Reflections on Goal Setting and Personal Growth
The last time I was here, I talked about my transition as a UX designer—not as a secondary path, but as a deliberate choice. Today, I want to reflect on a recent session I attended with Ali Abdaal. He hosted a session where he spoke to thousands of users about setting goals for the year. Unfortunately, due to network issues, I missed part of the session on January 4th. However, I did attend TJ Power's session, where we discussed the challenge of avoiding our phones for a certain period after waking up.
Key Takeaways and Goals
Morning Routine Adjustments
Use this time to journal, reflect on my feelings, and practice gratitude.
Avoid my phone for the first 30 minutes.
Tidy my room or make my bed.
Trying Cold Showers
TJ Power discussed the benefits of cold showers.
I aim to take at least one or two cold showers a week.
New experience for me, but I’m curious about its impact on energy levels and mental clarity.
Walking Without Distractions
Take a 20-minute walk without headphones, music, or distractions.
Focus on my goals for the day or week.
I already do this while traveling, but making it a habit could be beneficial.
Vision Board Session (January 5th)
Created a three-year vision plan and a three-year financial plan.
Main goals:
Invest more consistently.
Launch my YouTube channel to share my experiences with aspiring designers.
Publish a newsletter multiple times a week to provide value to others.
Wheel of Life Assessment
Categories: Physical health, mental health, family, romance, career, finance, personal growth, purpose, and contribution.
Rated myself on a scale of 1 to 10—never above a 5, usually around a 3 or 4.
Goal: Reach at least a 7 in each category by next year.
Quarterly Quests Approach
One of the most impactful parts of the session was when Ali Abdaal talked about quarterly quests. I have always set yearly goals, but this approach has led to procrastination. I often think I have time, which results in me not accomplishing much by the end of the year. Setting quarterly goals and following up on them resonated with me. I realized that I can adjust my goals every quarter to ensure they align with my current aspirations.
Ali Abdaal's Goal-Setting Framework
Focus on two main goals: one for WORK and one for LIFE.
Each goal has no more than 3 side quests.
One Main Quest: the prompt of setting a main quest or life quest is “My work main quest is _______ this is the single most important thing for me to accomplish this quarter because ________. To complete this quest I commit that by 31st March 2025, I will have:
_____________
____________
____________
To make sure I complete the quest I am going to
____________
_____________
____________
My current structure:
Three work side quests
Two life side quests
Resources for Goal Setting
Check out Ali Abdaal’s content he offers a wealth of content on productivity management and investment, which is something I am focusing on this year. It is essential to get your plans in order during the first quarter of the year so you can move forward effectively in the coming months:
Final Thoughts
Planning at the start of the year is crucial for progress.
See you next week!
Much love,
Lynda Jirigho.
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