5 Steps to Doing a Goal Audit Without an Existential Crisis

Over the weekend, I found a crumpled note at the back of my desk drawer that said: “Revamp workout routine!” No date, no context… just vibes. And honestly? It could’ve been from last week… or a year ago. That little discovery made me cringe. Then, realize it might be time for a goal audit.

It reminded me how easy it is to set goals (or even just loosely think about them), but never really circle back to ask if they’re working… or if we even still want them on our list.

So I paused. I pulled out all the goals I’d set earlier this year and asked: What’s still relevant? What am I forcing? What can I finally let go of? It turned into a very official-sounding goal audit—and it was way more clarifying (and way less soul-crushing) than I expected.

I did something similar last week when I kicked off my spring reset. It wasn’t focused on goals, but basically everything else. I went through what was still working for me and what I was just holding onto out of habit. This is the same idea, just with your goals instead of your closet or mental clutter. 

If your goals have shifted, stalled, or quietly disappeared under a pile of everything else, this might be just the thing you didn’t know you needed.

Let’s break it down.

Step 1: Grab All of Your Goals and Pull Them Back into View

The first step of a goal audit is getting the lay of the land. Go find whatever you used to set your goals—a planner, app, sticky note, or random document you forgot about. It doesn’t need to be organized. Just bring it all into one place so you can see where you are.

You’re not doing this to judge yourself. You’re just getting reacquainted with the intentions you set. Life moves fast, and things shift. So, this is a reset moment, not a report card on your progress.

Step 2: Look for What’s Working

As you go through your list of goals, do you notice anything that feels solid? Are there a couple you’ve made progress on? Do all of your goals (or any of them) still feel like a good idea?

It could be small, something you didn’t even realize was becoming part of your routine. It could be a goal you haven’t finished but still feel motivated to work on. You’re looking for anything that still fits, still feels right, or still makes sense for where you are now.

Make a special pile, mark them in your planner, or tag those. They’re staying.

Step 3: What’s in the Middle? (AKA the “Meh” Goals)

Then there are the goals that aren’t total fails, but also haven’t moved. You know, the ones you keep shifting to “next week” or avoid entirely because something about them feels off.

These “meh” goals usually need one of two things: 1) a small adjustment or 2) a big reality check. You can rework them so they’re more realistic, or you can decide they’re just not it anymore. 

Bring them to the next step of the goal audit and let’s see where they land.

Step 4: Get Rid of Goals That Don’t Fit Anymore

How do you know if a goal should go bye-bye? 

Well, if it makes you feel stressed every time you think about it. Or like you’re forcing it to happen because you feel like it’s something you should want. Or you’re dragging it along because you’re really not sure what to do with it… These are your signs to cross it off. You don’t need to carry it around just because it was once important or looked good on paper.

Super important note: Letting go doesn’t mean giving up. It means making room for what actually matters right now. So, take any of your goals that fit into this category and throw them out, delete them, or burn them. Whatever it takes to free yourself.

Step 5: Take Another Look at What Success Means (for You!)

The best part about a goal audit is that it gives you chance to recalibrate, not based on who you were in January, but who you are right now.

So, take your remaining goals, adjust them if necessary, and recommit with a new plan. Not a perfect plan. Not a hustle-harder plan. Just one that actually works for you now.

Maybe that means scaling back a little, or getting more focused and dialing in. Whatever shape your “success” takes now, own it.  This isn’t about “getting back on track.” It’s about figuring out what the track even looks like now, and how to adjust based on that.

Your Goals Can Shift (It’s a Good Thing!)

Your goals are allowed to change. That means you’re paying attention, not falling behind.

So whether you’re adjusting, starting fresh, or clearing the slate completely, a goal audit helps you get honest about what’s worth your time and energy.

And if you’re ready to tweak or rebuild a few of your goals, these SMART goal hacks will help you shape them into something that you are motivated to do.

You don’t need to have it all figured out. You just need a place to start and permission to begin again. Permission granted!