Maybe you’re ringing in the new year and trying to figure out how to make that hefty resolution into manageable bite-sized monthly goals or maybe you’re trying to take control of your life in general. These monthly goal ideas are perfect for organizing your life and taking control.
If you’re anything like me goals make you happy and seeing them completed spur you towards action to finishing more.
Well, I recently wrote a post on How to Set Monthly Goals and for me, it was great because I remembered techniques that I otherwise had forgotten.
In it, I helped you to find various ways to set monthly goals and stick to them, but I never provided any actual monthly goal ideas to go alongside them. Silly me.
So, I decided to do that now.
This post is two-fold: one with monthly goal ideas in calendar view and another based on topics of interest. Hopefully one of them appeases you – or many across them both.
Therefore, this post is here to help you come up with monthly goal ideas that work for you in any area of your life or just because a month rolled around and you’re interested in what that month can offer you. Enjoy!
Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, which means I’ll receive a commission if you purchase through my link, at no extra cost to you.
This post is all about monthly goal ideas.
Table of Adventures
Setting SMART Goals
Before you do anything with any of these goal ideas, it’s important that you remember about SMART Goals.
Well, what’s a SMART goal, Alex? Glad you asked.
It’s actually a mnemonic acronym that stands for Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Timed. When you create goals like this you place yourself at an advantage as you work towards accomplishing them.
For some people, it can feel like you’re being pressured but in reality, creating quantifiable goals can be really motivating. So if you’re one of those people, take it for a whirl and see where it gets you.
Alright, here goes!
Health + Fitness Monthly Goal Ideas
- Break a squat record in under 31 days.
- Walk for 10,000 steps daily.
If you struggle to do this, here are some ways to get your daily dose of 10,000 steps:
10,000 Steps a Day | 35 Creative Ways to Get More Steps
9 Creative Ways to Get Your Daily 10,000 Steps
- Workout every day.
- Drink your body weight (in ounces) in water.
- Do a daily 1-minute plank challenge.
- An entire month without sugar.
This has been a goal of mine repeatedly. I really love sugar so when I feel like I’ve been eating too much of it, I put myself on a “no-more” challenge and it helps to reset those cravings!
- Try out a number of other 30 day challenges to improve your overall fitness. Remember to take before and after photos to see your progress!
A few ideas to get your brain juices flowing:
Financial Monthly Goal Ideas
- Save $25 every day for an entire month.
- Be creative and come up with as many free dates with family, friends, and (potential) lovers.
You’ll be surprised by how much money you can save and how fun it can actually be when you really think about an activity to do that is practically free.
A lot of museums are free, going to the park and coming up with a picnic treat is easy enough, and using items in your house to create with are some starting places.
- Track your monthly expenses down to the penny.
- Think of ways to increase your income streams and research ways to implement them!
- Have a no-spend month (on things except essentials of course).
Related: How to Set Monthly Goals
Self Care Monthly Goal Ideas
- Prioritize your basic habits every day.
It may seem like a no-brainer, but sometimes we all have moments where we neglect ourselves out of exhaustion, depression, or any number of things in between. By prioritizing your needs you’re putting yourself first in situations where you ought to.
Brush your teeth, comb your hair, shower every day – they’re important because they keep you healthy. So, remember to take better care of yourself and your body will take care of you.
And when you have moments when you don’t want to? Get help. It’s imperative that you not only take care of your body but also your mental health. Be well, friend.
- Get a full 8 hours of sleep nightly.
- Binge a movie or TV series just because you need it.
- Take care of your skin morning and night.
I am a staunch believer in having a skincare routine that is personal to you and I really believe in finding what works for you. But did you know that it takes your skin some time to renew itself? It’s why when you use a product and you don’t see it get better in an instant you can become discouraged.
So try a new routine and see where it gets you – and give it time, babe.
- If it’s warm where you are, take a lunchtime stroll to get some fresh air and stretch your legs.
Personal Development Monthly Goal Ideas
- Practice your time management skills.
This one can seem pretty difficult if you really struggle with time management. But if you work on this skill in pieces your time management will collectively get better.
