How to set boundaries
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How are you feeling about those big, bold goals you set at the start of 2024? Maybe they were career goals, health goals, or personal goals. How are they looking right now as we near the end of the year?
If you’re feeling like they’re a little out of reach, maybe even forgotten about or overshadowed by life’s chaos, you’re not alone.
And let’s be real—whether it was something unexpected like how I broke my arm in April, or just the general rollercoaster that is life as a working mom, the best-laid plans don’t always go as expected. We start with so much energy, but months later, we might feel stuck, disappointed, or even ready to throw in the towel.
But hold on—I’m here to tell you that it’s not over. You can still finish strong in 2024, even if that finish line doesn’t look exactly like you thought it would. And today, I want to help you feel excited, hopeful, and motivated about your goals for both the rest of 2024 and the fresh start that 2025 will bring.
I know you might be thinking, “But Anna, what’s the point in setting new goals for 2025 when I haven’t even figured out 2024 yet?” Don’t worry—I’ve got you covered! So stick around, because by the end of this episode, I hope you’ll feel not only motivated to wrap up this year with pride but pumped for what’s ahead.
So today, we’re talking about:
- How to reflect on why your goals got off track—without feeling guilty
- Why it’s okay to adjust your goals and how to reframe them for success
- The power of small wins to build momentum for the rest of the year
- How to get excited about 2025, even if 2024 didn’t go as planned
Reflect Without Guilt
Okay, friends. Let’s be honest here—setting goals in January can feel like we’re standing at the foot of a mountain. We’re all fired up, ready to take on the world, and we believe we can do anything. But somewhere in the middle—around March, April, maybe even June—things start to shift. Life throws us curveballs. Maybe you started a new job or your family faced a health challenge. Or maybe, like me, you took an unexpected trip to the ER after breaking your arm.
Suddenly, those goals we set at the start of the year seem really far away, and we lose sight of them as we’re just trying to keep up with the day-to-day.
And here’s the thing—this happens to everyone. You’re not alone if your big, ambitious goals got a little lost or derailed along the way. It’s so easy to get caught up in the whirlwind of life, especially when we’re juggling work, family, and everything in between.
But here’s what I want you to do right now: give yourself permission to reflect without guilt. Yep, that’s right. No guilt, no shame. Take a moment to look back and ask yourself—what happened this year? Did your circumstances change? Did new priorities pop up? Have you grown or shifted since you set those original goals?
Life happens, and that’s not a sign of failure. It’s a sign that we’re human and that we need to be flexible with ourselves.
Reframe Your Goals
Now that we’ve acknowledged that life doesn’t always go as planned, let’s talk about how we can reframe those 2024 goals. Because here’s a secret: goals aren’t set in stone. You can adjust them!
Think about it. If your original goal for 2024 was something big, like writing a book, but life got in the way, what’s one smaller piece of that goal you can still accomplish? Maybe instead of writing the whole book, you focus on outlining one chapter. Or if your goal was to get fit but time slipped away, can you set a new goal to walk for 20 minutes each day between now and the end of the year?
The idea here is to shift from thinking “I didn’t achieve X, so it’s over,” to “What can I still achieve with the time I have?”
I also want you to consider something else: letting go. Sometimes the goals we set in January no longer fit where we are today, and that’s not a failure—it’s growth. Maybe your 2024 goals aren’t relevant anymore because you’ve changed. And if that’s the case, it’s perfectly okay to release those goals and move on to something that aligns better with who you are now.
Goals should serve you, not the other way around. You get to decide what still matters and what no longer does.
Celebrate your Mini-Wins
Okay, now we’ve acknowledged where we are, and we’ve reframed some of those bigger goals into something more manageable. So, what’s next?
Let’s talk about small wins.
I know the idea of finishing the year strong can feel daunting when your original goals feel out of reach. But here’s the thing—progress is progress, no matter how small. Small wins build momentum and give us that boost of confidence we need to keep going.
So, what’s something you can do between now and the end of the year that’s achievable but still feels good? If your goal was to improve your fitness, maybe you join a 20-day fitness challenge or commit to a daily walk. If you want to save more money this year, maybe you set a short-term budget or savings goal that you can hit in the next couple of months.
It doesn’t have to be huge. Just focus on moving the needle a little bit. These mini-goals will help you finish the year with a sense of accomplishment, even if it’s not what you originally planned.
Take a moment right now and think of one small thing you can do. Got it? Write it down, and start building that momentum today!
Focus on Growth, Not just Outcomes
Now, this next part is important. I want to remind you that it’s not always about hitting every goal perfectly. What matters most is the growth that happens along the way.
Even if you didn’t hit the exact outcome you wanted, take a moment to think about the progress you did make. Did you learn something new? Did you face challenges that made you stronger? Did you become more disciplined, resilient, or aware of what truly matters to you?
There’s so much value in the process, even if the final outcome isn’t what you expected. Every step you took toward those goals—whether you made it halfway, a quarter of the way, or just dipped your toe in—taught you something valuable.
So, as you reflect on 2024, don’t just focus on what you didn’t accomplish. Celebrate the growth, the lessons learned, and the person you’re becoming.
Get Excited
And now, let’s shift our focus to the future—2025 is just around the corner! I want you to feel excited about the possibilities ahead. I know it can be tempting to feel discouraged, but here’s the good news: everything you’ve learned this year can help you set even better goals for 2025.
2024 may not have gone exactly as planned, but you’ve gained so much wisdom. You’re more in tune with what works for you and what doesn’t. You know what life throws your way, and you’ve become more flexible because of it.
So as you start thinking about next year, remember that you don’t have to wait for January 1st to start fresh. You can start right now with a new mindset, new excitement, and new goals that align with where you’re going.
And when you’re thinking about those 2025 goals, ask yourself better questions: instead of “What should I do?” ask, “What feels right for me now? What excites me? What’s calling to me?”
I can’t wait to see what 2025 has in store for you, and I know you’re going to step into it with so much more clarity, confidence and intention.
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