Why Writing Your Goals Down Still Works (and How to Stay Motivated All Year)
Am I the only one who loves to get a new planner? I love the idea that the year ahead is brimming with possibilities.
Every year, I write down my goals (every recent year that is).
I’ve been doing this since 2020.
Not in a complicated system. Not perfectly. Just pen on paper.
There is something powerful about writing your goals down on paper. It slows you down. It makes you intentional. It turns a passing thought into something real enough to sit with.
And yet — I’ll be honest — I’ve also struggled with consistency. I’ve started strong and lost momentum. I’ve written goals I didn’t fully follow through on.
Over time, though, I’ve learned that writing goals down does work — especially when it’s paired with a gentler, more realistic approach to staying motivated throughout the year.
Why writing goals down actually works
This isn’t just personal preference or positive thinking. There’s real psychology behind it.
Research shows that writing goals down helps move them from vague ideas into concrete plans. When you write by hand, your brain engages more deeply than when typing. Handwriting activates focus, memory, and emotional connection.
In simple terms, when you write your goals down, your brain starts paying attention.
It begins by noticing opportunities, reminders, and next steps you may have overlooked before. That’s why writing goals on paper often feels different — more grounded, more personal.
But here’s the part that often gets missed.
Writing goals down isn’t a one-time fix. Staying connected to them over time is where most women struggle.
Why staying consistent with goals is so hard for women
Most women don’t lose momentum because they don’t care.
They lose momentum because life gets full again.
Responsibilities return. Energy shifts. A hard week turns into a hard month. And suddenly, the goals that once felt exciting start to feel heavy.
For women between 35 and 65, goal setting often happens alongside:
Caring for children or aging parents
Carrying the mental and emotional load of a home
Navigating big life changes
Rebuilding confidence after loss or transition
This isn’t a discipline problem.
It’s a pressure problem.
When goals become rigid or perfection-based, motivation fades. When they feel like another way to measure ourselves, we quietly pull away.
I’ve been there.
What’s helped me stay motivated (even when I’m not consistent)
Over the years, I’ve found a few simple shifts that help me stay connected to my goals — without guilt or burnout.
1. I stopped treating goals like deadlines
Instead of asking “When will I finish this?”
I ask, “What does this goal look like in this season of my life?”
Winter might be about clarity and rest.
Spring might invite small action.
Summer may be about maintaining, not pushing.
Fall becomes a time to refine and reflect.
This seasonal mindset has helped me keep goals alive all year — without feeling behind.
2. I keep my goals visible, but gently
Not shouted from a wall. Not buried in a notebook I never open.
Sometimes it’s a single handwritten sentence in my planner. Sometimes it’s a Post-it note on my computer or bedroom wall. I want my goals close enough to remember — but soft enough not to scold me.
This matters more than we think.
3. I focus on practices, not outcomes
This shift changed everything for me.
Instead of focusing on the big end result, I ask:
What small practice moves me forward?
Not “finish the book,” but “write a little most weeks.”
Not “change everything,” but “take one next step.”
Practices build identity. Identity builds momentum.
4. I check in monthly, not daily
Daily tracking made me feel behind. Monthly reflection brings me back.
Once a month, I ask:
What worked?
What felt heavy?
What needs to be simplified?
This approach supports consistency without overwhelm.
5. I lead with compassion, not criticism
Consistency doesn’t mean perfect execution.
It means returning — gently — when life pulls you away.
A gentler way to think about goal setting
Writing your goals down isn’t about becoming a different person overnight. It’s about honoring the woman you’re becoming — one small, thoughtful step at a time.
For me, pen and paper are still sacred. They remind me that growth doesn’t have to be rushed. It can be steady, intentional, and kind.
If you’ve ever written goals down and felt discouraged when you didn’t follow through perfectly, I want you to know this:
You didn’t fail.
You paused.
And you’re allowed to begin again — as many times as it takes.
Here’s a beautiful 2026!
Much love,
Susan
P.S.
I’ve added a few of my absolute planning/goal-setting favorites to my Amazon shop HERE.