Why It’s Okay to Not Set Goals This January

January arrives with a familiar script. New year. Fresh start. Clear goals.

Conversations fill with targets, plans, lists of things to be ticked off, and declarations about who people will become by December.

And if you do not have a list, it can quietly feel like something is wrong.

But not setting goals isn't a failure.

For some, it is the most honest place to begin.

The pressure to demonstrate progress

January goal setting often assumes that progress looks the same for everyone. It suggests that direction must be declared early and publicly, even before clarity has had a chance to form.

That pressure creates a false binary. You are either moving forward or falling behind. Motivated or stuck. Disciplined or drifting.

In reality, growth does not always start with action. Sometimes it starts with listening.

Pausing is not avoidance. It is information gathering.

Not everyone is driven by goals

Around 40% of people are not driven by goals (according to the Valuegraphics Database). That does not mean they lack ambition or direction. It means they orient themselves with other motivations. Progress comes from alignment rather than achieving targets. From understanding what feels stable, meaningful, or sustainable before deciding what to pursue.

These people often move forward through clarity, rhythm, or a general sense of progress. They notice when things feel right or off. They adjust as they go.

Traditional goal setting can feel restrictive to them, not motivating. For example, some people are energized by clear targets such as losing 10lbs, while others are guided by outcomes that are less tangible, such as feeling more comfortable in their body.

When goal setting feels wrong

If setting goals creates anxiety, resistance, or numbness, it is worth paying attention.

That response is often a signal, not a flaw.

It can mean:

• The timing is off
• The goals do not reflect what actually matters
• The definition of success being used is borrowed rather than personal

In those moments, forcing goals can pull people further away from themselves rather than helping them move forward.

Values come before goals

Values do not require deadlines to be real. They do not disappear because they are not written down.

Understanding what matters most creates direction even when goals are absent. It helps people recognize what to say yes to, what to protect, and what to step away from.

For some, this values clarity becomes the foundation from which goals grow from later. And for others, it becomes the compass they use instead of goals.

Both are valid. And so is everything in between. 

A different way to begin the year

January does not have to be about declarations.

It can be about noticing. Noticing what feels aligned. Noticing what feels heavy. Noticing where energy returns and where it drains.

From there, direction emerges naturally.

Not setting goals can be a values-led choice, not avoidance.

The question is not whether you have goals. It is whether you are listening to what matters most as you decide how to move forward.

Every Tuesday, we offer Tuesday Tips on the Values Identifier Facebook page and here in blog form. These tips offer thoughts and ideas to help you live a life more aligned with your values.