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100 Goals to Focus on for a Successful Year

By Erin / Last updated: January 2, 2024 / Goal Setting, Lifestyle, Personal Finance

We may receive compensation from companies mentioned within this post via affiliate links. Read our full advertiser disclosure. Opinions, reviews, analyses & recommendations are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, endorsed or approved by any of these entities.
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Want to make this year the best yet? Take a look at these 100 goals related to money, fitness, career, and personal development to get on the right track.This is a time when many of us are thinking about what went right or wrong this year, what we want to do differently next year, and how we can get there.

If you’re like me, a lot of ideas are swimming around in your head. It can be hard to nail down what areas of your life you want to focus on.

That’s where this list of 100 goals to focus on for a successful year comes in handy!

100 goals is a lot of goals, but this list is meant to give you a bunch of ideas that you can pick and choose from. We have ideas for money goals, career goals, personal development goals, and finally health & fitness goals.

You’ll find inspiration and things you can take action on below.

 

Money Goals


 
This website is, after all, focused on personal finance first and foremost. We’d be remiss if we didn’t mention essential financial goals you should work toward first!

 

  1. Create an emergency fund
  2. Automate your savings
  3. Create a budget
  4. Track your income and expenses
  5. Save for a down payment on a house, a wedding, a baby fund, a car, etc.
  6. Create a student loan repayment strategy.
  7. Travel more, but spend less by travel hacking using credit card rewards to get free flights and hotel stays
  8. Make a plan to give a percentage of your income to charity
  9. Identify your spending triggers and create a plan to cut temptation out
  10. Make a plan for paying off your debt
  11. Commit to not getting further into debt
  12. Learn more about investing
  13. Open an IRA and start saving for retirement
  14. Contribute more toward your 401(k) – enough to get matching contributions from your employer (if it’s offered)
  15. Learn how to invest in rental property
  16. Read some awesome personal finance books
  17. Spend in a way that reflects your values
  18. Save a certain percentage of your income each month
  19. Start a side hustle
  20. Review your insurance coverage to make sure your needs are met
  21. Consider refinancing your student loans and learn about income-driven repayment plans
  22. Try calling creditors to get your interest rates lowered if you have credit card debt
  23. Cut cable (if you haven’t already!)
  24. Take a “no-spend” challenge or a ban on buying certain things
  25. Calculate and track your net worth
  26. Learn how to optimize your taxes and take advantage of tax savings
  27. Create a will and an estate plan if you have a family

 
 

Career Goals


 
A huge part of the “earn more” equation is focusing on improving your career and earning potential. Here are some things to think about, whether you’re a full-time employee or self-employed.

 

  1. Ask for a raise, or work toward getting one
  2. Work toward a promotion (and a raise)
  3. Update your resume
  4. Go to networking events in your area
  5. Go to a conference in your industry (yes, even if you are a huge introvert!)
  6. Try learning one new skill each quarter that you can apply directly to your job
  7. Create a “pat on the back” folder in your inbox and fill it with praise you receive from coworkers and managers
  8. Distance yourself from office politics as much as possible
  9. Start a side business to diversify your income
  10. Look for a better paying job with more opportunities for growth if you feel stagnant at your current job
  11. Find a mentor in your field
  12. Work toward receiving recognition for something you’ve done – does your employer offer awards?
  13. Work more hours or less hours depending on your personal and financial goals
  14. Get comfortable with negotiating
  15. Take a public speaking class, join Toastmasters, or seek out opportunities for public speaking
  16. Explore other interests you have to gear up for a career change
  17. Do regular salary research to make sure you are getting paid what you should be
  18. Consider going back to school for an advanced degree
  19. Take a course to get certified in something related to your industry
  20. If you’re still in college, research internship opportunities
  21. Raise your rates with clients if you’re a freelancer and/or business owner
  22. Get comfortable with the idea of outsourcing and think of how it can benefit your career instead of hurt it
  23. Learn how to manage your time better
  24. Set expectations and boundaries with clients/customers
  25. Find a way to showcase your creativity in your job

 
Want to make next year the best yet? Take a look at these 100 goals related to money, fitness, career, and personal development to get on the right track.

 
 

Personal Development Goals


 
A lot of people want to “better themselves” in the new year, but what does that really entail? See if any of these goals resonate with you.

