Big Goals for 2025? Here’s How to Break Them Down and Achieve Them

​

January 16, 2025

Written by Hao

(Editor in Chief at Balance the Grind)

​

Big plans for 2025? This guide will help you turn that mountain of a goal into small, doable steps for real success.

So, you’ve got big plans for 2025—maybe you’re aiming to launch a new business, finally write that book, or train for your first marathon. Whatever it is, setting ambitious goals can be exciting and energizing. But let’s be real: big goals can also feel overwhelming. You start with all the enthusiasm in the world, but as the weeks go by, things get messy, and suddenly, your goal seems out of reach.

That’s where breaking down your goals comes in. Taking a huge, daunting goal and turning it into smaller, manageable steps is the key to actually sticking with it and seeing progress. Think of it as turning a mountain into a series of stepping stones—it makes the climb a whole lot easier (and less intimidating). Here’s a simple, practical guide to breaking down your big goals and actually making them happen in 2025.

Start with Clarity: Define Your Goal in Detail

Before you can break down your goal, you need to be crystal clear on what it actually is. Vague goals like “get fit” or “grow my business” are hard to act on because they don’t have a clear finish line. Instead, get specific. For example, instead of “get fit,” try “complete a 10K run by June.” Instead of “grow my business,” try “increase revenue by 20% by December.” The more specific your goal, the easier it will be to map out a plan.

Break It Down Into Milestones

Once you’ve nailed down a clear goal, it’s time to create milestones. Think of these as the mini-goals that will guide you along the way. If your goal is a year-long project, consider setting quarterly milestones. Each milestone represents a significant chunk of progress. Let’s say your goal is to write a 60,000-word novel by the end of 2025. Breaking it down into four quarterly milestones might look like this: Q1: Write 15,000 words Q2: Reach 30,000 words Q3: Hit 45,000 words Q4: Complete the draft and start revisions. This way, instead of focusing on the overwhelming idea of writing a whole novel, you’re just aiming to hit that next 15,000-word mark.

Create Monthly and Weekly Targets

Now that you’ve got your milestones, break them down even further into monthly and weekly targets. This step helps you stay consistent and trackable. Using the novel example, if your Q1 goal is 15,000 words, that breaks down into: Monthly target: 5,000 words per month Weekly target: About 1,250 words per week. Suddenly, writing a novel doesn’t seem so crazy when you’re just focusing on 1,250 words at a time. The same approach works for fitness, business, or personal development goals.

Track Your Progress

One of the best ways to stay motivated is by tracking your progress. Whether it’s ticking off a checklist, filling in a habit tracker, or using an app, tracking gives you a visual reminder of how far you’ve come. If you’re a pen-and-paper person, a simple notebook or journal can do the trick. Prefer something digital? Apps like Trello, Notion, or even a shared Google Sheet can keep you organized and on track. The key is consistency—track your progress regularly so you can spot patterns, celebrate wins, and tweak your approach if needed.

​

Build in Rewards

Who doesn’t love a good reward? Hitting milestones can be tough, so give yourself something to look forward to. Rewards don’t have to be expensive or elaborate—they just need to make you feel good. Here are a few reward ideas: After a month of consistent work: A weekend trip or a fancy dinner out. After completing a milestone: Buy something you’ve been eyeing or take a full day off to relax. Celebrating your wins keeps you motivated and reinforces the idea that hard work pays off.

Anticipate Obstacles (And Plan for Them)

Let’s face it—life happens. Work gets hectic, motivation dips, or unexpected stuff pops up. The trick is to anticipate potential obstacles and have a plan to deal with them. Some common obstacles: Time constraints: Try blocking out non-negotiable time slots in your calendar for goal-related tasks. Lack of motivation: Keep a “why” list—remind yourself why you set this goal in the first place. Feeling stuck: If progress stalls, don’t quit—adjust. Change your approach, seek advice, or take a short break to reset. By planning for setbacks, you’re less likely to get derailed when they inevitably come up.

Stay Flexible

While sticking to your plan is important, flexibility is key. Sometimes goals evolve, timelines shift, or priorities change. And that’s okay! If halfway through the year you realize your original goal isn’t quite what you want anymore, it’s totally fine to pivot. Staying rigid for the sake of it won’t do you any favors.

Find an Accountability Partner

Having someone to keep you accountable can be a game-changer. This could be a friend, a mentor, or even an online community. Sharing your progress (and your struggles) with someone else keeps you motivated and makes it harder to quit.

Just Start

The hardest part of any big goal is often getting started. Don’t wait for the perfect moment or ideal conditions—just take the first step, no matter how small. Once you start, momentum builds, and before you know it, you’ll be well on your way to crushing your 2025 goals. Remember, big goals aren’t achieved overnight—they’re the result of consistent, small actions over time. You’ve got this! Ready to make 2025 your best year yet? Let’s go!

Raymond James is not affiliated with and does not endorse the opinions or services of Hao or Balance the Grind.

This information, developed by an independent third party, has been obtained from sources considered to be reliable, but Raymond James Financial Services, Inc. does not guarantee that the foregoing material is accurate or complete. This information is not a complete summary or statement of all available data necessary for making an investment decision and does not constitute a recommendation.