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Why I’m Not Setting Any Goals This Year

Why I’m Not Setting Any Goals This Year

Over the past few weeks, I keep getting messages from people saying, “I can’t wait to see your goals list for 2026! It’s one of my favorite things you post!”

And I had to sort of chuckle and then also realize that I’m possibly going to shock some people with a decision I made in November with the encouragement of my husband and my business coach: I’m not setting any goals for 2026!

I know! It’s not like me at all.

I Have Been Goal-Setting Since I Was a Tween

In fact, as I was reflecting on goal-setting, I realized that I likely started setting goals when I was 11 years old. The thought of a fresh start to a new year… it was thrilling to me. And — being the overly ambitious person that I am! — I would whip out a clean sheet of paper and make a long list of big audacious goals.

I loved the fresh start. The clean slate. The chance to dream big dreams. And set BIG goals.

Goals Stopped Serving Me and Starting Enslaving Me

The problem was, over time, those goals didn’t serve me; they started to enslave me. Like, I felt like I needed to try to hit them and I’d often feel really discouraged or down on myself if I didn’t.

The other thing I didn’t often do with goal-setting was to really consider the season of life I was in. I would just get so excited about all the things I wanted to do and aim for that I’d make these huge goals for myself without counting the costs… as in, how much time do I realistically have to accomplish extra things this coming year?

I also wouldn’t factor in interruptions or the unexpected. No, I was just focused on all the things I wanted to do or felt like I should do. I tried setting only weekly or monthly goals instead of yearly goals, and that worked better, but I still found I was pushing myself really hard (too hard!) to try to meet the goals.

Goals Became Unhealthy and Hurtful For Me

As I’ve talked about on here, I started working with a dietitian midway through 2025. She ended up changing my life and helping me to see so many dysfunctional beliefs and patterns I had in my life. One of those was pushing through instead of paying attention to my body’s cues for things like hunger and sleep.

Slowly, as I started to begin noticing my body’s cues for things like food and rest, I realized how I had really neglected my health and myself — especially the past five years as there’s been so much going on in our lives.

Motivated by this, I found a functional medicine doctor to help me become healthier. She really challenged me that I wasn’t taking care of myself and that my bloodwork and health were showing significant signs of this. She told me that I might feel okay now, but if I continue on in the pattern I’m in, my body is going to start falling apart in 15 years.

The Process of Scaling Back and Saying No

This was a true wakeup call for me. I started looking at ways I could scale back my responsibilities and commitments to allow for more down time, more rest, more time to recharge, more sleep, and less go-go-go in my life.

I began tracking how much hours I was working each week and was shocked to discover I was almost always working at least 50-60 hours (sometimes more!) I love what I do but no wonder my body was not loving my pace of life.

As I considered what it would mean for me to really pare down to only working 40 hours a week and to start having a lot more breathing room and space in my life, I knew the only way to do this would be to say no to a whole lot of things and to stop pushing myself to achieve ambitious things for a season.

Untethering Myself From Finding My Value in What I Accomplish

I am in the process of untethering myself from finding my value in my work and accomplishments. I had no idea how addicted I was to work and busyness and doing.

It’s been scary and weird to have wide open spaces in my day and life. To go into 2026 without a big list of ambitious goals. Other than knowing I’m launching a new book in the fall and running the business and taking care of my family, my marriage, and myself, I don’t have any big things I’m chasing after, pursuing, or building.

It feels unsettling and quiet. And also, exactly where I’m supposed to be. I feel like I am going to learn and grow so much this year and it’s going to be so healing for me in many, many ways. I’m excited to see what the next 12 months hold!

Want to hear more about this change? Jesse and I recorded a podcast where I share more in-depth on Why I’m Not Setting Goals This Year. Listen to it here.

An Important Word on Goals

Do I think goals are bad or wrong? Absolutely not. They just aren’t serving me well in the season I am in. If you are in a season where goals are motivating and exhilarating and healthy, please set them! And I will be here cheering you on!

I have a feeling that this not-setting-goals thing is just a season and I will likely be back to setting goals after this year. But I’m not thinking of that right now. For now, I’m just soaking up the lessons I need to learn right now in this quieter season.

If you have thoughts, feedback, or questions, I’d love to hear!