Crafting Goals for 2025
how the Catholic feminist will look this year + how to make a Word of the Year
It’s one of my favorite times of the year. I know a lot of people dread January and it’s true; the ice-sharp winds and dreadfully dark evenings can wear on a soul. But I’m an old-school romantic about the art of goal setting and goldarnit, I just love a fresh new year.
For many years now I’ve engaged in the practice of choosing a word of the year. This year isn’t a specific goal or mission—it’s just a simple guide as I craft my specific goals. It encompasses what I want a year to feel like and what I want to emphasize. I’ve written about past words of the year in letters prior, and I always look forward to when the women on Abiding Together share theirs!
Goal setting resources:
I don’t use Powersheets every single year as they’re pretty pricey, but I do really enjoy them and find their thoroughness so helpful when it comes to crafting goals + staying accountable.
When I’m not using Powersheets, I still like to go longhand and make lists before I choose a word of the year + goals. Lists include what worked the year before, what didn’t work the year before, and what I want more of in the new year. A simple-yet-pretty notebook from a bookstore always works for this! This year, my aunt gifted me a few beautiful homemade notepads I’ve been scribbling on.
I then use my Notes app (not Substack notes—just good ole Apple notes) to check in on my monthly goals and track what needs to be tracked. I keep this note pinned to the top of my app.
I’m a Pinterest girl through and through. I don’t care how basic-millennial it makes me. Moodboards 4ever.
This isn’t a resource as much as a reminder, but prayer, prayer, prayer. Since mid-November I’ve been asking God to give me guidance when it came to 2025, and to really write on my heart what his wishes for me are. I know mine, but I also know that some of them aren’t aligned with the best, holiest version of myself and I want him to make things clear to me. I always ask him to provide me with a word of the year and he always does! To be honest, this is why I’ve never quite jived with those online word of the year generators—I know it’s all in good fun, so no worries if that’s what works for you. But I’d prefer to really take time to discover one instead of just hitting a button.