70 Personal Goals Examples to Set for a Happy Life

No matter who you are or the path you’re on in life I can bet that you have some personal goals you’re working on.

The question is…

• Are you choosing the right goals for you?
• Are these personal goals achievable based on your mindset and circumstances today?

We all have goals but choosing goals we have a chance of achieving makes us that much more successful. In return, we feel good and set more goals we can attain for the future.

Below we’re taking a look at some examples of personal goals you can set, so I hope you find inspiration and motivation in the examples that follow.

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What are Personal Goals?

Personal goals come in all shapes and sizes and impact various parts of our lives.

There are many areas you can set personal goals:

• Family
• Work and career
• Personal development
• Health and wellness
• Financial
• Relationships
• Mental health

To find what you’re looking for more quickly, simply click on the above category to see the related personal goals.

Setting personal goals is a way you can look after yourself and help you live a life you truly love, a life you choose.

Working on your personal goals gives you something to focus on and changes your mindset so more opportunities come into your life.

70 Examples of Personal Goals for a Happy Life

Let’s jump into some examples of personal goals you can set for yourself.

Personal Family Goals

1. Have a sit-down family dinner night at least 3x per week

This dedicated family time is a great way to connect especially with everyone’s busy lives.

Use this time to take the TV off, remove smart devices from the table and have some simple family time.

Talk about your days, upcoming plans, and experiences you’ve each had.

2. Create a Family Bucket List

You can actually talk about this at the dinner table! Plan some things you’d all like to do as a family, big and small.

You can set this up for specific times, for example:

• Family summer bucket list
• Holiday bucket list
• Spring break bucket list

Or set it up by themes:

• Movie bucket list
• Vacation bucket list
• Camping Bucket list

3. Get Everyone on board with Family Chores

Honestly, need I say more with this one?!

Seriously though, you can create a chore chart that you stick to the fridge for the whole family.

This way everyone will know what they are responsible for.

4. Start a Monthly Family Games Night

Set up some fun family games and have a regular date to enjoy them.

Family Game Night Ideas:

• Play cards
• Charades
• Scavenger hunt
• Board games

5. Cook Together

This not only helps parents, but having kids in the kitchen can be a lot of fun, plus it gives them valuable skills for the future.

Getting kids in the kitchen also opens their minds up to trying different types of foods.

You’ll be amazed how much more they’ll try if they make it themselves!

6. Be Active Together

Get outside for hikes, go bike riding,  play at the park, go on a neighbourhood walk or go to the local pool.

Being active together is an important part of family time.

You’ll not only be setting a great example for your kids but you’ll also be improving the health of your whole family.

7. Become a ‘Greener’ Family

Make sure the whole family takes part in recycling, reducing waste, using eco-friendly products and reducing water usage.

To make this goal SMART you can plan a family challenge for a specific area you want to focus on.

For example: Eliminate all single-use plastic in the house within a month

8. Practice Nightly Gratitude

Before bed or at dinner time everyone shares what they are grateful for.

This is a positive way to find deeper happiness as a family.

It also is a wonderful opportunity to learn from one another.

9. Be Financially Smart Together

Set a goal of no eating out for the month, or everyone saving money together.

Teaching your kids about being smart with money is important and this goal will help them be happier and more successful in life as adults too.

Related: 25 Best Ways To Challenge Yourself To Grow

Personal & Professional Goals for Work

10. Be a Better Listener

Being a better listener is one of my favorite career goals. This is a skill that will improve your work relationships and also have a huge impact on the success of your career.

So, learn to be a better listener and thoughtful of your colleague’s opinions and feedback.

11. Show Up to Work 10 Minutes Early Every Day

10 minutes is a little thing, but showing you are ready to work and take on the day is a great way to show you are a dedicated employee.

12. Keep Your Cool

There may be times at work when you’re stressed beyond belief, however, reacting in an unprofessional manner doesn’t look good on you.

Instead, take a few minutes to calm down and approach the situation from a productive perspective.

13. Become an Expert in___

Being the go-to person in a specific area of your business not only positions you as a valuable employee, it also helps you build relationships if you’re helping others out.

14. Make a New Friend

While your job should always be the first priority, it’s good to get out and make friends at work.

A friend is someone you can go to lunch with after a long day or someone who lets you vent about annoying client situations.

