Setting goals has always been one of the most powerful ways to grow. Writing them down helps clarify what you really want, gives structure to your ambitions, and creates accountability. The idea isn’t about chasing perfection—it’s about building momentum through small, consistent wins.
Today, dozens of tools and apps make it easier than ever to track progress, stay motivated, and share your journey. Whether you want to form new habits, learn a skill, or explore something fun, goal-tracking can make your year more intentional and rewarding.
Why Goal Tracking Matters
- Clarity: Writing down goals forces you to define what success looks like.
- Accountability: Progress tracking makes it harder to forget or quit.
- Motivation: Every small win delivers a boost of energy and pride.
- Community: Sharing goals with others connects you to like-minded people.
Modern Goal Tracking Tools
Here are some of the best ways to bring structure, fun, and accountability to your goals this year:
- Habitica – Gamify your habits and level up your life like a role-playing game.
- Todoist – Clean, simple, and powerful task and habit tracking.
- Trello – Visual boards to organize goals and break them into action steps.
- ClickUp – Great for both personal and team goals, with dashboards and analytics.
- Notion – Flexible workspace where you can design your own goal system or vision board.
- Coach.me – Track goals with optional coaching and community encouragement.
- Strides – Flexible app for setting daily, weekly, and long-term goals.
- Analog Options – Motivation punch cards, journals, and whiteboards remain surprisingly effective for people who like something physical to check off.
43 Goal Ideas to Try This Year
Here’s a modern list of ideas—some practical, some playful—that you can put on your own list of “things to do.”
- Create a vision board in Notion, Canva, or Pinterest.
- Post your first short-form video on TikTok or Instagram.
- Try a new AI tool for writing, design, or productivity.
- Learn a new language with Duolingo or Memrise.
- Join an online book club or start one with friends.
- Try a new fitness challenge, like yoga or strength training.
- Take an online course on Coursera, Udemy, or LinkedIn Learning.
- Build a personal website or portfolio with Squarespace or Wix.
- Track your reading with Goodreads or StoryGraph.
- Join a creative challenge (drawing, writing, or photography).
- Practice meditation with apps like Calm or Headspace.
- Learn basic coding through free resources or Codeacademy.
- Set up a meal-planning routine using a digital planner.
- Start a Substack newsletter to share your thoughts.
- Create a private blog or journal for personal reflection.
- Explore digital journaling with Obsidian or Day One.
- Host a virtual game night with friends.
- Try a new recipe every week.
- Set a sleep routine and stick to it.
- Use Google Maps to pin places you want to visit.
- Plan a trip and actually book it.
- Try digital decluttering—clean out files, apps, and photos.
- Start a side hustle or explore freelancing.
- Learn to edit videos for YouTube or TikTok.
- Experiment with digital art tools like Procreate.
- Curate your playlists on Spotify or Apple Music.
- Listen to a podcast daily or weekly.
- Write morning pages or gratitude notes.
- Take 10,000 steps a day for a week.
- Redesign your workspace for productivity.
- Try a 30-day habit streak challenge.
- Create a budget and track your expenses.
- Try mindfulness walks without your phone.
- Explore augmented reality apps.
- Journal your dreams and insights.
- Build a capsule wardrobe.
- Learn photography basics and share a photo series.
- Use a habit punch card for extra motivation.
- Take a digital detox weekend.
- Create a personal “bucket list” for the next five years.
- Host a watch party with friends.
- Learn a new instrument or pick up an old one.
- Share your progress publicly for accountability.
Final Thoughts
Your list doesn’t have to be perfect—or even complete. What matters is choosing things that excite you, scare you a little, or move you closer to who you want to become. Start small, track progress, and let momentum carry you forward.
Make this the year you create your own list of 43 things—and actually enjoy ticking them off.
