And just like that...
The first month of the year is already behind us.
Whenever a new month rolls around, I often like to pause and consider
How do I feel about the progress I made last month?
Not Did I do everything I said I would?
Not Was I productive enough?
Just… How does it feel in my body and mind when I look back?
Lately, I’ve been reading a book that I've been finding helpful in this exact area: Feel-Good Productivity: How to Do More of What Matters to You by Ali Abdaal.
I loved one idea I read this week, especially as we reflect on January and look ahead to the rest of the year.
Ali talks about how many of us were taught to set SMART goals—specific, measurable, assignable, relatable and time-bound. While those can be useful, he points out that research has indicated something important: they often make us overly focused on the end result, while quietly pulling us away from our values, our energy, and how we actually want to live day to day.
Instead, he suggests setting NICE goals:
- Near-term – focused on the next step, not a distant finish line
- Input-based – centered on actions you can take, not outcomes you can’t fully control
- Controllable – within your influence
- Energizing – they give you a little spark instead of draining you
As I was reading this, I flipped open my Winter Journal and looked at my Dreams page—the dreams I wrote down to work towards this season, along with the simple tasks I listed beneath each one.
I realized, that this is how I've been setting my goals already this year and it's been working really well for me. I already feel as if I've made a good bit of "feel good" progress only one month in.
I've been choosing small, meaningful actions that feel doable now and it's made it easier to chip away at them.
As we step into February, you might gently ask yourself:
- Are my goals pulling me closer to what matters to me?
- Do the steps I’m taking feel energizing or exhausting?
- What’s one small, near-term action that would support the life I want this season?
I’ll be sharing more reflections from this book in the coming weeks, because so much of it pairs beautifully with slow, intentional living.
Here’s to progress that actually feels good.
With warmth,
Julie
P.S. If you missed it earlier and are still exploring what you want the retirement chapter of your life to look like, you can take the Retirement Profile Quiz here. It’s a simple way to gain clarity on how you’re wired—and what kind of lifestyle may support you best right now.
I'm choosing presence, not pressure.
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