How to Set Yearly + Monthly Goals (Free Template)
I’ve always loved a good plan — not because I’m trying to control everything, but because it helps me feel clear. Grounded. Like I actually know where I’m headed.
At the start of each year (and again every month), I set aside some time to check in with myself: Where am I right now? What’s calling to me? What kind of life am I building — and who am I becoming in the process?
This isn’t about setting perfect goals or checking off a bunch of boxes. It’s about creating direction and intention, and then building a system that helps me stay connected to that vision even as life shifts and changes.
That’s where my Notion template comes in. It lives on the homepage of my Notion hub — I see it every day. On one side is a gallery of my yearly goals, complete with Pinterest-inspired mood board images that make it feel expansive and exciting. On the other side is a board of my monthly goals — smaller, actionable steps that are directly inspired by the bigger vision.
This template helps me zoom in and zoom out. It gives structure without being rigid, and it reminds me that clarity doesn’t come from overthinking — it comes from reflection, alignment, and consistent follow-through.
In this post, I’ll walk you through how I set my yearly and monthly goals, how I use Notion to organize them, and how this practice helps me focus on what matters — while giving myself the flexibility to grow and evolve along the way.
You can download my Notion template here.
Why I Create Yearly + Monthly Goals
For me, goals are a way to tune into where I am, what I need, and who I’m becoming. These goals live front and center in my Notion hub, so I see them every single time I open it. They act like a compass, helping me stay oriented throughout the month, even when life gets messy or distracting.
On one side of the homepage is a gallery view of my yearly goals — I pull images from Pinterest to create a kind of visual mood board that feels inspiring and intuitive. On the other side is a board view of my monthly goals, which are more granular and come with simple progress tracking. This rhythm of checking in daily, weekly, and monthly gives me structure, but also flexibility. It reminds me that planning is a living process — not something that boxes me in, but something that helps me move forward with clarity.
1. Start With Reflection: Who Are You Becoming?
Before I set any goals, I reflect. I ask questions like:
What’s feeling good right now?
What areas of my life feel off or neglected?
What’s sparking my curiosity or energy?
Where am I feeling a little jealous or drawn in — and what might that be pointing to?
I like to move through the main categories: career, money, relationships, health, creativity, spirituality, personal growth — not to check boxes, but to get a fuller picture of where I’m at.
Themes usually emerge. I notice patterns in my journal, my conversations, or even the kind of content I’m consuming. That’s how I begin to sense what the next season is asking of me — not from a place of pressure, but from a place of alignment. Who am I becoming? What is life inviting me to lean into?
2. Set Yearly Goals That Feel Like Invitations
Once I’ve reflected, I set 6–10 yearly goals. These aren’t just outcomes — they’re invitations into who I want to be and what I want to explore.
Each goal gets its own card in Notion, complete with a title, description, and a visual pulled from Pinterest. This makes my yearly goals feel like a mood board — not just a to-do list. And because they’re visual and aesthetic, I actually want to look at them every day. That’s important.
Examples of yearly goals:
“Cultivate community and connection”
“Feel strong and at home in my body”
“Make art for the joy of it”
“Build financial freedom and clarity”
The point isn’t perfection. These goals evolve throughout the year. I update them, drop some, add new ones. It’s a working document — not a contract.
3. Break It Down Into Monthly Goals
Once my yearly goals are set, I use them to inspire my monthly goals. I ask: what small steps can I take this month that support the bigger vision?
My monthly goals live in a Notion board, Kanban-style. Each card has:
A short description of the goal
A status (not started, in progress, or done)
For example, if one of my yearly goals is around community building, my monthly goals might include:
Host a game night
Go on two friend dates
Sign up for a group class
Or if my yearly focus is on creativity:
Take myself on an artist date
Submit one piece of writing
Spend 2 hours a week making something just for fun
This format helps me keep things actionable but still aligned. And because I see this board every day, it gently nudges me to follow through — without shaming me if I’m not 100% “on it.” I’m not trying to win at productivity. I’m trying to live on purpose.
4. From Monthly Goals to Your Calendar
This part is key: I don’t stop at the list. I bring my monthly goals into my actual calendar.
This could look like:
Blocking time on Sundays to prep nourishing meals
Adding a daily reminder to stretch or walk
Setting a monthly “admin day” to handle finances
Scheduling recurring friend dates or creative time
Once it’s in the calendar, it’s real. Not just a vague intention, but something with a place in my week. This is what makes the difference between dreaming and doing. And because those calendar blocks come from my goals, everything on my schedule already feels aligned — like I’m choosing it with intention.
5. Create a “Not Right Now” List
One of the most grounding parts of my goal-setting process is writing down what I’m not focusing on right now.
Why? Because it’s so easy to say yes to too much — especially when you’re creative, curious, and a little too inspired for your own good (hi, me). A clear “no” can be just as powerful as a yes.
I ask myself:
Is this something I used to care about, but no longer do?
Is this someone else’s expectation, not mine?
Is this something that would burn me out if I said yes right now?
My “Not Right Now” list gives me permission to pause — not forever, just for this season. It helps me protect my time and energy, and focus on what matters most.
This system isn’t about rigid goals or performance pressure. It’s about staying oriented — so when life inevitably shifts, I still know what matters to me. My Notion template is just a tool. It works because it’s visual, flexible, and right there on my homepage every day.
I truly believe that planning isn’t about controlling the future. It’s about meeting yourself with clarity and compassion — and creating a life that reflects who you really are.
Feeling stuck or overwhelmed? Book a 1:1 Planning Session with me. We’ll untangle your to-do list, set clear goals, and build a plan that feels doable and supportive.
FAQs
Q: Do I need to use Notion to set yearly and monthly goals?
Nope! Notion just works for me because it’s flexible, visual, and I use it daily. You could recreate this system in a physical journal, a Google Doc, Trello, or even with sticky notes on your wall. The key is having a space where your goals live and evolve — and where you’ll actually see them often.
Q: What if I don’t know what my goals are yet?
Start with reflection. What feels good in your life right now? What feels off? Where are you craving change, even if it feels fuzzy? Look for emotional clues like curiosity, envy, restlessness, or longing — those often point you toward what’s next. You don’t have to have everything figured out — sometimes you just need one clue to take the next step.
Q: What if my goals change halfway through the year?
They should. You’re not static — your life, priorities, and energy shift over time. Think of this system as a living document. Edit your goals as needed. Adding new ones or letting go of old ones is part of staying aligned with your current self.
Q: How many goals should I set?
There’s no magic number, but I like to stick to 6–10 yearly goals and 3–6 monthly goals at a time. Just enough to feel inspired and grounded — not so many that it becomes overwhelming. Some months look different than others.
Q: What if I don’t complete a goal?
That’s okay. The point isn’t to complete everything — it’s to live intentionally. Even if a goal isn’t fully checked off, it probably shaped your behavior or thinking in some meaningful way. You’re allowed to carry it forward, rework it, or let it go.
Q: Can I get a copy of your Notion template?
Of course! You can download my free Monthly + Yearly Goals Notion Template here. It includes the gallery view for yearly goals and the monthly goal board. Fairly simple — and yet powerful.
