Heather from the Decor Steals Creative Team is kicking off the new year with a powerful reminder: the key to a successful year starts with focusing on your own goals and holding yourself accountable. Instead of getting caught up in the noise, Heather encourages us to take time to define what we want to achieve and set a clear path toward it. By staying true to our own intentions and checking in with ourselves along the way, we can make this year not just about accomplishing more, but about staying aligned with what truly matters to us. It’s time to make 2025 the year of staying focused, accountable, and owning our personal journey.
Now, let’s dive into Heather’s ideas for her own growth this year and how she plans to stay focused on her personal goals:
I love the new year as it’s a time to start fresh and reassess what’s important to ME! It’s the perfect opportunity to create goals that help improve various aspects of my life. Here’s how I’m planning to focus on myself this year.
Creating Goals
To avoid overwhelming myself, I’ve decided to choose a few goals to focus on each month. By assessing my progress at the end of each month, I can determine if I’m ready to continue with the same goals or add new ones to my list. Here are some of the goals I’ve set for myself this month:
-
Exercise 4+ days a week
-
Walk/Run 10,000 steps per day
-
Track my macros
-
Get 7+ hours of sleep
-
Read before bed
Note: I’ve been doing this for 1+ years, so I have 5 goals I’m tracking each day. For a beginner, I recommend starting with 2-3 goals and then add an additional 1-2 goals each month as desired.
How to Keep Yourself Accountable
Track Your Progress
Tracking progress is essential to staying on course. I use sketchnoting in my dot journal to keep a monthly log of my achievements. If sketchnoting isn’t for you, there are plenty of free printable or digital trackers available. I recommend printing them out because physically marking off tasks each evening feels more rewarding than simply tapping a button on a phone. Completing my tracker before bed also helps me disconnect from my device and wind down for the night.
Resources:
-
Journal (i.e. bullet journal, dot journal)
-
Pencil, pens, markers, highlighters, etc.
-
Sketchnote Handbook, The: the illustrated guide to visual note taking by Mike Rohde
-
Sketchnotes for Educators: 100 Inspiring Illustrations for Lifelong Learners by Sylvia Duckworth (This book says it’s for educators, but it’s really for anyone!)
Make It Fun!
Associating your goals with enjoyable activities can make the process more engaging.
-
Exercise: Join a group of friends at the gym. Working out with the same people daily adds a social aspect that holds you accountable and makes exercising more fun. If the gym isn’t an option, get creative at home! (Check out the video below for a creative at home workout…hahaha!)
-
Walk/Run 10,000+ Steps: I use my walks after lunch to listen to interesting books or podcasts. In the evenings, I go for walks with my family or meet friends, which serves as a time to reset and connect. If you have a pet, consider taking short walks throughout the day.
-
Macros: Tracking my macros has been a game-changer for managing my weight and eating habits. It allows me to enjoy treats without derailing my progress.
-
7+ Hours of Sleep: Establish a bedtime routine. I head to bed an hour before I need to sleep, giving me time to relax, fill out my tracker, and read. This routine not only helps me sleep better but also ticks off my reading goal.
-
Read a Book Before Bed: Avoiding screens before bed improves sleep quality. I’ve replaced my phone with physical books or audiobooks before sleeping. Here are some of the books currently on my nightstand or in my audiobook library (As you can see, I like non-fiction.):
-
Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones by James Clear
-
Sleep Smarter: 21 Essential Strategies to Sleep Your Way to A Better Body, Better Health, and Bigger Success by Shawn Stevenson
-
Mindset: The New Psychology of Success by Carol S. Dweck
-
The Anxious Generation: How the Great Rewiring of Childhood Is Causing an Epidemic of Mental Illness by Jonathan Haidt
Reassess Monthly or Quarterly
Every month, I reassess my goals to decide which ones to keep, adjust, or add. Consistency is the key. It’s not about being perfect but making steady progress over time. Being kind to myself is part of this process (New Year, Kind You), ensuring I stay motivated and avoid burnout.
By focusing on what’s important to me and making my goals enjoyable, I’m setting myself up for a successful and fulfilling year.
What are ways you are focusing on you in the new year? Share your ideas and tag us at #decorstealskind.
Products used in exercise video.
Wanda Speidel
Loved this message. Just what I needed to get my butt moving.
———
Decor Steals replied:
We’re so glad to hear that, Wanda! 😊 Sometimes, a little motivation is all we need. Wishing you all the best—go get it! 💪✨