Whether you want to decide some long-term plans now or NOT, this episode is for you.
You can download the accompanying guide (including more examples than I shared in the episode) here.
In this episode, I walk through how I approach long-term planning and goal setting in a realistic, pressure-free way. I don’t believe every woman has to be constantly striving to improve—and that can make traditional New Year’s resolutions feel out of step with real life.
So I share:
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Why January might not be the best time to set goals (and what to try instead)
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The three caveats I want you to keep in mind before diving into goal setting
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Why I believe not having goals is totally okay
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How asking “how do I want my life to feel?” can ground your planning in what truly matters
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What it looks like to brainstorm from that place and identify just one goal to focus on
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How to use your calendar (in a Bright Method way!) to bring that goal to life
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How to assess unexpected opportunities as they pop up throughout the year—through the lens of how you want your life to feel
Whether your goal is tangible and action-oriented (like training for a race) or more internal (like drinking less or listening more), I walk through how to make it actionable with your calendar—and, more importantly, how to adjust and not overcommit. Because even if you’re not “doing” a big thing, you’re still doing a lot. Let’s give that credit—and get realistic about what one more thing would actually take.
I also mention:
- Episode 25 of this podcast, "Current reality first – and then add in the aspirational change,"
- Podcast episodes from Goli's Lessons from a Quitter podcast:
- Bonus tool (not mentioned in episode) for long-term planning: this blog article
Links you might enjoy:
- 🌿 Free 5-Day Time Management Program Get five short, practical video lessons packed with realistic strategies to help you manage your personal and professional life with more clarity and calm.
- 📱 Follow me on Instagram Get bite-sized, real-life time management tips for working women—like reminders to set mail holds before travel, anonymous day-in-the-life calendars from other professional women, and behind-the-scenes looks at how I manage my own time.
- ✨ The full Bright Method™️ program If you're ready for a full time management system that's realistic, sustainable, and dare I say… fun, check out the Bright Method program. It's helped hundreds of professional women take back control of their time—and their peace of mind.
The Bright Method Podcast: Realistic Time Management and Productivity for Working Women & Working Moms