I love goal-setting and healthy habits.
I even created a whole course on it and now is the perfect time to work through it.
I know 2020 was crazy and you probably set some big, exciting goals in January that may not have gone to plan.
However, that doesn’t need to stop you from reevaluating and setting some new goals and starting new habits to get you closer to where you want to be!
Below are 100+ goal and habit ideas for the New Year in all areas of life:
Health & Fitness
Drink # oz of water daily – I aim for at least 64 oz of water every day (about half my body weight in oz). Check out 10 Way to Drink More Water.
Stretch/do yoga daily – My morning routine involves 15-20 minutes of yoga flow and I love it. For the best videos check out Sarah Beth Yoga on YouTube.
Give up soda – It’s filled with sugar and nonsense that your body simply doesn’t need.
Eat # servings of vegetables/fruit daily – I’ve found that the easiest/most affordable way to get my veggies in is by purchasing multiple bags of frozen vegetables and eating a huge portion daily!
Go to the gym # times per week – Be specific! What will your workout split look like? What classes could you go to?
Run a 5K, 10K, marathon, etc. – You can run these on your own time, but signing up for a race can be really fun! You can also find races that raise money for causes that are important to you.
Hit a PR (personal record) – How fast do you want to run a mile? How much weight do you want to squat? How many pull-ups do you want to do in a row?
Walk 10,000 steps a day – This is what I aim for and it keeps me feeling good. I love taking long walks outside.
Take vitamins consistently – These are the ones I take.
Try a new workout class every month – Zumba, yoga, bootcamp, etc.
Meal prep every Sunday – Meal prepping is a great way to stay on track with your diet. Check out my playlist on YouTube for some ideas.
Do # pull-ups/push ups – There are a lot of people who can’t do pull ups and/or push ups. Challenge yourself!
Participate in a Spartan race – These can be fun to do with friends!
Sleep at least 7 hours a night – Are you neglecting your sleep? Prioritize your health and invest in quality sleep. Get a nice mattress and pillows, use blackout curtains, and keep the room clean. Then go to bed at a reasonable time for when you need to be up.
Consume x grams of fiber a day – Create a meal prep/plan to ensure you’re getting enough fiber (beans, broccoli, pears, lentils, yams, etc.)
Incorporate HIIT x times per week – HIIT is a great form of exercise that you can add to your exercise routine.
Drop 2% body fat – Watching your weight isn’t the best way to keep track of your progress. Progress in the mirror is most important, but another great thing to track is your body fat percentage. Not all measurements are accurate, but as long as you’re using the same method you can track your progress. I recently bought this smart scale and it’s been great.
Squat, deadlift, press, etc. x lbs – This goes back to reaching a new PR. Implement a strength training program to get there!
Go vegan (or another diet) – I’m vegan and love it.
Personal Development
Read # books – I’ve already started my list!
Create and stick to a morning routine – I love morning routines. They set your day up for greatness and help you to implement your priorities. Check out: How and Why to Uplevel Your Morning Routine
Practice gratitude daily – It’s simple. Write down 3+ things you’re grateful for every morning and/or evening. HabitNest has a great gratitude journal for this.
Limit social media to x hours a day – There are apps on your phone that can set limits on social media apps. Scrolling the various feeds is a huge time suck for most people. It’s typically not worth your time! Check out: Social Media, Over-Consumerism, and Digital Addiction
Replace negative thoughts and self-talk with positive – This takes some practice, but when a negative thought pops up for you, train yourself to think of something positive after. It helps to write it down too.
Recite affirmations – Find a few affirmations that really resonate with you and recite them while you get ready.
Learn something new – A new language, a new skill, new dances, etc. In 2020 I learned how to penny board!!
Journal daily – The 6 Minute Diary is a great place to start. Otherwise, you can just free flow your thoughts.
Develop a growth mindset – Check out this post on how to develop a growth mindset (It’s my favorite article I’ve written!)
Have a weekly meeting with yourself – Check out this post to learn how. I do this every Sunday!
Be proactive – Do what you need to do to resolve things, don’t just sit there and complain about it.