There are some easy ways to do this:
- Write down your tasks daily.
- Only write down your top 3 tasks and work through those. Once you finish, add 3 more.
- Utilize programs such as Flora and FocusKeeper to keep you on track and away from your phone
- Turn on your in-phone time apps (like the Downtime function on Apple phones) to shut down apps before you wake up in the morning so you’re not distracted by notifications
- Learn how to respond and not to react.
The way I just cringed when I wrote this means this is something I need to work on, too. But I remember someone told me that when you listen to respond rather than to react you’ll be a better communicator and a better person because you’ve taken the time out to listen first and respond later.
It’s better to build that foundation now and work on it consistently.
- Learn four (or whatever works) new recipes.
- If you’re always following a recipe (or are generally not great at this): be a creative cook and/or baker by coming up with original recipes. Hopefully, they taste yummy, fingers crossed!
It’s a great way to learn techniques that you otherwise don’t know and you’ll learn how different spices combine to create tasty concoctions. You’ll either find this really inspiring or superbly frustrating.
- Do something that scares the hell out of you.
Jia Jiang did 100 days of rejection and he learned how to overcome his fear while documenting it on YouTube and then writing about it in his book, Rejection Proof. I’m not saying you have to do this, but maybe a 30-day version might not hurt?
Related: 100 Life Goal Ideas That Are Pure Genius
Knowledge Monthly Goal Ideas
- Read a full book (or 3) – yep, cover to cover.
- Start – or finish – a certification.
You can find some interesting certifications – free and paid – on platforms like Coursera, ALISON, Harvard Extension School, or EdX.
I’m currently taking Google’s Project Management certification on Coursera and it’s informative and a lot of fun. So, if you’re in a place of trying to learn something new that may be a great way to do so.
- Develop your note-taking skills.
I, for one, am not the greatest note-taker. I say this as someone who has struggled to finish their degree that it can be a developed skill though. If you’re a high-schooler going into college take the summer before your first semester to learn how to take notes well.
It’s so important that you do (and also study skills in general!).
Giving Back Monthly Goal Ideas
- Volunteer once a week.
- Purge your closet of things you don’t need and donate them to a homeless shelter.
Career Monthly Goal Ideas
- Research new business opportunities.
- Work on how you’ll execute those new business opportunities.
- Say yes to challenging projects that you otherwise would shy away from.
- Go to networking events.
You can find events by Googling “networking events” or directly checking out eventbrite.com or your local Chamber of Commerce.
If you’re unaware of the power of networking, I would 100% suggest you check out The Power of Network (TEDxNMU).
- Improve your typing speed.
- Work on achieving a better work-life balance.
Home + Personal Monthly Goal Ideas
- Share your unfiltered thoughts with one person for 30 days.
- Focus on completing a household project that you’ve been putting off for months (even years).
That could be putting up those curtains or that cool mug wall that you’ve been dying to show off to your friends.
- Take 30 days to clear out a cluttered closet, basement, or room.
- Learn a new small habit (ex: stop smoking, cleaning dishes, spreading your bed, stop biting your nails, etc).
- Spend more time playing with your kids.
Even 5 minutes more of play with your children can really help you to bond. Plus, you’ll (hopefully) learn patience and your creative mind will think like a child again. We could all use a childlike mind every once in a while.
- Wake up your significant other with a kiss every day.
- Decorate (or redecorate) a room.
Related: How to Set Monthly Goals That Work
Spiritual Monthly Goal Ideas
- Keep a daily gratitude log or daily journal.
There are so many benefits to doing so, which you can find here.
- Invest in your spirituality by taking a 30 Day Challenge.
Alright, now that the categories are done, how about we dive into actual monthly goal ideas based on the calendar? These may help you to keep in tune with seasonal activities or even remember bucket list items that only take place during specific times of the year (like making a snowman choir with your kid’s type thing).
- Meditate for 5 minutes.
- Attend services more often.
