Build Goals That Fit Your Real Life
When Life Is Changing, So Should Your Approach to Goals
Goal setting doesn’t have to be rigid. In fact, the most sustainable goals are the ones that flex, adapt, and grow with you.
Maybe you’re navigating a new chapter—leaving a job, launching a side hustle, stepping into a caregiving role, or simply questioning what’s next. Whatever the case, the traditional “set a goal and hustle hard” model may no longer feel realistic—or kind.
In these seasons, what you need are adaptive, meaningful goals that reflect your current reality and help you move forward without burning out.
Step 1: Redefine What “Progress” Looks Like
A big reason goals fall flat is because we picture success in only one form: fast, linear, and achievement-based. But real life isn’t like that.
Try asking:
– What would progress feel like this week?
– What’s the smallest step I can take today?
– What’s one outcome that would make me proud, even if no one else sees it?
When you allow progress to be small, you make room for consistency—and consistency builds confidence.
Step 2: Align Your Goals with Your Season
Your goals should support your life—not stress you out.
For example:
– In a season of rebuilding? Choose one stabilizing habit.
– Feeling overstretched? Your goal might be “let something go.”
– Exploring what’s next? Set a curiosity-based goal—read, explore, test ideas.
Every goal you set should feel like a bridge, not a burden.
Step 3: Make It Modular and Measurable
Even the most inspired goals can become overwhelming if they aren’t broken down.
Instead of:
– “Write my book”
Try:
– “Create 5 possible outlines this month”
Instead of:
– “Get fit”
Try:
– “Walk 20 minutes after lunch on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays”
When goals are modular, they adapt with your schedule. When they’re measurable, you know what success looks like.
Step 4: Add Structure, Not Stress
We tend to overestimate what we can do in a day and underestimate what we can do in a month.
Try these gentle supports:
– A weekly “reset” session to plan and reflect
– A simple goals tracker (digital or analog)
– A monthly review question: “Is this still the right goal for me?”
– A “done list” to capture progress and boost momentum
Structure doesn’t mean control—it means support.
Step 5: Let Joy, Rest, and Curiosity Be Goals Too
Not every goal needs to be about productivity or growth. Some of the most transformational goals are ones that:
– Prioritize emotional well-being
– Invite play and creativity
– Reconnect you with what you like, not just what you should do
Examples:
– “Cook something new just because”
– “Take a solo coffee break every Thursday”
– “Learn one new thing each week that has nothing to do with work”
These goals often restore the very energy we need to keep going.
Final Thought: Your Goals Don’t Have to Look Like Anyone Else’s
Your life is uniquely yours. Your goals should be too.
Whether you’re navigating change, reclaiming space for yourself, or redefining success on your own terms—your goals can be tools of care, not control.
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🌐 Visit www.sarahbarry.com or email hello@sarahbarry.com to explore coaching and practical tools that support clarity, confidence, and direction in times of change