6 Ways to Hit Your Goals in 2025

 It’s the end of December. Maybe you’re excited for a fresh start. Or maybe you’re scared of finding yourself right here a year later. Or maybe you’ve got a mix of all the feels. 

All of this is okay. I got you. You got you. 

1. List Your Accomplishments from 2024. 

Before you say, “Well, Yasmin, I didn’t do much this year. That’s why I’m here reading this.”

Nah. I don’t believe you. An accomplishment doesn’t have to mean a big promotion or a baby or even quitting smoking. 

What changes have you made? Do you make your bed every day? Are you having healthier lunches? Did you demonstrate acts of self control (even once), where you might not have previously? Did you clean your house once a week?

I’ll share a few of mine:

• I started overcoming my fear of putting myself out there (Note: I said “started.” It’s still a work in progress, but I got the ball rolling which was a big unit of the goal). It’s not in my nature, but I know it is necessary to have a relationship with the public. A year from today, the thought of a video of me singing would have made me faint. Now, I try to put it out once a month. See? I may not be performing a world tour, but for me, this is still big.

• My mom told me to sit down - for no other reason than she thought it looked bad - and I said no. 

• I bought a cute little spatula. It’s one of those silicone-rubber ones. I hate food waste, and kept wanting one any time I was wiping clean a container. Four days ago, I actually got around to buying one. It’s red!

Acknowledging what went well also sets off the law of attraction. When you focus on what’s already good, you’ll find more good sliding into your life. End your year on a sweet note, to tie it in with the next. 

2. Seasonal Goals

When you were in school, what worked better? Studying a little bit every day, or cramming the day before your exams?

Setting goals by seasons or months takes the pressure off. The timeline makes it more achievable. This may mean having to sit down and spread your list into slots. Cutting them down into bite-size pieces makes them far more manageable. When you give yourself smaller deadlines, the goals transform from meandering daydreams to tangible solutions. This also forces you to define what your goals are. “I want to play the piano well this year,” turns into, “I want to play three songs seamlessly by the end of March.”

It helps bring the power back to yourself.

3. Keep Your Goals Under Your Control

You don’t know if your body will weigh 6 kgs less by March. But you can decide to exercise 30 minutes a day. You can’t guarantee that your boss will give you that promotion, but you can offer one innovative idea during your weekly check-in meetings. 

So you see? Even if you don’t get your revenge body or an extra digit on your salary, you can honour yourself in knowing that you tried your best, that you gave it your all. Because when we don’t get what we want, it’s often not the (so-called) lack of achievement that gets us, but the regret of knowing it was in our control. We play a part in our fate. This is a gift and a curse. 

I reached out to someone today. We’d been in no contact for a few months. I was going to keep it that way, but when I found out he might be leaving the country, I saw this as an opportunity for reconciliation. I could not control his response. But what I can control is how I showed up: respectful and honest. I spoke my truth and kept my boundaries. I know I did all in my own power for a sweeter goodbye. It was pretty scary, and I’m proud of myself for going through with it. I’m left with no what-ifs. I don’t want you to have any, either. 

4. Work Your Way Up

When I started sharing my music videos, I wanted to churn them out. But realistically, I’m still getting comfortable in front of the camera, much less with an instrument. So instead of trying to make a video every day, upset that it’s not up to quality, then getting mad at myself for not doing it, I limited myself to once a week until I’m more comfortable. Then two days a week, then three, then…

Same with writing your novel. If six hours in front of the laptop is too daunting, start with six minutes. I’m serious.  

Doing things at a gradual pace prevents burnout. It also lets you ease into the habit, which is what you’re trying to cultivate. Success is a lifestyle. 

5. Don’t let Setbacks Win.

We’ve all heard that progress is not linear. But sometimes it’s hard to believe so. I get it. 

Let’s take losing weight as an example: If the week before your period leaves you with zero fucks to give, so be it. This does not mean that you’re off the road, it just means it’s time to pick yourself back up and not surrender to losing the routine. 

When a toddler is learning how to walk, does falling mean that they forgot how to do it? Do you ever see one hit their bum on the ground and think, “Hah! He messed up!” (Lol, if you do, you should see someone about that). But you probably don’t. 

Give yourself the same grace. If you had a break up and were not in the mood to work this week, it’s okay. Just make sure to not let it define you.

I go into more detail on how to maintain motivation here.

6. Cultivate Curiosity

Guys, I’m not gonna lie. I’ve also been dealing with melancholy for the past few days. The other weeks of the year have zoomed by. For some reason, I feel every miniscule second of the last six days of December. These past few holidays, I’ve just been waiting for them to be over. 

So my advice to you is, PLEASE, approach the coming year with a sense of curiosity. Get excited about what's to come, and who you're becoming. Because you never know what the universe has in store for you. Ask yourself, “What will I accomplish? What will I experience? Who will I meet? What will I learn?” This calm approach will not only in fact ensure that you meet your goals, but also lessen the blow if the outcome isn’t what you envisioned. Because, you’re not really envisioning an outcome. You’re planting the seeds and watching something unfold. Here are a few of my tips to polish your positivity. Take this attitude with you into the new year. The future you - the one from 1st January, 2026 - will thank you. 

p.s: The same topic from last year. This one also has some practical tips!