Spend more time alone – Alone time is a good thing. Learn to love it. Check out: How to Live Alone and Be Happy
Learn to manage your stress – Humans tend to make situations more stressful/complicated than they need to be. Check out: How to Create a Less Stressful Life
Do a 30 day challenge – 30 days of abs, 30 days of writing, 30 days of waking up at 5. The keyword is ‘challenge.’ You may not like it but it helps you grow.
Develop time management skills – If you want to successfully manage lots of things (work, side hustles, relationships, exercise, etc.) you’ve got to manage your time. Check out: How to Manage it All
Intentionally step out of your comfort zone every week – Speak up at meetings, talk to a stranger, try something spontaneous.
Increase focus time – 2 hours of focused work is way better than 8 hours of distracted work. Set a timer and clear all distractions, then just focus on what you need to do. Check out: How I Stay Focused and Disciplined
Attend a seminar – Personal development seminars can be life changing for many people! Do a quick search to see if ay of your favorite motivators are in town!
Build your confidence – Check out this article for tips.
Finance
Pay off $xxxx of debt – I’m going big in 2021. My goal is to pay off $40,000 of debt (all of it)!! Follow my journey on my finance channel.
No spend year – I did a No Spend Year in 2020 and it was awesome.
No spend month(s) – Similar to a no spend year just on a smaller scale! Try a few months of the year.
Save $xxxx – For whatever it is you want to save for.
Track your net worth monthly – I use Personal Capital.
Start investing $100 a month – Or any amount! Every little bit helps. Check out: How to Invest Your First $100
Build a solid emergency fund – I suggest at least one month of expenses. However, 3-6+ months is ideal.
Pay off all credit card debt – Credit card debt usually comes with very high interest rates. It’s a great step in your debt free journey.
Read # finance books – A few on my list for 2021 include The Psychology of Money, The Simple Path to Wealth, and Money Master the Game.
Create and stick to a budget – Watch this video if you need some guidance.
Max out your Roth IRA/401K – If you’re company offers a 401K with a match (or an equivalent) then start there. Otherwise, look into a Roth IRA!
Increase your credit score to __ – Here are some helpful tips.
Start a side hustle – Or get a second job.
Start sinking funds – For things like gifts, car maintenance, travel, medical co-pays, etc. I LOVE sinking funds.
Buy a house – And be sure you understand what you’re getting into/what to expect.
Determine your retirement plan – How much do you need to retire? When do you want to retire?
Develop a positive money mindset – This takes time but is well worth it. Get rid of limiting beliefs and old family money myths.
Make $x in passive income each month – How amazing is making money while you sleep?
Create multiple streams of income – On average, millionaires have 7 income streams.
Open a high yield savings account – I use Marcus by Goldman Sachs. HYS accounts are a great place to hold your emergency fund/savings.
Reach net worth of $xxxx – Use Personal Capital to track it!
Spirituality
Meditate – I love the app Insight Timer
Practice loving kindness – This is often taught during guided meditations. You send out love to all beings.
Be more observant – Be more observant of your surroundings (people, nature, sounds) and also of your experiences. You will feel things more intensely.
Attend a weekly/monthly group – like a meditation group or Bible study.
Read # books on spiritual topics – One of my favorites is A New Earth by Eckhart Tolle.
Attend a retreat – There are weekend retreats for meditation, sound healing, etc. You could even try an intense week-long silent retreat!
Practice visualization – Vividly imagine the things you want in your life. Then do what you need to do to make it a reality.
Explore your own beliefs – Maybe you have found that you don’t connect to the beliefs you were raised with. Explore for yourself.
Fun/Recreation
Travel to ___ – This may be difficult (still) in 2021 but maybe you can still plan something for later! You could also save all year to travel!
Learn how to play an instrument – There are loads of free online resources for this!
Start a new hobby – What do you do for yourself outside of work? Starting a hobby you enjoy is a great way to add happiness to your life.
Go on a new hike each month – One year I really want to do this. There are so many great places to explore.
Host a game night once a month – Or a potluck, puzzle night, tea party, etc.
Complete x puzzles – Puzzles can be relaxing and great for spending time with someone or alone.
Write a book – Writing a book is a huge accomplishment, don’t let anything hold you back!
Relationship
Go on x dates each month – Whether you want to build a new relationship or keep the fire alive in your relationship, dating is important. It’s fun to go out every few weeks and bond with someone.
