6 Ways to Assess Your Goal Progress and Set Better Goals

As the year winds down, I always find myself in reflection mode—looking back at the goals I set at the beginning of 2025, evaluating what went well, what didn't pan out, and most importantly, what I learned along the way that will make me better at goal-setting moving forward. And let me tell you, goal setting is one of my absolute favorite things to do. I love the process of dreaming big, planning strategically, and mapping out what's next for my life and business. But if I've learned anything over the years of setting and tracking goals, it's that how you set your goals (and how you track your progress throughout the year) matters just as much as the goals themselves. You can have ambitious, exciting goals, but without the right assessment process and tracking systems, you'll constantly feel like you're falling short even when you're making real progress. Or worse, you'll keep setting the same goals year after year without understanding why they're not working. So today, I want to help you assess where you are right now with total honesty and zero guilt. Whether you absolutely crushed your 2025 goals and exceeded your own expectations, or you're looking at your list feeling like you fell short in several areas, this episode will help you reflect constructively and set yourself up for even more success in 2026. In this episode, I'm sharing 6 practical ways to assess your current goal progress and set better, more effective, more aligned goals for the new year. These strategies will help you understand what worked, what didn't, and how to create goals that actually stick.   Here's What You'll Learn in This Episode: How to conduct an honest goal inventory without self-judgment Why celebrating progress matters more than perfect completion Identifying successful systems and habits that moved you forward Recognizing patterns and obstacles that consistently derailed progress The importance of revisiting your "why" before setting new goals How to make goals specific and measurable for better tracking Breaking big goals into small, consistent, achievable actions Adjusting goals when life circumstances or priorities change Separating self-worth from goal achievement outcomes Setting smarter goals based on lessons learned from previous years   Here's a glance at this episode: [02:01] Honest Goal Inventory: Taking stock of achievements, in-progress goals, and what didn't happen (without self-criticism). [04:25] Progress Over Perfection: Why consistent effort and partial completion deserve celebration and recognition [08:02] Revisiting Your Why: Evaluating whether last year's goals still align with your current values and lifestyle. [11:09] Specific Goal-Setting: How to transform vague intentions into measurable, trackable targets.  [13:06] Self-Worth Reminder: Decoupling personal value from goal completion and embracing growth mindset.   🎉 Annual 20% Off Sale Alert! The City Girl Savings New Year Sale runs January 1-15, 2026! Get 20% off custom budget plans, the CGS Personal Finance Portfolio, 1-on-1 money coaching, and DIY worksheets. Mark your calendar—this is our biggest sale of the year and only happens once!   Podcast Break Reminder: The City Girl Savings Podcast takes a Q1 2026 break (January-March). We'll share favorite past episodes to keep you inspired, then return with fresh content the first Monday in April 2026!   Rate, Review, & Follow: Did you love this episode? Are you a fan of the City Girl Savings podcast? If so, please consider rating and reviewing the show! This helps spread the word about City Girl Savings, and hopefully helps more people make the best money moves possible on the way to their dream life! To leave a review on Apple Podcasts, click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select "Write a Review." Then be sure to let me know what you loved most about the episode! Also, please make sure you're subscribed and following the City Girl Savings podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube!   Resources mentioned in this episode: Grab your CGS Personal Finance Portfolio Get started on a custom budget plan today Learn about Raya's Financial Focus Coaching Program Follow City Girl Savings on Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok Join the City Girl Savings Facebook Group Subscribe to the City Girl Savings Newsletter!

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