feels like the hardest. You might not know where to begin, feel overwhelmed by the size of the goal, or struggle with self-doubt and fear of failure. Sometimes, we procrastinate because we’re waiting for the “perfect” time or think we need to have everything figured out before we start. Breaking the ice can feel uncomfortable, but once you take that first step—even a small one—it becomes much easier to build momentum and keep going.

Here are a few ways to make it easier:
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​Break it down into smaller components.
​Breaking a big goal into smaller steps makes it feel less overwhelming and much more manageable. Instead of focusing on the entire journey, you can zero in on the next actionable task, which helps build momentum and confidence as you go. Each small win gives you a sense of accomplishment and keeps you motivated to keep moving forward. It also makes it easier to track progress and adjust your approach if needed, so you stay on track without feeling stuck or defeated.
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Schedule it.
​Scheduling your start date or deadlines and tasks along the way is a great way to overcome procrastination. It's on your calendar so you are more likely to get started. Putting to-do items give you a sense of accountability. It helps you stay organized and ensure nothing is forgotten.

​Find a community.
​Surrounded with like-minded people, especially when trying something new or tackling a big goal, makes getting started easier. If spend time with people who already participate in an activity you want to try, you can see how your "new" activity works in the lives of others. You'll be around people that have already overcome the barrier of getting started and can provide support as you begin the new habit.

​Follow a course or a framework.
​Not sure where to start? Find someone that's done it before and can take the guess work out of it. Find a course that teaches you what to do step-by-step. There are plenty of resources from free frameworks or guidelines, to self-paced instruction, to one-on-one coaching. 

​Define your why.
​When you get to the foundational reason why you want to achieve you goal, you will find the motivation to get started. Knowing your "why" will also give you drive you need to keep going in the face of obstacles.