My Annual Compass: My Method for Setting Goals for the Year

The year is coming to an end, and with it comes that moment of pause that invites us to look back, celebrate our achievements, and, of course, begin actively planning for the future.

For me, the end of the year is the perfect opportunity for introspection and planning. And of all the methods I’ve tried over the years, there’s one that serves as a true compass for maintaining balance and direction.

My method is based on dividing our lives into six key categories. This approach, without being overly ambitious, is clear enough to give us an overview of what we want to work on and where we want to focus our energy.

The Map of the 6 Categories

The magic of this system lies in the fact that it forces us to be intentional with the time and energy we invest. By assigning clear goals to each dimension, we ensure that progress in one doesn’t mean neglecting another.

Here are my six categories, which each person can adapt to their own needs:

1. Financial: This focuses on planning and financial health. It ranges from the strategic management of personal finances to investing and achieving the stability that allows us to make decisions with peace of mind and freedom.

2. Well-being: This area is the foundation of everything. It includes taking care of our physical health, self-care habits, quality rest, and the mindful management of mental and emotional energy. What do we need to feel vibrant and centered?

3. Personal Development: This is where we place continuous, self-directed learning. We’re talking about acquiring a new skill, deepening self-awareness, reading, or reflection that drives our leadership beyond the demands of work.

4. Professional: The goals that define our career path: leading key projects, forging new partnerships, or learning something new. This is the dimension of excellence and professional impact.

5. Family and Community: This combines nurturing close relationships (family and friends) with contributing to the community. How do we nurture our most important relationships? And, at the same time, how do we make a positive impact on the community? For many years now, it has been very important to me to make an impact on the issues I consider most relevant, and this category has become central to my life.

6. Travel and Art & Culture: This category aims to fuel curiosity and broaden our perspectives. It includes planning new travel experiences, exploring other cultures, and dedicating time to art, music, or reading that broadens our view of the world.

The Power of a Holistic View

I’ve been applying this methodology for years, and the result is a sense of conscious progress and greater balance.

Here’s a practical tip: for many years, I did this on paper, using a dedicated notebook. Now, for several years now, I’ve centralized it in Notion. It’s my end-of-year ritual. The tool doesn’t matter—but the intention does.

To help you get started, I’m sharing a Notion template with the exact layout I use and have been refining over the years. I invite you to duplicate it and adapt it to your goals!

And precisely because life isn’t linear, one thing I really like about this method is that it’s 100% flexible. Goals change throughout the year: some are added, others are postponed, and you can even add categories if you discover a new focus. The point is for it not to be something that limits us, but rather a guide that propels us forward, allowing us to choose with greater certainty where to focus our energy. Life has its own way of working, of course, and sometimes we meet our goals to a greater or lesser extent, but having this guide helps immensely.

If we’re wrapping up the year feeling that we only made progress in one area—but at the expense of our well-being or family life—it’s time to adjust our compass. This method gives us the structure to design a year where success is measured across all dimensions of our lives. I invite you to take advantage of this closing of the cycle to apply these categories (or whatever ones you prefer!) and create a roadmap that inspires you.

Final Reflection

Setting goals in a holistic way is an act of personal leadership. It means taking responsibility for our own path and actively defining the kind of year we want to build.

See you next time!

P.S.: If you’re interested in cultural awareness and how to empower multicultural teams, I invite you to follow me on Substack. Subscribe here and get every new post in this series instantly. 🚀🌍