We spend more hours at work than we do at home so it’s great to have a buddy who understands your situation.

15. Get a Promotion

Work with your boss to understand how you can work towards a promotion and set specific goals to help you get there. 

16. Attend Networking Events

Get to know people in your office and in your industry.

Doing this will not only help in your current role and company but will help you grow when it’s time to move on to another opportunity.

17. Get More Experience (By Volunteering)

There are plenty of volunteer opportunities at non-profit organizations, so if you have a skill you want to learn or get experience in, this could be a great opportunity.

When you’re looking for a new job or promotion, it looks extremely good to have volunteer experience on your resume – and even better if the skills you’re using there are transferrable.

18. Become a People Manager

Becoming a people manager can be a great career path for many. My recommendation (as a former people manager) is to ask your direct boss what skills you need to make this an achievable goal.

Listen to their feedback and make a plan from there.

19. Develop Your Leadership Skills (To Become A GREAT People Manager)

If you work for a large corporation, first look internally at leadership training that might be available.

Otherwise, you can work with a business coach – I highly recommend Clear The Noise Coaching. Many companies will also pay for coaches so ask!

21. Change Careers

In this day and age, it’s very normal to have more than one career in your life.

So, have a think about what you’d like as your 2nd or 3rd career and when you’re like to make the change!

If you take the assessment above this may give you the nudge you need to start planning.

22. Start A Side Hustle

There are so many side gig opportunities such as starting a blog, learning how to code or selling on Etsy.

I’ve personally done all of these things and will share some resources to help get you started:

• My free course on how to start a blog
• E-Printables Side Hustle Course ( to sell on Etsy) – check out their free workshop to get started!
• Skillshare – 1 month free access on all courses

23. Turn Your Side Hustle Into A Full-Time Gig!

Once you’ve been working on your side hustle for a while and begin to see your revenue increasing you can then make a plan to quit the traditional 9-5 and work for yourself!

I did this and I will never turn back 🙂

24. Get A Degree

If you want to get a degree or another degree start making a plan for this. Look into universities (both online and in-person), look into scholarship opportunities and make a financial plan.

25. Retire By 55

Or whatever age you have in mind.

Also, think about what retirement means for you.

• Is it travelling?
• Perhaps you want to volunteer?
• Or maybe you want to start a side hustle at this stage in life.

Whatever your plans are at retirement, this will factor into how to plan to make retirement available to you.

Personal Development Goals

26. Start a Self Love Journal

Try the 30-day self-love journal prompts in this cute self-love journal, designed to make you feel great and boost your self-esteem.

27. Start Dating Yourself!

That’s right, find dedicated time on a regular basis to do things you love all on your own!

Quality alone time is good for your mental well-being, body and soul.

👉 Check out these self date ideas and try one this weekend!

28. Learn About a Different Religion

Learning about different religions and cultures is a powerful way to gain a better understanding of other people’s perspectives in life.

29. Learn How to Say No

The best part about saying no more to people is you can begin to say yes to things that are important to you. Your loved ones, yourself.

Saying no can be difficult and whenever you’ve tried in the past I’m sure you’ve felt the guilt set in.

However, saying no in certain circumstances can help us live a more balanced, happier life.

30. Dedicate Time to People Who Matter

This is actually connected to learning how to say no.

When you say no you can create time for those who are most important to you.

Remember, the quality of your relationships is more important than the number of friends you have.

31. Create a Mindful Morning Routine

Being mindful in the morning is about being fully present in what you’re doing.

For example:

• As you drink your coffee focus on the warmth of the cup in your hands, the aroma and the taste to fully enjoy the experience
• Mindfully do something generous for someone else
• Go for a walk and focus on your 5 senses as you go

33. Start Living a Minimalist Lifestyle

Having less stuff not only declutters your home, but it also declutters your mind. 

Related: 10 Benefits of Minimalism to Improve Your Life

34. Read 30 Books This Year

Having a reading challenge for the year is a lot of fun and what a great way to feel accomplished.

Think about finding a buddy you can do this with to help you stay motivated and on track.

35. Travel

Traveling to different countries and meeting people from all walks of life has a big impact on how you see the world and yourself in it.

Sharing new experiences through travel opens your mind and allows you to appreciate the beauty in the world.

