”Goals play a significant part in how we move forward, yet they are one of the most powerful methods of growth. Write them down You don’t even know what you want, said the chorus since it was so fresh; let’s see if you still want the same things next week What if I change my mind tomorrow Writing them down sharpens what you really desire, provides form for your vague aspirations, and creates accountability. The point isn’t perfectionism—it’s stacking small wins one after another, day in, day out.
Nowadays dozens of tools and apps make tracking progress, staying motivated, and sharing that story easier than ever before. Whether you’re trying to learn a new skill, start a new habit or just do something fun, tracking your progress in this manner can make your year more intentional and rewarding.
Why Tracking Goals is Important
- Clarity: When you commit goals to paper (or pixels), it makes you clarify what you are trying to achieve.
- Accountability: It’s less likely we forget or give up if we keep track.
- Momentum: A little success gives you more energy and pride.
- Community: By sharing your goals with others, you connect with others like you.
Modern Goal Tracking Tools
Here are some of the best methods for adding structure, enjoyment and accountability to your goals this year:
- Habitica – Gamify your life using an RPG approach!
- Todoist – A clean, simple, very powerful task/habit tracking app.
- Trello – Visual boards to set goals and break them down into action steps.
- ClickUp – Awesome for personal and team goals, dashboards, and analytics.
- Notion – A flexible workspace for you to customize your own goal system or vision board.
- Coach. me – Set and track goals with optional coaching and encouraging community
- Strides — A flexible app for setting both daily and long-term goals.
- Analog Options – Sometimes people need motivation punch cards, journals and whiteboards: the most basic means of incorporating exceptional productivity into their lives.
43 Ideas for Reaching Your Goals
Here is a contemporary list full of ideas — some are practical, others are playful — that you can add to your own list of “things to do.”
- Make a vision board on Notion, Canva or Pinterest.
- Create your first short-form video and post it on TikTok or Instagram.
- Give a new AI writing, design or productivity tool a whirl.
- Study a new language with Duolingo or Memrise.
- Join an online book club, or create one with friends.
- Take a new fitness challenge, such as yoga or weight training.
- Enroll in an online class; recommend Coursera, Udemy, or LinkedIn Learning.
- Make a personal website or portfolio using Squarespace or Wix.
- Keep track of what you’re reading via Goodreads or StoryGraph.
- Participate in an artistic challenge (drawing, writing, photography).
- Practice meditation with an app such as Calm or Headspace.
- Take up basic coding through free sources or Codeacademy.
- Establish a meal planning schedule with a digital planner.
- Begin a newsletter on Substack to share your thoughts.
- Start a blog of your own or keep a journal for personal reflection.
- Dive into digital journaling with apps like Obsidian or Day One.
- Have a virtual game night with friends.
- Make a new recipe every week.
- Establish a sleep schedule and follow it.
- Use Google Maps to drop pins on places you want to visit.
- Put together a getaway and book it.
- “Doing things that make your digital environment feel clean can also make your mind feel clean, and cool.” Play around by digitally decluttering — clear out files, apps, photos.
- Start a side hustle or freelance, side hustle\”>-side_house_down -escalator_left -no_readmore\” href=\”https://www.nytimes.com/guides/smarterliving/how-to-start-a-tiny-business.html\”>You can do this! > How to start a Tiny business.
- Learn video editing for YouTube or TikTok.
- Try digital art tools such as Procreate.
- Make a playlist on Spotify or Apple Music.
- Take in a podcast every day or week.
- Do some morning pages or write gratitude notes.
- Walk 10,000 steps every day for one week.
- Redesign your workspace for productivity.
- Take the 30-day habit streak challenge.
- Set a budget, and monitor your spending.
- Go on a mindfulness walk without taking your phone.
- Explore augmented reality apps.
- Journal your dreams and insights.
- Build a capsule wardrobe.
- Learn the fundamentals of photography and share a photo series.
- And if you need more motivation, go old school and get yourself a habit punch card.
- Take a digital detox weekend.
- Develop a personal “bucket list” for the next five years.
- Have a watch party with friends.
- Get to know a new instrument (or reacquaint yourself with an old one).
- Post your progress publicly and be held accountable.
Final Thoughts
Your list doesn’t need to be perfect — or even complete. What’s important is to pick the things that excite you or scare you a bit, or that push you closer to who it is you want to be. Begin modestly, measure your progress and get carried forward by momentum.
How about this year you make your own 43 things to accomplish, and check them off with pride?