10 Totally Achievable Personal Development Goals for 2025

If you’re looking to make some actually achievable goals for 2025, kudos! Now is the ideal time to do this — before the new year has even started.

Like Frank Sinatra said, “The best is yet to come.”

So, let’s get a self-growth plan in motion and start turning those gears.

What are the steps in achieving your own personal development?
What self-development goals should you consider?

Here are more than a few ideas if you’re ready to set some achievable goals in 2025.

10 Totally Achievable Goals for 2025

1. Budget better.

Financial pressure can definitely interfere with your quality of life.

It can pull you out of the moment and leave you in a stressed and anxious state the majority of the time. While half the battle here is finding ways to cope with stress, the other half is having a solid financial plan.

And if you’re in debt, you aren’t alone.

According to Ramsey Solutions, 77% of Americans are in some kind of debt, with the average household debt amounting to $104,215. This includes mortgages, student debt, credit cards, and personal loans.

Now, that you know you aren’t alone, it’s time to get a plan in place to help you climb your way out of this.

Even if you aren’t in debt, making a plan can help you accumulate funds and save for the future. It can also offer you peace of mind, which living paycheck to paycheck just doesn’t quite provide.

A lot of this comes down to making a budget.

Spend a few hours on this. Do your research first, then take action second. After you have your budgets nailed down, it’s all about sticking with your plan. If you need to, setting up certain accounts for spending only can help you allocate your cash and also set some aside so you don’t accidentally spend it.

Last but not least, consult with a financial advisor if you need to! There’s no shame in getting your finances in order. In fact, this process should empower you.

Our sister site at The Wealthy Thinker can get you started – Budgeting 101 – What Are The Basics of Budgeting You Should Know?→

2. Make a book list.

You’re trying to set up goals for yourself, but you’re struggling.

As part of your self-growth plan, you should definitely spend some time learning and exploring new ideas. This often means reading more.

At the same time, your book list can be purely for fun. Maybe you’ve realized you need to relax more and also disconnect from technology more. Reading can serve both of these purposes.

Get started with some of our top picks!

3. Create a cleaning schedule.

You know how you feel after you’ve cleaned up your space or decluttered?

You might feel lighter, maybe less stressed. Alright, so what if you could have that feeling more often?

This is where a cleaning schedule comes in!

Make this a regular occurrence. That way, you don’t have any physical clutter, which can also translate into less clutter in your mind.

Not sure how to do these big cleans?

The Marie Kondo method can help simplify your life. The method helps you select items to keep based on the ones that truly bring you joy. Anything that doesn’t is a giveaway or gets tossed into the throwaway pile.

Undeniably, each time you clean won’t consist of this huge overhaul. Yet, doing this once a season can ensure you minimize the “stuff” in your life, especially stuff you don’t need.

Plus, regular dusting and cleaning can really benefit your life overall, including your health and wellness. So, add that into your upcoming 2025 calendar. You won’t regret it.

4. Commit to taking the stairs.

If you’ve ever signed up for a new gym membership at the start of a new year and only stuck to a set routine for a few weeks or months, this one is for you.

It’s simple but totally achievable. All you need to do is commit to taking the stairs.

And this doesn’t mean climbing up 20, 30, or 40 flights and arriving at work in a sweaty mess. Instead, make a decision here. For example, you could commit to always walking up the stairs if there are five or fewer flights to take.

Once that gets easy, maybe you increase that number to seven. Find something that works, and make it a rule for yourself going forward.

5. Volunteer.

As you make that list of goals to set for yourself in this upcoming year, consider giving back. When you do, you will also experience inner growth.

Some ideas for volunteering include:

Helping at a soup kitchen
Donating your time to an animal shelter
Helping out your neighbor by mowing their lawn or shoveling their driveway
Babysit
Foster an animal

There are lots of options here! Choose one and set the date.

6. Follow a set sleep schedule.

The last few years has led many of us to lose track of routine — and even what day of the week it is. With the onset of 2025, some goals for yourself should include getting some kind of routine back on track. This might include setting a sleep schedule and sticking to it.

The National Sleep Foundation recommends that most adults get seven to nine hours of sleep per night. This usually means going to bed by 10:30 pm, so you can wake up rejuvenated for that 6am or 7am alarm.

To really nail this down, try setting a reminder on your phone for when you need to start getting ready for bed. This way, you’ll be less likely to stray!

7. Make your bed every morning.

This is another ultra-simple goal that can help set you up for success each day.

It gets you organized from the get-go, ensuring you get off on the right foot. As far as any goals for 2025 go, this one is entirely achievable most days.

Try doing this within a few minutes of waking up or after your morning coffee. Everything will feel that much more organized as you step forward into your day.

8. Exercise to feel good.

Most people exercise to “tone up” or “lose weight.” It’s frequently about aesthetic reasons.

However, let’s flip this upside down. As part of your self-growth plan, it’s time to look at exercise as a way to make yourself feel good.

Had a bad day? That’s a good excuse to head to that cycling class rather than skipping it.
Trying to get over a recent break-up? Hit the gym for increased confidence and feelings of empowerment.

Arguably, this is also all about finding a type of exercise that works for you and that you enjoy.

After all, staring at the clock can make any workout feel super long. Trying out different classes can help you find an activity that you enjoy and that makes you feel good (and improves your health!).

9. Start a journaling habit.

Our thoughts can weigh us down. Yet, they don’t have to!

As one of the very first steps in achieving personal development and growth, you’ll want to look inward and begin to understand yourself more. A great way to achieve this is by journaling regularly.

Journaling can help you sort through and organize your thoughts and emotions.

Not sure where to start? Try these 30 Inspiring Journal Prompts to Guide Your Deep & Personal Journey→

10. Make one meal a week at home.

You might already be well aware of the fact that making meals at home is often healthier than eating out.

You know exactly what goes into your food, without any hidden ingredients or additives. But not all of us are chefs.

While you don’t have to necessarily be a guru in the kitchen, learning to make a few different meals can help you stay on track with your health.

Find a few favorites that are easy and not too complex for a beginner chef. Aim to make a big batch of one meal or two each week, so you have one fresh meal and tons of leftovers that are healthy and satisfying.