36. Create The Right Work-Life Balance

Aim to create balance in your life that allows you to be happy and successful in your career AND your personal life.

The goal here is working to life – not the other way around.

37. Practice Daily Gratitude

Look for ways to be grateful every day, whether that’s writing down what you appreciate, going on a gratitude walk or using journal prompts for reflection.

38. Create A Bucket List & Complete It

As with any goals this one is especially important to use the SMART goals method.

After all, you can create any kind of bucket list (life bucket list, travel bucket list, etc). However, for this goal try to write a bucket list you can work on over the next year.

This means you will create items on your list that are achievable within this timeframe.

This will keep you motivated.

Health and Wellness Personal Goals

39. Increase Your Overall Strength

Whether you’re lifting weights, doing core exercises or taking the bike, increasing your overall body strength helps you become fitter, feel stronger and live longer.

40. Improve Your Eating Habits

Finding new ways to have a cleaner diet has so many benefits: more energy, improved skin, a stronger immune system and better self-esteem. 

Think of ways you can add more healthy fruits and vegetables into your daily routine, while removing processed foods and see what a difference it makes to your overall well-being.

42. Eat Less Meat or Go Fully Plant-Based

Eating less meat is beneficial to your health and the environment.

A great way to reduce the meat you eat is to replace 3 meals a week with veggie alternatives.

Try meals like chickpea curries, lentil soup or tofu skewers.

43. Be Active on a Regular Basis

Go to the gym or find an alternative way you can be active. Aim for 3x a week to start.

Making this a regular part of your week (or even every other day) will not only make you feel better but will also improve your health and outlook on life.

44. Practice Self Care Every Day

What you do to practice self-care will be personal to you, but make sure you do a little something every day of the week.

Some examples of self-care are:

• Get enough sleep
• Do anything you love
• Pick flowers
• Stretch
• Practice daily affirmations

45. Learn to Meditate

Meditation is one of the most undervalued coping skills on the planet.

It helps relieve stress and anxiety, promote a happier, healthier state of mind and improve your overall quality of life.

46. Run a 5K, Marathon or 1/2 Marathon

Find something local you can sign up for and start training!

47. Maintain a Healthy Weight

This might mean losing a bit of weight, gaining weight or maintaining your current weight.

I highly recommend speaking with a nutritionist to help you create a healthy plan that’s good for your body and mind – as mindset is everything when it comes to weight.

👉 If you want to work on creating a healthy mindset when it comes to food, I highly recommend The Last Diet. It has changed the way I think about food and my body and I am so inspired by the writer – Sharoo Izadi, who shares her personal experiences with mindset and weight loss.

48. Prioritize Regular Doctors Visits

Prioritizing your health by seeing the doctor on a regular basis is so important – so make that commitment to yourself.

Personal Financial Goals Examples

49. Set up an Automatic Savings Plan

Automatic savings plans work best because you don’t have to think about it.

Whether you’re putting away $50 a month or $2000 a month the amount doesn’t actually matter.

Whatever amount you allocate, as time goes by you’ll be impressed by what you’ve saved.

Tip: Start with a smaller amount and then increase after a month when you’ve realized you can afford more. Or just stick to what works for you.

50. Give to Charity

If you can afford it, give to a charity (or charities) of your choice on a monthly basis. Giving back helps others and also makes you feel good.

What local charity do you think you can support?

51. Spend on Experiences, Not Things

Before spending money on another gadget or item you don’t need, ask yourself… is this going to add value to my life and bring me happiness?

If the answer is no then walk away.

Instead try spending your money on an experience: a concert, dinner at your favourite restaurant or a weekend getaway.

52. Reduce Your Debt

Are you putting money aside every month on your debt repayment?

If you’re already living more frugally and putting money aside for savings make sure you come up with a debt repayment plan with your bank.

Zero debt = peace of mind and this is definitely a goal that is important for everyone to have.

53. Increase Your Income

We all want to make more money, but setting a specific goal to make more will help you come up with a plan to make it a reality.

Some ideas to increase your income:

• Ask for a salary increase
• Find a higher-paying job
• Start a side hustle (dog walking, start a blog, babysitting, take online surveys)
• Sell items online (this will help you declutter your home too)
• If you have a strong social media following, become an influencer

54. Start Saving Money for Retirement

The earlier you start saving for retirement the better off you’ll be.

