December | Monthly Goals 2025
It’s the final stretch of the year, and I’ve found myself loading up my December monthly goals, perhaps a little more than usual. If I’m being honest, I’ve been torn between two very different urges: doing absolutely nothing and finishing the year strong.
In the end, I decided to come back to something that has grounded me all year—creating my monthly goals and reviews. So here I am, keeping a promise to myself. Even though it’s already well past the middle of the month, I’m proud that I’m still showing up and posting these goals anyway.
A Focus on Smaller, Long-Overdue Tasks
This month, I’m intentionally focusing on smaller goals. You know the kind of tasks that can probably be completed in under an hour or two, but have been procrastinated on for months… or even most of the year.
These are the loose ends I want to tie up before the end of 2025. Not massive, life altering goals, but the quiet wins that bring a sense of relief and closure. The kind that make you feel lighter once they’re done.
December Goals
Academic & Research
- 60 hours of academic & research pomodoros
- Draft the Ontology Evaluation section
Fitness & Strength
- Complete daily Activity Rings
- 10 reps of 60kg Bulgarian split squat (Smith Machine)
- 5 reps of 90kg Barbell Squat
- 5 tricep dips
- 5 hanging raises
Health & Routine
- Complete Whole30
Lifestyle
- Get a full body massage
- Create my first Christmas tradition
- Plan a short personal retreat or solo reflection day — to set your 2026 tone.
- Tick off 3 items from the 101 Challenge
- Iziko South African Art Museum
- Ziplining in Cape Town
- Spend a day at the beach
- Go see the Penguins
- Go para-gliding off Signal Hill
Personal Development
- Created a Vision board vs Reality Reel
- Read Why we sleep
- Read Sense and Sensibility
Why December Monthly Goals Feels So Heavy
December has also made me think a lot about what this month represents. It almost feels like December needs a break of its own.
On one hand, December monthly goals are about setting intentions for the month itself. On the other hand, because it’s the last month of the year, it naturally carries a heavy reflective tone. And then, layered on top of that, there’s also planning and looking ahead to the next year.
It’s a strange three-in-one combination:
- Reflection on the year that’s ending
- Presence in the current month
- Preparation for the year ahead
I’ve always grappled with this tension. I want to treat December as a month in its own right, but I also feel the pull to start preparing for what’s next.
How I Approach Year-End Planning
One thing that has helped me is starting my planning for the following year around the second week of December. That way, by the time I reach the first or second week of January, most of my planning across different areas of my life is already done.
My hope is to have both my yearly review and my plan for 2026 published before the end of the year. Realistically, that gives me about two weeks to make it happen, but I’m optimistic.
Anchoring Intention for December
So that’s where I am this December: finishing small things, reflecting deeply, and slowly looking ahead.
What about you?
What are you working on this month?
Are you planning ahead, wrapping things up, or have you already mentally tapped out and jumped straight to January 2026?
Let me know. I’d genuinely love to hear.
