Every year, I set concrete New Year’s goals. Lose weight. Cycle 200 km. Stick to a strict routine. These goals are clear, measurable, and achievable. But looking back, I often wonder—what impact did they really have on my life? Did they make my days more fulfilling? Did they bring me lasting joy?
Why I Chose “Be Mindful” as My Goal for 2025
As I grow older, I realize how precious time is. Every moment spent is a moment I can never get back. Lately, my daily routine has been filled with long commutes:
- Monday: 2.5 hours
- Tuesday: 2.5 hours
- Wednesday: 5 hours
- Thursday: 5 hours
That’s over 15 hours a week spent just moving from place to place. And what do I do with the rest of my time? Too often, I find myself engaging in activities that don’t add meaning to my life:
- Dumb scrolling through social media, consuming content without purpose.
- Re-watching old TV series instead of exploring something new.
- Drinking sweet drinks even though I don’t enjoy them much.
- Eating too much simply because I’m bored.
The Problem with Meaningless Actions
It’s not that I lack goals—it’s that my time is often spent on things that don’t matter. It’s easy to get caught up in habits that bring temporary comfort but no real fulfillment. That’s why, in 2025, I want to focus on being mindful.
The Challenge: Mindfulness is Unmeasurable
The hardest part of this goal is that it’s not as straightforward as “lose 5 kg” or “cycle 200 km.” There’s no simple metric to track mindfulness. So how can I know if I’ve achieved it?
I plan to define success by asking myself daily:
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Did I spend my time intentionally today?
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Did I fully engage in what I was doing, rather than going through the motions?
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Did I choose activities that enrich my life?
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Did I reduce time spent on things that don’t bring me joy or growth?
Rather than focusing on numbers, I want to focus on awareness. If I can go to bed each night knowing that I spent my time in a way that matters to me, then I’ll consider this goal a success.
This year, instead of chasing concrete milestones, I’ll be chasing something deeper: a life lived with purpose, awareness, and intention.