We love setting goals in January. But, have you ever looked up halfway through the year and realized you haven’t thought about your January goals in, oh, I don’t know… months? Same, friend. Same.

Let me be totally honest: I’m actually really good at setting goals. Dreaming big? Mapping it all out in a cute planner? Oh, I’m there. But sometimes—even with the best of intentions—I get to July and realize I haven’t checked in with those goals once. Not because they didn’t matter. Not because I didn’t care. But because life got loud, and I didn’t have a system to stay connected to them.

And sometimes? I was setting goals just because I thought I should. More clients, more income, more milestones. Bigger, better, busier. I once hit six figures in my photography business and thought, “Okay, now I have to double that.” But the truth? I was tired. I was ready for a pivot. But instead of giving myself permission to pause, I kept chasing for the sake of achievement.

Turns out? The problem wasn’t the goals. It was the lack of a rhythm to revisit and realign with them.

So if you’re feeling like you suck at setting goals—you don’t. You just need a new way. One that fits your real, messy, beautiful life.

Why Traditional Goal Setting Lets Us Down (and How to Set Achievable Goals)

Most traditional goal setting looks like this:

• Set goals in January
• Write them in your prettiest planner
• Never look at them again unless you feel guilty

Sound familiar?

It’s no wonder we feel behind or give up. Traditional goal setting is often:

• Hustle-heavy “vision board energy”
• Built for productivity, not purpose
• All about the finish line with no checkpoints along the way

Here’s the thing: A study by Dominican University found that people who write down their goals are 42% more likely to achieve them. So yes, writing them down matters. But writing them down once in January and ghosting them till June? Not so much.

Without check-ins, our goals become outdated. We change, life shifts, and suddenly the thing we were aiming for doesn’t even make sense anymore.

“A goal is not always meant to be reached; it often serves simply as something to aim at.” – Bruce Lee

How to Set Goals with Grace and Flexibility

What changed everything for me? Checkpoints. Pauses. Gentle reflection. Giving myself space to ask: Is this still working? And if not, what needs to shift?

That small shift led to a much bigger framework that I now teach and live by: B.A.L.A.N.C.E. Goals

This isn’t just another system to keep you “on track.” It’s a rhythm that lets your goals evolve with you. One that invites grace, not guilt.

The B.A.L.A.N.C.E. Goal Framework

Let’s walk through this using a super common goal: getting in shape.

B – Big Picture

What’s the real goal and why does it matter?

This is the emotional anchor—your deeper reason. Not just “lose weight” but:

“I want to feel strong enough to chase my kids, carry groceries without feeling winded, and have energy to enjoy my day without 14 cups of coffee.”

Don’t think of goals as checkboxes. They’re a journey toward becoming who you want to be.

A – Action Steps

These are your micro-moves:

• Strength train 3x/week
• 8k steps a day
• One extra glass of water before coffee
• Prep two easy breakfasts on Sunday

Small steps are powerful. In fact, researchers have found that implementation intentions (deciding when, where, and how you’ll do a task) dramatically increase follow-through.

This is how to set achievable goals—by keeping the steps small and clear.

L – Life Habits

What rhythms support your goal?

• Walking the kids to school
• Morning protein shake
• Stretching before you check email

It’s not about perfect routines—it’s about supportive rhythms that help you stay consistent without pressure.

A – Adjust as Needed

Real life is real. What’s your backup plan?

• 10-minute movement when you can’t do a full workout
• High-protein snacks in the car

“You can’t steer a parked car. Start moving and adjust as you go.” – Emily P. Freeman

N – Noticing Wins

Celebrate the little things:

• You chose a walk instead of doom-scrolling
• You drank water before coffee
• You ate an apple instead of a candy bar

“Don’t measure success by how far you have to go, but by how far you’ve come.”

Track your wins. Write them down. Celebrate every step forward. This is one of the best ways to stay encouraged and set achievable goals over time.

C – Check-In

Weekly or monthly, pause and ask:

• What’s working?
• What’s not?
• What needs a small tweak?

A Harvard Business School study found that 15 minutes of reflection increased performance by 23%. Don’t skip this.

E – Evaluate

Zoom out. Once a month or quarter, ask:

• Is this goal still aligned with my life?
• What’s worth keeping? What can I let go?

This is how to set achievable goals that evolve with you—not against you.

“Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.” – Winston Churchill

Your Gentle Next Step

Pick one goal you’ve been avoiding or feeling disconnected from. Just one. Then walk it through the B.A.L.A.N.C.E. steps.

It doesn’t have to be polished. Give yourself 10 minutes and be honest, not perfect.

If you’re not sure how to set achievable goals, this framework is your starting place.

Want Support With This?

I created a free B.A.L.A.N.C.E. Goal Map just for you. You can grab it here.

And if you’re ready to dive deeper, the Capture the Chaos Planner is currently 20% off. It’s not too late in the year to get organized. This planner isn’t about perfection—it’s about building a rhythm that supports your real life.

And as a bonus? When you grab your planner, you also get access to our planner community. Our May group coaching call is all about goal setting, and I would love for you to join us.

Because you’re not behind. You’re just in a season. And you deserve a system that meets you there.