I wanted to add in these calendared monthly goal ideas if only because I have a habit of wanting to do something every month of the year, but I tend to forget until it’s right up on my butt or it has passed me by a few days.
It totally sucks, but these calendar-dependent ideas should help you to remember some goals (or bucket list items if that’s what you want to call it) you might want to get done at least once in your life.
January Monthly Goal Ideas
January is the month of “The Fresh-Start Effect.” Basically, we all decide to start over this month as though other months don’t have that ability. As such, maybe you’re not trying to start something, but trying to continue (you go, girl!) on whatever you’re already doing in your life.
- Participate in the Walt Disney World Run Disney Running Events.
The January Run Disney event stretches across 4 days with 5k, 10k, half, and full marathons. This is the main running event, although they have a few others in March and another in April.
- Spend time at a museum.
My absolute favorite is the American Museum of Natural History in New York City.
- Read a few personal development books to get your New Year off to that fresh start.
Related: 11 Great Books to Kickstart Your New Year
February Monthly Goal Ideas
- Work on a habit that you’re struggling to get under control.
February is the perfect month for this because you’ll have 28 days to try to perfect it instead of 30 or 31. It’ll take some pressure off and you’ll feel more at ease.
- Go see Punxsutawney Phil make his end-of-winter prediction.
- Learn more about Civil Rights as America celebrates Black History Month.
Take a trip to the National Museum of African American History and Culture in DC or go to your local library and read up on books from black authors.
March Monthly Goal Ideas
- Start spring cleaning.
If you’re looking for some resources to make your clean feel worthwhile, check out A Cultivated Nest’s list for spring cleaning challenges and printables.
- If you’ve got an early Spring Break, plan for that ahead of time.
- Celebrate with your favorite Irishman for St. Patrick’s Day.
And I mean really celebrate. Play hooky, barhop, and live life for the day.
Related: 100 Life Goals Ideas That Just Feel Right
April Monthly Goal Ideas
- Go on vacation for Spring Break.
Try to find destinations that won’t be saturated with a bunch of college kids (or do, they have a lot of fun) and plan ahead.
- Go out into your community and help clean up a park for Earth Day (22nd).
- Create some delicious spring bakes.
Rhubarb is a fantastic fruit to bake with for the Spring, but here are some sites that have compiled lists for you to try:
May Monthly Goal Ideas
- Celebrate Star Wars Day (4th).
May the Fourth Be With You by celebrating the Star Wars Trilogy by watching movies, making some delicious treats from the series, and maybe even heading to Galaxy’s Edge at Hollywood Studios.
- Celebrate Mother’s Day for an entire weekend.
Whether you are socially distanced or otherwise, your mom deserves the best that this day offers. If you’re in the market for ideas, this article should do: How to Plan the Ultimate Mother’s Day Weekend for Your Mom.
- Visit the Farmer’s Market.
This may not seem like a goal for some people, but around here Farmer’s Markets aren’t open all year round. So with May being such a warm month, it’s also the best time to get amazing fresh vegetables and fruits.
June Monthly Goal Ideas
The sun is finally shining for longer and the days are officially longer as we welcome in Summer, yay! But how many times have you had a long list of things you wanted to do for the season and you just forget until it’s almost Fall?
Yeah, me too.
- Visit a vineyard and do a wine tasting tour.
- Treat your dad to a party in his honor for Father’s Day.
- Go strawberry picking!
Every single year I want to go strawberry picking and every single year I fail to go strawberry picking. It’s a fun little cycle I’ve got going on, but hopefully, you don’t forget to do it. Unlike me. 😂
Related: Setting Monthly Goals Is Easy, Swear
July Monthly Goal Ideas
The best month of the year, July has the best that summer has to offer. Great weather, fantastic opportunities to do outdoor activities, and my birthday. I am wholly biased and I don’t care.
- Go to an outdoor concert.
I’ve personally never been and it has been a goal of mine for so long. I feel like July is the perfect time because you can really soak in the summer sun and do a picnic all at once.
Sounds like a win-win to me!
- Road trip around the USA for a little bit.
