3 Lessons from 2 Years of Simple Goals

For the last couple of years I have made the decision to select a handful of "simple" goals to focus on during the year. This has allowed me to keep the momentum going while not feeling like a total failure by the end of January. Whether it's the goal to read more (even if it's just a page or two a day) or move more (walking the driveway once or twice a week) or eat better (put down the cookie, drive past Starbucks without stopping for a calorie-laden treat), being able to check off a box gives me a little boost and keeps me coming back for more. 

Photo by Glenn Carstens-Peters on Unsplash

My first list was "24 in 24" and in looking back at it now, I am so thankful for some of those goals, such as intentionally spending more time with my parents. In December of 2023, when I made that one of my simple goals for the year, I had no idea that my mom would be gone in June of 2025. But for a year and a half I intentionally stopped by their house, made time for meals, and encouraged my kids to spend time with their grandparents. And now that she's gone, I'm not sitting here full of regrets. 

LESSON: If you're putting off seeing someone because the timing is inconvenient, STOP. Call them. Write an actual card and mail it. Stop by their house and spend an hour talking. Invite them over for a meal or offer to bring food to them. There will come a day when that is no longer an option, and you will wish that you could.  

In my "25 for 25" I kept some of the same goals (like spending time with my parents) and tweaked others. Again, in looking back on the goals I set towards the end of 2024, even though I didn't know what the year would hold, I'm actually surprised by the number of them I was able to mark off, even with all the curve balls. I tweaked those goals a bit last January, and I'm so glad I did. Not only were we more intentional with our time, but we took three trips this year and made lots of family memories, we did special events out of the blue, and we were able to focus on different kids at different times. 

LESSON: Aim for something and you'll have a better chance of hitting it. Leave it up to chance, and you'll be left with nothing but a pile of regrets and no time left. It doesn't have to be a trip to Disney with the whole family, it could be $1.50 slushies from the grocery store on a random Tuesday. Don't put a price tag on being together. 

And so here I am, with 2026 bearing down on me, minus one parent, with four teenagers in tow. Our calendar is full, plans are already in process for sending four kids overseas for seven weeks this summer (and we get a temporary empty nest!) and then one kid off to college a week after they return. My dad will be 85 this year, so anything could happen there. I have a physical list of things I need to get done this week, in January, in the spring, before August...you get the idea. 

LESSON: Life never slows down, it just changes. There will never be the "perfect time" to do the things you want to do, so go ahead and make the list. Fix dates on the calendar (in pencil!). Make (refundable) plans. Be intentional with your time, money, goals, and brain space. If you want to read 50 books in 2026, then that means you need to carry them with you, use the Kindle app, and say NO to doom scrolling and binge-watching. We don't get more time, but we do get something of a say in how we use what is given to us. Use it well. 

Are you setting goals (simple or not) for 2026?

Care to share? Hit me up in the comments!