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Mai Chi Bao
Mai Chi Bao

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๐ŸŽฏ Track, Plan, Succeed: A Guide to 2025 Goal-Setting

Table of Contents:

This post is based on my personal experience and is primarily written for my own reference. However, feel free to explore and skip to the parts that interest you. Furthermore, I would like to discuss with you about other techniques, please comment to let me know what you think.

Key Takeaways

  • Using Microsoft To Do for planning in 2025.
  • Techniques for creating and organizing plans.
  • Techniques for reviewing plans and habits using a habit-tracking app.

Making a To-Do List

Microsoft To Do is an app that helps you create and manage to-do lists across multiple devices. It's free, simple to use, and highly efficient.

What I Love About Microsoft To Do:

  • Simplicity: The app is intuitive and user-friendly.
  • Lightweight: It doesnโ€™t slow down your device.
  • Fast Syncing: Syncs seamlessly across devices.

With this app, I can create to-do lists for each day or task and configure due dates, reminders, and priority levels. Here's an example of what my to-do list looks like:

Additional Features:

You can integrate this app with other applications. For instance, my chatbot project can:

  • Recognize voice inputs.
  • Separate notes into tasks.
  • Sync directly with Microsoft To Do.

How to Plan

When planning for 2025, I separate goals into two categories:

  1. Measurable Goals โ€” e.g., "Build an app," "Run 21 km."
  2. Non-Measurable Goals โ€” e.g., "Be more fit," "Learn more."

Step-by-Step Planning Process:

  1. Convert Non-Measurable Goals Into Measurable Tasks:\
    For instance, if the goal is "Be fit," I break it down into measurable tasks like "Go to the gym at least 3 times a week." Use a habit tracker to monitor progress. Remember, focusing on systems rather than goals is what drives consistent progress.

  2. Break Down Measurable Goals:\
    For measurable goals like "Build an app," break them into smaller, actionable tasks. Here are some tips:

  • Set Due Dates and Reminders: Ensure tasks have deadlines.
  • Daily To-Do List Review: Spend time thinking about tasks to complete each day.
  • Mousetrap Actions: Include small, annoying actions that compel you to complete the main task. For example, if you need to clean your house, start by wearing glovesโ€”a small step that forces you into action.
  • Prioritize Tasks: Mark critical tasks and tackle them first.

Reviewing Your Plan and Habits

To review plans and habits, I use the app Loop Habit Tracker. This app is free, simple, and open-source.

Features of Loop Habit Tracker:

  • Types of Habits:
    • Yes/No Habits: e.g., "Did you exercise today?"
    • Measurable Habits: e.g., "How many hours did you spend on deep work today?"
  • Prioritization: Use color codes to identify and prioritize important habits.

Hereโ€™s what it looks like:


By combining tools like Microsoft To Do for planning and Loop Habit Tracker for reviewing, you can create an effective system to achieve your goals in 2025.

More

If youโ€™d like to learn more, be sure to check out my other posts and give me a like! It would mean a lot to me. Thank you.

Top comments (1)

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mrzaizai2k profile image
Mai Chi Bao

The mousestrap actions. What a tip ๐Ÿ‘๐Ÿ˜‚๐Ÿ‘