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19 Goals To Set In 2019: 19 Ideas To Inspire You And Get Started

This post is sponsored by Lexington Law.  Read 20 Goals To Set In 2020 here


It’s that time of year again! As 2018 comes to a close and we’re reflecting on what we accomplished, it’s time to start looking forward to a new year of goals and growth. We’re big fans of goal setting here at GenTwenty. Goals give you something to strive towards, encourage you to be your best self, and give you direction in everyday life.

In this post, we’re going to cover 19 goals to set in 2019 that are all focused on improvement and growth.

19 Goals To Set In 2019: 19 Ideas To Inspire You And Get Started

1. Take one self-development course.

It’s always a goal of ours to grow as individuals. And part of that growth is to continue learning. Invest in yourself by taking a course that focuses specifically on personal growth. It could be on anything from leadership, public speaking, to language learning. There are so many options!

We recommend checking out Skillshare specifically for courses on personal development.

2. Nurture a living thing.

There’s something really special about being able to keep something alive. If you’re not ready to commit to a pet (me either) then a plant should do it. Whether it’s a plant or a pet, they will be relying on you to keep them flourishing.

If neither of these are up your alley, maybe offer to babysit for a friend one night just to test the waters. A few hours of babysitting and you can check this goal off your list.

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3. Raise your credit score by 50 points.

The average credit score can vary depending on the bureau calculating it, but it seems like it’s generally somewhere in the 650-700 range. Now, as an average we’re in the “fair credit” range But the real question is how do you compare to that average?

An excellent credit score is one above a 750. No matter which range you’re in, a good place to start is by committing to improving your credit score by 50 points by the end of 2019. To get started, I’ve covered how to start improving your credit score in the next six months here.

If your credit situation is far more complicated and/or you aren’t sure where to start, work with a team who will advocate on your behalf to improve your overall financial situation. The credit repair consultants at Lexington Law are eager to help you repair your credit and reach your financial goals.

Better credit means a better life. And in turn, that puts you closer to achieving all of your goals.

19 Goals To Set In 2019

4. Negotiate a raise.

In order to make more money, you have to ask for it. The truth is that the majority of your earnings growth takes place during your first decade of work. If you’re beyond that, it’s not too late for you. But it is time to start asking for what you’re worth.

This might take you some time to compile the appropriate information and gather the nerve, but start here with our guide to getting a raise and promotion. And if your current company isn’t encouraging you to grow and improve, it might be time to leave.

5. Open an investment account.

Earlier this year when I polled GenTwenty readers, over 70% of you said you wanted to learn more about investing. Investing isn’t as hard as it seems, but is absolutely something you should be doing!

If you’re nervous about opening your first account, I wrote an entire series on what to know about investing. Check it out here:

And don’t worry, a high credit score is not a requirement to begin investing! Your investment accounts aren’t going to pull your credit report either. Whether or not it’s a good idea for you to invest right now is your own financial responsibility.

6. Do a no-spend challenge.

I typically do one of these every January, and last year I extended mine into February. It’s easy to spend money without realizing it, whether it’s in your account or not. When you look back over your credit card statements, ask yourself how many of those things did you *really* need the second you bought them? Probably not all of them.

I like doing a no-spend challenge because it makes me more mindful of my purchases. Sometimes I need a new pair of shoes when I’ve walked a hole in them. I don’t need another warm-toned eyeshadow palette, no matter how pretty it looks online.

A no-spend challenge cuts out all non-essential spending for a month. We live in a society that encourages us to spend on things we don’t really want or need. It’s about holding off on impulse and non-essential purchases to show yourself that you can live without it.

19 Goals To Set In 2019

7. End one relationship that drains you.

We all have relationships in our lives that take more from us than what we have to give. I bet at least one specific person or commitment came to your mind just now. This is the year you need to distance yourself from that person, place or commitment.

It’s not serving you to *not* want to show up to a relationship. And it’s certainly not serving the people on the receiving end.  

8. Aim for less daily screen time.

Ever since Apple added the “Screen Time” feature, I’ve been trying to be more conscious about my screen time. I really didn’t think I looked at my phone that much throughout the day. Sure, sometimes I used it more than others, but not excessively. Right? Wrong.

At the time I’m writing this, my average daily screen time is 3 hours and 53 minutes per day or 27 hours and 11 minutes per week. That’s over a day per week I am spending looking at my phone. And most of that time is spent on social media, for me at least.

I will concede here that there are smarter uses for your phone like fitness apps and podcasts, but for me to be spending that much time on social media each week is unnecessary. And I bet a lot of us are doing the same thing. Hopefully by the end of 2019, I will have cut that number in half.

9. Give everything you own a true place in your home.

None of us are immune to building up clutter. A stack of mail here, a pile of returns there, a closet full of things you just don’t know what to do with — before you know it, these things are taking over your space.

This clutter isn’t good for your mental health, creativity, and even physical health. While decluttering will actually change your life, giving everything you keep in your home a place will keep you more organized. When everything has a home, you’ll always know where to find it.

It will also make your space a calmer environment which in turn, will make you more at peace in your own space. Carve out time to go through each area of your home and get rid of the clutter (you can sell or donate things you no longer want). Take a half hour every weekend to do so and you’ll be done in no time! Once you’ve gone through everything, get to organizing! Give every single thing you own a place of its own — even if that means investing in some organizational furniture or bins for your space.

19 Goals To Set In 2019

10. Save 5% more money than you did last year. 

Going over your budget, how did you do last year? We believe that you should always set financial goals for yourself, no matter how much money you make or how much debt you have. In comparison to last year’s goals, how did you stack up to your savings goal? Whether you met that goal or not, take the number that you did save and add five percent. That’s your realistic savings goal for this year.

