Lock in and hit your goals by 2025 - Episode 24
Have you been feeling tired and overwhelmed as we enter the last few months of the year?
Yes, those goals we set back in January may seem daunting (especially if you’re not as far along as you’d like to be) but there is no reason to wait 8 weeks to reset and restart.
Let’s focus on what we can control now and lock in for 60 days to get as close as we can to achieving all of our goals by the end of the year.
Create & consume
What Austen is creating this week: I did a collab reel with Caitlin that we both filmed separately and she edited together
What Austen is consuming this week: It’s a meta consumption this week—I’m watching one of the hosts of Game of Roses watch Love is Blind season 7.
In this episode:
Check in with yourself and your goals
Before diving into a sprint to the finish line, it’s important to evaluate where you currently stand. Ask yourself:
Have my priorities shifted over the year?
Are there any goals that no longer align with what I want?
What is actually reasonable to achieve in the remaining months?
I’ve been through this reflection myself. In my recent podcast episode about pivoting, I talked about how I shifted the direction of my YouTube channel.
Moving away from a type of content that was draining my creativity helped me re-align my goals and reinvigorate my passion. It's okay if some goals no longer make sense—it’s better to focus on the ones that still light you up.
Even if you can’t hit 100% of a goal, consider whether you can accomplish part of it. Hitting 20% of a target is still progress, and it puts you in a better position to hit the ground running in 2025.
Make a plan
Once you’ve narrowed down your goals, it’s time to plan. I use a Q4 priorities spreadsheet in Notion to organize everything. (I shared a visual walkthrough of this in a recent YouTube video) Here are some key questions to ask while creating your plan:
How important is this goal?
How much energy will it take to complete?
If it’s neither important nor urgent, does it need to be a priority right now?
The key here is to ensure that the goals you’re locking in on are the ones that matter the most to you right now. Prioritizing what’s both urgent and meaningful can help you stay focused and energized.
Double down on what’s working
Instead of trying to reinvent the wheel, look at what’s been working for you this year and double down on it. For example, one of my blog posts on ankle boots performed really well, so I followed it up with another post on styling tall boots.
That second post became one of my top traffic drivers this month!
Similarly, I wrote a blog post recapping my NYC bachelorette weekend, but after receiving lots of questions about how I made a custom bachelorette Jeopardy game, I created a dedicated blog post just for that.
Sometimes, focusing on what’s already resonating with your audience can lead to even more success.
Eliminate distractions
If you’re locking in for 60 days, it’s essential to eliminate distractions. For me, it’s my phone. Here are a few methods I use:
Move your phone away from your workspace, even if it's just across the room. This small action can reduce your urge to mindlessly check it.
Do Not Disturb (DND) mode is your friend. I customize my DND settings so that only my favorite contacts can bypass the block, and I mute specific group chats that aren’t urgent.
Take a break from Instagram or TikTok if they’re your main sources of distraction. A temporary break can give you the focus boost you need.
Use a digital timer
One of my favorite tools for combatting procrastination is a digital timer. Time-blocking your tasks can turn overwhelming projects into manageable chunks.
Set a timer for 20 or 30 minutes and challenge yourself to see how much you can get done within that block. You’ll be surprised how productive you can be when you’re racing against the clock!
Build better habits
One of my go-to books for habit-building is Atomic Habits by James Clear.
In this book he told a story about a man showing up at the gym for just five minutes to build the habit of going.
It’s less about the workout at first and more about getting into the routine. Once you’re there, you may even be motivated to keep going.
This applies to any habit or goal. Showing up is often the hardest part, but once you’re in motion, it becomes easier to keep the momentum going.
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