 

  1. Find things to be grateful for
  2. Control your thoughts and emotions and choose to react better to negative situations
  3. Give meditation a try
  4. Learn the art of having patience – good for those with a short fuse
  5. If you’re Type A, try going with the flow and being spontaneous more often
  6. If you’re Type B, try embracing organization and planning more
  7. Think of a few habits you want to develop (like not checking your phone/social media as often) and mindfully incorporate them into your life
  8. Consider enlisting professional help in the form of a coach or psychologist
  9. Read inspirational stories from others
  10. Make more time for yourself; stop focusing on others as much
  11. Live more intentionally and mindfully each day
  12. Volunteer at an organization close to your heart
  13. Become more confident in yourself; have faith you can accomplish new things
  14. Get out of your comfort zone and do something completely out of character (but still legal, of course)
  15. Learn a new language
  16. Travel to a different country and live like a local to immerse yourself in a different culture
  17. Write something, whether that means starting a blog or going all in and writing a book
  18. Put yourself in the shoes of others more often
  19. Get rid of your tendency to procrastinate and get ahead on a few projects
  20. Pick up a book like How to Win Friends & Influence People by Dale Carnegie (a classic) or The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen R. Covey
  21. Learn a new language using software like Duolingo or Rosetta Stone
  22. Wake up earlier to get a head start on the day (or work through the night ;))
  23. Cut out or decrease the time you spend in front of the TV
  24. Consume more information – there’s tons of free content out there in the form of books, blogs, podcasts, video courses, etc.
  25. Keep a daily journal or blog

 
 

Health and Fitness Goals


 
Of course, this list wouldn’t be complete without health and fitness goals, probably some of the most popular! (Obvious disclaimer – check with your healthcare provider before diving into these.)

 

  1. Try cutting out sugar from your diet
  2. Eat smaller meals frequently throughout the day
  3. Cut out all fast food
  4. De-stress and relax more often
  5. Be proactive and get an annual checkup
  6. Set aside 10-15 minutes each day, search YouTube for a exercise video, and do it!
  7. Get into exercising at home with light weights or kettlebells
  8. Go to your apartment complex’s gym or your town’s community fitness center for free
  9. Become vegan or vegetarian
  10. Have vegetables with every meal, or at least two out of three meals per day
  11. Drink more water (a Contigo water bottle can help)
  12. Choose to walk to places within a mile or two of your house instead of driving
  13. Start a couch to 5k program to work your way up to running
  14. Make it a point to try a new, healthy meal at least once per month
  15. Join a community sports team or find a Meetup group where people play sports
  16. Improve your posture by being mindful of how you sit at work, or…
  17. Get a standing desk (you can build your own)
  18. Increase your flexibility
  19. Commit to working out at least three times a week, every week
  20. Visit a nutritionist to optimize your diet
  21. Get more sleep
  22. Decrease or cut out any unhealthy vices you have, like smoking, drinking, or eating frozen meals all the time
  23. Pick a workout or diet program and stick with it consistently for a month or two
  24. Make sure you’re getting enough vitamins from your diet and if not, choose appropriate supplements
  25. Try a new fitness class to get more excited about getting in shape (Groupon always has deals)

 
If you’re looking to make next year your best year yet, then these 100 goals focused on money, career, personal development, and health and fitness should help make it happen!

 

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Erin

Erin is a full-time personal finance freelance writer and virtual assistant. She's passionate about helping other millennials get started on their financial journey. She writes about balancing financial responsibility with living life, gratitude, and tackling student loan debt on Journey to Saving. She also loves cats. Like, a lot.
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Comments

  1. Financegirl says

    100 goals!!! gahh!! ;) I have one — pay down my student loans asap!!

  2. Pretend to Be Poor says

    Our goal is to pay off our mortgage this year, then focus on some delayed short-term and long-term goals like giving, retirement, and kids’ college funds.

  3. Jason @ The Butler Journal says

    Great list of goals. I’m focusing on a combination of money goals and personal development goals.

  4. Erin @ Journey to Saving says

    Financegirl Same here!

  5. Erin @ Journey to Saving says

    Pretend to Be Poor That’s awesome, best of luck with the mortgage!

  6. Erin @ Journey to Saving says

    Jason @ The Butler Journal Paying off my student loan debt is my #1 financial goal, but I’m definitely focusing on more personal development goals this coming year.

  7. Laurie TheFrugalFarmer says

    Lots of great options here, Erin. Love the thorough list! I’m still mulling over my goals. One of my big goals last year was to be daring and do new and different things, as I tend to like my routines. Well, I did that one well enough that I’m ready again for my routine and non-changing life. :-)  But since that’s never good, I’ve got to tiptoe into 2016’s goals. :-)

  8. Erin @ Journey to Saving says

    Laurie TheFrugalFarmer I totally know how you feel, Laurie! 2015 had a lot of changes for me, but I’m trying to push myself outside my comfort zone a bit more in 2016. Routine is good as long as you have a little spontaneity thrown in there.

  9. Hannah UnplannedFinance says

    I love the goal of checking my phone less. I’m an addict when it’s in my hand.

  10. Erin @ Journey to Saving says

    Hannah UnplannedFinance I think most people are, and they don’t even realize it!

  11. Amanda says

    Such a great article Erin!

    This list is so comprehensive and I love how you’ve separated them into sections.

    This is totally what a New Years Resolution list should look like!

  12. GIULIA says

    I’m totally agree with everything especially on voice find something to be grateful

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