Go over your budget and see how you can cut costs to reach your goal. It’s probably not as hard as you think it will be!

11. Drink a minimum of 64 oz of water per day.

I used to be one of those people who was lucky if I drank one cup of water per day. So if that’s where you are right now, I totally get it.

So what changed for me? Well I was pregnant for the better half of last year. Which basically means you need to be a water-drinking and well-hydrated machine. I took this very seriously from when I first found out I was expecting. I thought it was going to be a major struggle but as it turns out, it really wasn’t that hard at all.

I bought myself a 32 oz water bottle and committed to emptying it at least 2x per day. Some days are harder than others depending what was going on, but overall it was much easier than I expected. Fill it up, bring it with you, sip on it, and you’ll go through it like… well, water.

12. Read 24 books. 

If one book a month sounds too easy for you, push it to two! Mix up your genres to keep it interesting. Make at least one of them a book that intimidates you.

Pro tip: To get through two 300-page books per month, you only need to read 20 pages a day on average! That sounds totally doable to me. Make an account on Goodreads to track your progress.

Here are a few of our top book recommendations:

Book Of The Month is also a great way to get new releases at a cheaper price! Get a free book when you join here.

13. Go somewhere you’ve never been before. 

Traveling opens us up to new people and new experiences. In turn, these things give us a new perspective on life and can teach us valuable lessons we otherwise never would have learned.

It doesn’t have to be to another country! Try going new places around you! Whether it’s a small town a few hundred miles away, a new state, or just a new grocery store, there’s so much to see and do. Bonus points if you keep a travel journal!

19 Goals To Set In 2019

14. Go to all of your doctor’s appointments.

Primary care, eye, dentist… making and keeping these appointments annually is essential for keeping track of our health over time.

In our younger years, we tend to put off going to these appointments because they’re expensive, especially if we don’t have insurance. Keep them if you can. This track record will be valuable as we get older. Not to mention, you’ll be able to catch any potential health issues sooner.

15. Check your credit report.

When was the last time you checked your credit report? Does it surprise you to know that 79% of credit reports contain errors? Given that stat, there’s a good chance yours might be one of them.

You are entitled to a free copy of your credit report once a year at annualcreditreport.com. You can also purchase your report directly from each of the three credit bureaus if you need to. Additionally, they’re frequently included when you sign up for identity monitoring service like Lex OnTrack.

Related: Lex OnTrack Review: Why You Should Monitor Your Credit

Go through your report line by line. Is there anything suspicious or incorrect? If you do find there are unfair items on your credit report, don’t panic. We recommend working with a credit repair service like Lexington Law. With a consultation, you can learn what can be done to remove those items and establish a game plan where their consultants will advocate on your behalf. Working within your rights, they’re a step to a better life.

16. Treat yourself to something just for you every single month.

I’ve always wanted to get massages regularly. Up until this past year, I’ve only ever indulged in them sporadically. And it was usually when one of my friends wanted to do a girls’ weekend, never because I decided to for myself.

After finding out I was expecting, I finally started to make myself regular appointments. It seemed like now was the best time to keep my stress levels low and that I could use the extra relaxation. All that aside, it’s now something I love treating myself to.

It’s time for me each month that I get to look forward to. It’s something I enjoy. It’s something indulgent that helps me reroute my internal dialogue to let me know that I’m worth the extra effort.

Maybe for you it’s something like a treat from your favorite local donut shop, hiking a new trail, hiring a cleaning service, going fishing, a new pair of shoes, a fancy candle or perfume, or upgrading to an Uber Black. Whatever makes you feel indulgent — treat yourself to it every month in 2019.

17. Donate regularly to a cause you care about.

Whether it’s your money, time or skills, make this the year you begin to truly immerse yourself in a cause that is close to your heart.

This could be a cause that is close to a political issue. It might be related to a health issue or a place of worship even. If it’s something that matters to you, the best thing you can do is support the cause in anyway that you can!

19 Goals To Set In 2019

18. Run a 5k with a group of friends.

Get a group of friends together and sign up for a 5k! Being active is not only great for your health, but it’s a less expensive way to also cultivate your friendships. Instead of going out to eat, meet up to take a jog around the park for training. You’ll get to spend time together and also stay in shape. Can’t beat that!

Bonus: If you’ve already done a 5k or higher, challenge yourself to the next level by signing up for the next distance you haven’t yet done.

19. Practice patience and kindness.

I know, I know being patient is easier said than done. It’s hard to wait in a world where we’re used to getting everything instantly. Instead of rushing through day to day life, take time out of your day to enjoy the present. Slow down, rest, and find quiet moments everyday to breathe deeply and enjoy where you are right now.

What the world needs now is patience and kindness. We could all be a little kinder to each other and a little kinder to ourselves. Practice daily affirmations, give compliments without expecting anything in return, put your empathy skills to good use on a daily basis. We will all be better off for it.


And there we have it — 19 goal ideas for goals to set in 2019! Which one of these resonates the most with you? Which will you be adding to your to-do list for the upcoming year?

About the Author

Nicole Booz

Nicole Booz is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of GenTwenty, GenThirty, and The Capsule Collab. She has a Bachelor of Science in Psychology and is the author of The Kidult Handbook (Simon & Schuster May 2018). She currently lives in Pennsylvania with her husband and two sons. When she’s not reading or writing, she’s probably hiking, eating brunch, or planning her next great adventure.

Website: genthirty.com