Not only do you get to get away from the office for a while, but you’re also seeing the best that the United States has to offer. Sure, you may not be able to see it all, but just being able to see something you haven’t seen before can be enough of a taste to get you to do it again next year.
And if you are going on that road trip, don’t forget to check out The Road Trip Essentials Checklist. You really don’t want to leave behind anything if you can help it.
- Trot alongside some llamas.
You may think this is weird, but it’s not! Here in Connecticut, you can go on an amazing llama walk at Rowanwood Farm or visit some cute alpacas Lavender Hill Farm. So, if you’re in the market for this kind of thing, here’s your shot!
August Monthly Goal Ideas
I feel bad for the month of August. Nothing happens during this month for some reason, but it doesn’t mean that you can’t have fun and close out the summer with a bang!
- Check out a street festival.
In New York, we have a ton of food festivals, and not only that we sometimes have street performer festivals as well. So make it a day and enjoy all that your city or town has to offer you.
- Go to as many theme parks as you can before the weather gets cold.
- Go camping before the kids go back to school.
Don’t forget the s’mores and the bug repellant!
Related: Fun End of Summer Bucket List
September Monthly Goal Ideas
- Take your family on an Apple Picking photoshoot.
It’s a great way to get into that fall mood and to have some cherished memories to go along with it.
- Visit the Big E.
The Big E is the only multi-state fair that showcases great entertainment, food, musicians, and more. It’s a great way to get away for a day and have a lot of fun.
- Get through some fall cleaning before the holidays go into full effect.
October Monthly Goal Ideas
Personally, this time of year is when all the fun really begins. From Halloween to Thanksgiving to Christmas joy seems to permeate the very fabric of the air around us and that to me means a wealth of fun to be had.
- Do some leaf-peeping.
There’s something so special about taking a drive or a stroll to see the leaves changing. October is the perfect month for it as the air is crisp and the leaves are in full swing of losing their chlorophyll.
You could even combine this with going on a day hayride and picking out some pumpkins, too.
- Go through a corn maze at night.
Wear the right shoes, have a flashlight, and have fun making your way through to the other side.
- Throw a Halloween party!
October isn’t October without some semblance of spooky season now, is it? Exactly.
If you’re unsure how to do this, I serve up some tips for How to Plan An Adult Halloween Party that is sure to win you a lot of brownie points with your friends.
November Monthly Goal Ideas
- Get a jump start on Christmas shopping.
Honestly, if you’re anything like me, you try to be as prepared as possible but every year you end up going shopping with one or two weeks left before Christmas day. So maybe your goal is to do the shopping early instead!
- Host Thanksgiving and come up with a unique menu.
My family is from Jamaica so we don’t do a traditional American Thanksgiving. So, no turkey. We’re big on Caribbean cuisine and trying new flavors that we otherwise wouldn’t try for the holidays. It’s a great way to do that and to see what dishes become new favorites.
- Write an entire book!
Since an entire book is considered to be 50,000 words or more you can participate in Nanowrimo by writing 1,667 words per day to achieve this goal.
Related: 45 Ways to Motivate Yourself Everyday
December Monthly Goal Ideas
We’ve reached the end of the calendar road, but we’ve got three more ideas for monthly goals to end your year with a bang.
- Send a holiday card to your close friends and family.
- Be fearless and sing Christmas carols for your neighbors.
- Create a gingerbread village from scratch.
I remember once watching a show where these older ladies created huge ornate gingerbread houses. They would spend months on them in the hopes that they would win “Best in Show.”
You don’t have to do all of that, but maybe just maybe you could create a small little village just for you and your family instead. You can be the “Best in Show” with them.
Ready, Set, Go!
I hope that these ideas for monthly goals have inspired you to go above and beyond in your search for goals that you can aspire to have at any point of the year.
It doesn’t have to be New Year when the “Fresh Start Effect” is in full swing. Take life by the balls, swing for the fences, and live your life how you want to live it. Good luck, beautiful!
Interested in more? We love to see it:
100 Life Goals Ideas That Are Pure Genius
45 Ways to Motivate Yourself Everyday