5 Habits to Make 2025 Your Best Year Yet

As we gear up for 2025, it’s the perfect time to reset and prepare to make this year the best one yet—one filled with more of the things that truly matter to you. By adopting these five key habits, you’ll not only build momentum toward your goals but also align your efforts with your values, creating a life you love.

Habit 1: Annual Goals – A Big Picture Perspective

Annual goals provide a clear sense of direction for the year ahead. They act as your guiding stars, helping you focus your energy on what matters most.

Start by visualising where you want to be by December 2025—not just what you want to achieve, but also how you want to feel.

Imagine celebrating key milestones, feeling fulfilled by the progress you’ve made, and living in alignment with your values. This approach turns annual goals from a checklist into a vision that inspires action and purpose every step of the way.

To maximise the effectiveness of your annual goals:

• Keep them focused: Choose 3-5 meaningful goals that inspire you, such as completing a professional certification, planning an overseas trip, or saving for a long-term dream.
• Make them measurable: Set clear benchmarks, like earning 10 new clients, running a marathon, or reading 24 books. Clarity helps you celebrate progress along the way.
• Break them into milestones: Divide each goal into smaller, actionable steps. For instance, if your goal is to write a book, plan milestones like “complete the outline by February,” “finish the first draft by July,” and “submit the manuscript by November.”

For example, I’m running the Chicago marathon in October of 2025. To make sure I keep working towards this goal, I’ve set a clear time-goal of running a sub-4 marathon.

I've then created a structured plan broken into three training blocks:

1. Foundation Block (20 weeks): Focus on building a strong running base and getting back into consistent training.
2. Speed Development Block (10 weeks): Target speed improvement with either a general speed plan or a sub-2-hour half marathon plan.
3. Marathon Prep Block (12 weeks): Dedicated marathon-specific training designed to optimise endurance and performance for the sub-4 goal.

By breaking my goal into manageable steps, I’ve kept it focused, measurable, and actionable. This system not only keeps me on track but also ensures every step of the process feels purposeful and achievable.

Habit 2: Quarterly Goals – Breaking It Down

Annual goals, while powerful, often fall victim to procrastination or neglect. It’s easy to feel motivated at the start of the year, but the enthusiasm can wane over time. Many people either lose track of their annual goals or push them off until the last few months, only to find themselves rushing to meet unrealistic deadlines—or abandoning them altogether. The challenge lies in the sheer length of the timeline, which can make it difficult to maintain momentum and accountability throughout the year.

That’s where quarterly goals come in. By breaking the year into four 90-day segments, you create a structure that keeps you focused and disciplined. Instead of waiting until December to evaluate your progress, quarterly goals give you four checkpoints throughout the year, ensuring that you’re continually moving forward.

To set effective quarterly goals:

1. Choose 3-4 objectives per quarter: These should be achievable yet impactful. For example, launch a website, attend two networking events, or establish a fitness habit.
2. Categorise your goals: Balance professional and personal aspirations. A work-related goal might be completing a major project, while a personal goal could involve spending more time with loved ones or learning a new skill.
3. Review quarterly progress: Take time at the end of each quarter to reflect. Celebrate your wins and adjust your approach as needed.

The shorter time frame of quarterly goals keeps you motivated and adaptable, ensuring steady progress toward your bigger vision.

For example, take my marathon training plan. I’ve divided it into three blocks: a 20-week foundation block to rebuild my running base, a 10-week block focused on speed (or potentially a sub-2-hour half marathon plan), and a final 12-week marathon prep block aimed at achieving my goal of running a sub-4-hour marathon.

While this plan provides a great structure, I don’t know for sure if training for a sub-2-hour half marathon will be the best approach for me, or if speed training will even fit into my progress timeline. What if I get injured during the first block or don’t make as much progress as I’d hoped?

Quarterly goal-setting allows me to track my progress after the foundation block and reevaluate my plan for the next quarter. This flexibility lets me adapt my goals based on my current circumstances, rather than feeling tied to an overly ambitious plan created six months ago. By reassessing and planning in three-month increments, I can avoid setting unrealistic goals that may lead to frustration or burnout and instead focus on steady, sustainable progress.

Habit 3: The Weekly Review – Your Productivity Anchor

Now that you have an overarching idea of the goals you want to achieve for the coming year, it's essential to break them down into smaller, manageable steps. This is where the weekly review becomes invaluable. A weekly review helps you stay aligned with your larger vision, reflect on your progress, and set clear intentions for the week ahead. Think of it as a powerful check-in that ensures your daily actions are driving you toward what matters most.

Here’s how to implement a weekly review:

1. Set priorities: Every Sunday, spend 20 minutes to define your top 3-5 tasks for the upcoming week. Be specific, such as “finalise presentation slides” or “call three new clients.”
2. Plan your week: Block time on your calendar for your most important tasks. This ensures you have the space to work on what matters, even when life gets busy.
3. Celebrate wins: Take note of what you’ve accomplished. Maybe you finished a tough project, kept a promise to yourself, or carved out time for self-care.
4. Revisit your goals: Look at your quarterly objectives and assess your progress. Ask yourself: What did I move forward this week? What can I improve?

A weekly review doesn’t need to be complicated or time-consuming. In as little as 20–30 minutes, you can reset and refocus for the week ahead. Consider creating a ritual around your review—pair it with your favourite cup of coffee or do it in a calm, distraction-free environment. By turning it into a consistent habit, you’ll find it easier to stay organised, motivated, and aligned with your goals.

Habit 4: The Morning Manifesto – Start Every Day with Intention

The morning manifesto is a simple yet powerful 2-minute journaling habit designed to help you focus on what truly matters, setting the tone for a productive and meaningful day. It bridges the gap between your long-term goals and daily actions, and acts as a compass, ensuring every day contributes to your larger vision and values.

Each morning, ask yourself:

1. What are my top 3 priorities for today? Write them down, such as “prepare for the team meeting,” “spend quality time with my partner,” or “go for a run.”
2. What is today’s most important task? Identify one action that will have the biggest impact. Focus on completing it early in the day.
3. What will make today’s work meaningful? Reflect on how your tasks align with your larger goals or values. Connecting your actions to your “why” can transform even routine work into something rewarding.

Ending the day with a brief reflection, such as “What did I accomplish today?” and “What can I improve tomorrow?” can further solidify your intentions and growth.

Habit 5: Focus Logs – Track Your Attention

In a world full of distractions, tracking how you spend your time can help you become more intentional. A focus log gives you visibility into your habits, helping you optimise your energy for what truly matters.

Here’s how to start a focus log:

• Record your time: Use a notebook, spreadsheet, or app to track how you spend your day. For example, note how many minutes you devote to deep work, shallow work, and distractions.
• Categorise activities: Label tasks as “productive,” “neutral,” or “wasteful.” This helps you see where your time is going.
• Reflect and adjust: At the end of the week, review your focus log. Are you dedicating enough time to your priorities? If not, what can you change?

For instance, if you’re spending too much time on emails, you might set specific time blocks for checking them. This simple habit can reveal patterns you didn’t realise were holding you back.