Look into opportunities to save with your company (many have profit-sharing plans), as well as setting up a government retirement savings account you can grow over time.

55. Create a Monthly Budget (& follow it!)

Creating a monthly budget is an easy way to reduce overspending and only purchase things you really need.

You can also allocate money to things like entertainment and gifts.

Sticking to a budget will help you save for a rainy day and reduce debt over time.

56. Have a Frugal State of Mind

Being frugal doesn’t mean being cheap, but it doesn’t mean you’re being mindful of what you’re buying and why you’re buying it, whether that’s food or an item for your home.

Tips for being frugal:

• Take advantage of coupons: Cut out deals from the newspaper, use the shopping apps on your phone and set up
• Find alternatives: Rather than buying a higher-priced item, look for a cheaper alternative or go for secondhand.

57. Save To Buy a House

Start saving as early as possible to buy your first home.

Learn about the real estate market in your area.

Understand how mortgages and interest rates work and think about the type of home that would work best for you.

For example, you may ultimately want a detached 4-bedroom, but your budget currently allows for a condo.

Manage your expectations and get into the real estate market as early as you can.

Relationship Goals

58. Learn how to fight

Meaning if you have a fight, understand what needs to be done to move on.

If this means letting your other half win (this time), so be it. If it means you need to communicate with them later, or sleep on it, fine.

Do what needs to be done for your relationship to thrive and move on.

59. Prioritize Romance

Holding hands, making love, candlelit dinners. Even if you’ve been together for eons, let’s make this happen.

A little romance does a world of good especially if you have been going through a rough patch.

60. Don’t Let Things Build Up

Add issues as they come along, so you don’t become resentful for something small that could have been dealt with early on.

61. Have a date night 2 times a month

Or once a month if that’s all your schedule allows. Make a goal of getting some dates on the calendar and do something you both love.

62. Take a 10-year anniversary honeymoon

This is especially important if you didn’t go on a honeymoon when you were first married.

64. See your friends regularly

Create some weekly or monthly friend time or pop by for an impromptu visit.

Spending quality time with friends can be simple. And if you can’t always visit, pick up for the phone for a regular chat.

Personal Goals For Mental Health

65. Know Your Personal Boundaries and Stick To Them

Setting personal boundaries can help protect yourself from being taken advantage of as well as give you space for things you love.

Think about what your boundaries are at work, at home, and in your relationships so you can stay true to yourself.

66. Do Something You Love Every Day

Allocating time for yourself is so important when it comes to supporting your mental health and doing something that brings you joy daily is what life is all about!

67. See A Therapist Regularly

You can see therapists, counsellors and social workers online too. Using an app like BetterHelp is a great place to start…

68. Dress To Feel Good

Wear something that makes you feel good every day – even on those lazy days. It really can impact your mood for the better when you feel comfortable in your own skin.

69. Cut Out Or Reduce Social Media Usage

According to HelpGuide.org… “Multiple studies have found a strong link between heavy social media and an increased risk for depression, anxiety, loneliness, self-harm, and even suicidal thoughts.”

So, cut out/reduce social media and think about more healthy ways you can spend your time.

How to Set Personal Goals

Before we jump into how to set personal goals, a little reminder…

All goals you focus on setting don’t need to be huge. By focusing on smaller goals you also have the ability to achieve them more quickly.

By conquering small goals one at a time you’ll find that you’re actually making a big impact on your life.

Setting SMART Goals

I’m sure you’ve heard of smart goals before, but here’s a recap of what they mean.

A SMART goal is a specific, measurable, achievable, relevant and time-bound goal.

Final Thoughts

Setting goals for your personal growth and happiness is a great way to figure out what you need in life.

Whether it’s eating more fruits and vegetables, giving back or spending money on experiences rather than things, these examples of personal goals should help you get started thinking about how best to live the life that makes YOU happy!

What Personal Goal Are You Working on Right Now?

Share in the comments section to inspire others!

Related Personal Goals Resources To Inspire You:

• 9 Types of Goal Setting Based on Different Areas of Life
• 60 Fun Summer Goals To Set & Achieve
• How To Visually Plan For The Future: 6 Ideas
• Free Printable SMART Goals Worksheet
• 70 Good Daily Habits to Improve Your Life
• 125 Best Life Goals Examples To Set & Achieve