"I can’t be the only one who sets wildly ambitious goals at the start of a new year, only to find my enthusiasm quickly evaporating by February. I’ve made all the classic over-promises: committing to working out six times a week (sure), eating greens with every meal (a hard sell), and taking a hot girl walk each day (until the first icy winter morning). Following through isn’t always my strength, but when it comes to my career, I’ve historically been all in. Whether it’s earning promotions, managing teams, or tackling bigger projects, achieving career goals has always been my comfort zone.
Then, in 2024, everything changed. My career took a backseat for the first time since I graduated eight years ago. Between navigating health challenges, selling our house, and preparing to welcome a baby, life’s curveballs forced my career into a supporting role. And while I’m proud of prioritizing what matters most, I’m also an unapologetically ambitious person. It feels strange to have ended a year without securing the career milestones I’m used to.
With that in mind, I’m determined to strike a healthier balance in 2025. My goal isn’t to dive back into overdrive but to realign my career ambitions with my new reality as a working mom. Here’s my game plan for bringing my career goals back into focus while keeping everything else in check.
Prioritize Balance
Since stepping into motherhood, I know my career aspirations need an update. The days of pulling all-nighters or mentoring a full roster of colleagues aren’t feasible anymore, and that’s OK. (The time will come when I can take those things on again!) Instead, I’m focusing on getting clear about where I want to be by the end of 2025 and how my new family values will shape how I get there. For example, instead of working late to go above and beyond in all areas, I want to identify priorities and get them done within 9 to 5. I also plan to limit work extracurriculars to only those that will help me reach my goals (more on that later!). I hope that by focusing on efficiency while at work, I will be able to deliver strong results without eating into my personal life. Balance, not burnout, is paramount for me in 2025.
Set fewer goals
Clarity is key, which is why I’ve been swearing by SMART goals (specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound) for the past decade. This year, I’m opting to chase one big career goal and two smaller, more achievable ones to match my bandwidth.
My top priority is earning a promotion by the end of 2025, which I’m on track to do, and subsequently increasing my salary by 10 percent. To make it happen, I plan to align with my manager early on, map out the skills I need to showcase, and do some market research on industry benchmarks to strengthen my case. On a smaller scale, I’m planning to secure a new mentor in my field by midyear and meet with them quarterly. I also want to monetize my content creation side hustle by October.
By defining these goals now, I’m giving myself plenty of time to break them into smaller, manageable steps and focus on steady progress. This will make sure I can tackle each task realistically without feeling overwhelmed. These goals are ambitious enough to keep me motivated while remaining realistic about the fact that I have a lot more to juggle.
Revamp my online presence
I used to excel at maintaining a polished LinkedIn profile, regularly sharing wins and publications to stay top of mind. But let’s just say that habit didn’t survive 2024 and was the first thing to go when life got busy. (Fun fact: My last LinkedIn post was on January 8, 2024.) This year, I’m refocusing on my professional brand by consistently sharing updates and leveraging AI tools like ChatGPT to simplify the process. Think: helping to organize my posting ideas or putting together a sample posting schedule to keep me accountable.
“By focusing on efficiency while at work, I will be able to deliver strong results without eating into my personal life.”
From celebrating career milestones to showcasing my freelance work (including projects like this article!), I’m committed to staying engaged with my network to help with future opportunities and maintain the personal brand I’ve built. Not to mention, I’ve missed the boost of confidence that comes with putting my work out there.
Expand my network
Pre-pandemic me was a networking queen, often attending multiple events a week (a week!). Those connections have shaped my career, as most of my roles have come from networking with someone in the company. However, my networking took a major hit during and after the pandemic, and in 2024, I didn’t attend a single event—a streak I’m definitely ready to change.
While I don’t see myself ever returning to multiple events a week now that I have a young family, I plan to attend at least three meet-ups in 2025. They don’t need to be formal events—grabbing a coffee with a mutual connection or setting up a call with that new grad who messaged me on LinkedIn totally counts! The goal is to get back into the swing of meeting people, hearing about updates in my field, and finding opportunities to help others (because remember, networking isn’t just for when you need something!). Prioritizing and building my network again will not only keep me informed about industry trends but also open doors to exciting career advancements and collaborations I might not have discovered otherwise.
Find new ways to manage my time
Balancing a career, freelance work, a young family, and my dogs’ schedules (they’re high maintenance!) is no small feat, so 2025 is going to be all about optimizing my time. In addition to my trusty paper planner, I’m rolling out some new tools to stay on top of everything. I’ve recently been using a shared Google calendar for family logistics, leveraging time-blocking for focused work sessions, and adopting Notion and OneNote to streamline my content deadlines and work projects. It took a bit of time to set up, but by staying organized and proactive, I’m setting myself up to tackle everything on my plate while avoiding the chaos of trying to remember everything myself.
Find accountability
Over the years, I’ve realized that my tendency to abandon goals often stems from a lack of accountability. It’s easy to give up on things when you’re the only one who knows you were trying to do them in the first place! This year, I’m sharing my career priorities with friends, family, and colleagues. The more people who know what I’m working toward, the more likely I’ll stick to it—and their encouragement can help on the tough days. Beyond sharing my goals, I’m also going to document them in a visible place in my home office, like a shared calendar or a vision board, so I’m constantly reminded of what I’m striving for. Accountability isn’t just about external support; it’s also about creating systems that hold me responsible for showing up.
“Accountability isn’t just about external support; it’s also about creating systems that hold me responsible for showing up.”
Schedule check-ins
No reset plan is complete without regular reflection, and I never pass up an opportunity for some thoughtful self-assessment. I’m proactively scheduling monthly coffee dates with myself to evaluate my progress toward my career goals and tweak anything that isn’t working. These check-ins are as much about celebrating the little wins as they are about course correction—because acknowledging even small successes helps me to keep the momentum going. I also plan to journal during these solo dates, tracking what’s working, what’s not, and what I’ve learned, so I can adjust my approach with each passing month. Reflecting consistently helps me avoid the trap of drifting off course without realizing it, which was exactly what happened in 2024.
Look ahead
2024 wasn’t my most productive year professionally, but I’ve chosen not to look back and dwell on it. It gave me clarity about what truly matters and how I want to move forward in the new year, which is already proving to be really beneficial to me, my family, and my goals. By aligning my career goals with everything I’ve got going on in my personal life, I’m confident 2025 will be another year of work success—without sacrificing my priorities outside of work. Plus, with balanced ambition, a dedication to learning, and every intention to celebrate each win along the way, I know I’m set up for major wins.
Devin Cleary Gooden, Contributing Finance Writer
Devin is a Toronto-based content creator and marketer with 10 years of experience writing about finance and career tips for women. She is passionate about helping women understand finances so they can create the life they want to have, whatever that may look like. She is currently a senior manager of content at a fintech company, where she works on websites, emails, social media, videos, and podcasts.