Do something new together – Make some great memories.
Write down something kind about your SO every day – Then you can give them a notebook filled with kind things about them one day!
Talk more often – Have deep conversations about important things.
Family/Friends
Call your parents every weekend – Time goes really fast and before you know it you haven’t called your family in weeks. You can schedule this into your week.
Check in on friends regularly – Same goes here. We all have busy lives, but checking in on your good friends will help you keep them.
Start a new family tradition/hobby – I know in the future when I live with my boyfriend I would like to start new traditions!
Have dinner together – As a family, as a couple, as friends. And leave the phones elsewhere!
Take family walks – Walks are great and even better with people you love.
Have a girl/guy night every month – Plan fun nights out or cozy nights in with your good friends.
Be supportive – Support from your family/SO/friends is huge. Make it clear that you are there for them.
Career
Get certified in ___ – Maybe this certification helps you advance in your current career, helps you start a new career, or helps you learn something.
Upgrade your wardrobe – When you look good you feel good. No need to spend hundreds, just find some simple pieces and mix them up.
Apply to x jobs every month/week – Job hunting is tough. The more you apply to the more likely you will find a job.
Ask for a raise – If you’re due for a raise, determine your asking rate and go after it. There are lots of articles and videos out there to give you some examples.
Show up on time – Being punctual is an easy and great way to show you are serious about your job.
Find a mentor – Or be a mentor! A mentor can really help you to shape your future.
Earn $xxxx per month from your own business – Earning money from your own business can’t be beat. It’s pretty exciting once you realize all the possible opportunities.
Find someone to collaborate with – Collaborations can help businesses grow. Recently, I became part of an “engagement group” on my Money Twitter and it’s really help boost my following and traffic.
Join a Mastermind group – A mastermind group is great for motivation, advice, and idea exchange. If you can’t find one, create one!
Learn new skills – that will help you grow as a person and in your career (organization, tech skills, leadership, public speaking, etc.)
Contribution
Volunteer x times per month – Personally, I like to volunteer at the animal shelter.
Donate $x a month – While I pay off debt I donate at least $50 a month, I hope to increase this significantly in the future.
Give genuine compliments daily – You can really make someone’s day. If your compliment is genuine, then don’t hold it in!
Do at least one good deed a day – pick up track, pay for the person behind you, use reusable bags, help someone carry something.
Donate things you don’t need – It’s probably just sitting there collecting dust anyway. Let someone else put it to good use.
Adopt/foster an animal – Adopt don’t shop! Rescue animals are the best.
Help out a friend/neighbor – help them create a budget, cook them dinner for a few nights, cut their lawn
Start recycling – I try to reuse products if I can. Otherwise, try recycling.
Commit to using reusable products – water bottles, bags, mugs, etc.
Environment
Redecorate your home – Since many of us have been home more, redecorating can really help you be happier. Your environment can impact your work/how you feel so it may be worth turning it into something you love.
Organize your most used rooms/areas – Physical clutter = mental clutter. If you’ve noticed things have been piling up lately, go through and get rid of things, organize what you are keeping, and reduce what you bring into your home.
Hygge your home – Hygge is a Danish term that describes a feeling/mood of coziness and comfort. Add lots of candles, drink warm drinks, lay out your throw blankets, turn on the fireplace, and create a vibe of cozy.
Start a plant collection – I love my plant babies! Plants are a great addition to your space that clean your air and bring nature to you (which helps to reduce stress).
Tidy every evening for 15 minutes – This is a great habit to prevent larger messes. Clean your dishes, wipe down the counter, put away things you used, etc. Then you can wake up to a clean space.
Create and stick to a cleaning schedule – If you have a family this is a great way for everyone to contribute! But on top of your evening tidy and weekly cleaning, you can plan which day of the month you’ll dedicate to deeper cleanings/specific locations.
Play uplifting music/words every morning – Mornings can be tough. Start your day on a positive note by playing positive music or motivating speeches while you get ready. This is way better than watching the news!
Upgrade your lighting – During the day I prefer natural light and I love to use lamps, string lights, and Himalayan salt lamps at night. If you need more lighting there are light bulbs you can purchase to create a very bright/white setting or warm lighting.
What are your goals for 2021?? What habits do you hope to implement??