Tara Leigh is a certified life coach, certified health coach, and success strategist who’s passionate about helping you simplify your life, declutter your mind, build better relationships, and create space for what matters most.
As a life coach, I’ve seen time and time again that the key to creating a great year isn’t about doing more; it’s about doing less. It’s about being intentional with your time and focus, letting go of the illusion of control, and narrowing in on what’s truly most important. Let’s dive into how to make 2025 a transformative year by shifting your mindset, refining your focus, and setting yourself up for success from day one.
Doing less to focus on what matters most
I know many of you are in the habit of multitasking, pushing yourself hard, overbooking your time, and believing that the more you do, the more success you’ll have. I get it. Society seems to reward us for being busy, but being busy doesn’t mean we’re being productive. It doesn’t guarantee fulfillment either. Isn’t it time to stop spreading yourself so thin and start laser-focusing on the areas that truly move the needle forward? That’s when the magic happens—when you back off the (misaligned) hustle and get into the flow.
Ask yourself: What are the three things that matter most to you? Is it your relationships, health, career, or personal growth? What lights you up and brings you joy? Choose three areas to focus on this year and commit to aligning your actions with those priorities. By saying no to distractions and unnecessary commitments, you’ll create the space and energy to work toward what matters most.
What caused friction last year?
Before you map out 2025, take a good, hard look back at 2024. What were the recurring sources of friction and frustration? Maybe it was a cluttered schedule, unclear priorities, or loose boundaries. Maybe it was work-related tasks or personal responsibilities that drained your energy. Recognize where you felt friction and frustration, and don’t continue to live there.
Now, ask yourself: Can these items be deleted, delegated, or automated? If you’re constantly overwhelmed by certain responsibilities, consider outsourcing them, setting stronger boundaries, or eliminating them altogether. Don’t continue to do the same things you’ve always done if those things no longer serve you. Let go and focus forward.
Audit 2024 to build a stronger 2025
An honest audit of last year is the foundation for success in the year ahead. Take a moment to reflect on the following questions:
What were the highlights of 2024? What brought you the most joy, fulfillment, or growth?
What were the low points? What challenges or setbacks did you face?
What did you learn about yourself through both the highs and the lows?
Write all of these things down. Getting everything out of your head and onto paper is important.
Start, stop, continue
By understanding the lessons from last year, you’re equipping yourself with valuable insights to shape a better new year. Based on these insights and reflections, create a list of all the things you’ll start doing, stop doing, and continue doing. For example, if saying yes to too many commitments drained you in 2024, decide now to set clearer boundaries in 2025. If a goal is to read 30 books this year, put that on your “start” list. And if you excelled at working out last year, put that on your “continue” list.
The power of laser focus: 3 things to prioritize in 2025
To make 2025 your best year yet, choose three core priorities and align your goals around them. For example:
Health and well-being: Invest in habits that boost your physical and mental well-being, such as consistent exercise, mindful eating, and quality sleep.
Relationships: Deepen connections with the people who matter most by being present and intentional in your interactions.
Purposeful work: Whether it’s advancing your career, starting a passion project, or refining your skills, focus on work that feels meaningful and impactful.
Once you have your top three, get really detailed about what each one looks like. Take the examples above as a starting point, then dig deep into the specifics of each area. By narrowing your focus, you’ll make bigger strides in each of these areas rather than stretching yourself too thin by going in too many directions.
Setting the stage for success
The first step to creating momentum in 2025 is simple but powerful: take action. What’s one small, meaningful step you can take today to get the ball rolling? Starting small builds confidence and creates a ripple effect for bigger changes to occur.
Remember, a great year isn’t about perfection. It’s about intentionality, alignment, learning from every step of the journey, and enjoying it! By auditing last year, eliminating what doesn’t serve you, and focusing on what matters most, you’ll set yourself up for a 2025 that feels purposeful and fulfilling.
Let’s make this your best year yet!
Start your journey today
Need help setting yourself up for success and designing a roadmap for 2025? Contact Tara for information on her 12-week program, The Empowered Life Blueprint. You’ll have a partner in success every step of the way while planning your year, embracing your true potential, and reaching new levels of success.
Read more from Tara Leigh
Tara Leigh, Certified Life Coach + Success Strategist
Tara Leigh is a leader in personal development, simplification, and mindset mastery. She has been a life coach for 20+ years and is dedicated to helping others simplify their lives, declutter their minds, build better relationships, and create greater success both personally and professionally. She teaches you how to take back control of your life and live on purpose, rather than on auto-pilot, so you can live a life you truly love and leave the stress behind!
