How I Plan My Year with Intention (and What I Let Go Of)

As the new year begins, I’ve found that planning with intention is more than a productivity exercise; it’s a practice of clarity, alignment, and self-care. Over the years, I’ve developed a process that not only helps me set meaningful goals but also keeps me grounded by letting go of what no longer serves me. Here’s how I do it.

1. Reflecting on the Past Year

Before I start planning, I dedicate time to reflect on the previous year. For me, this is something I started last month in December. I use the inward, quiet time to sit with what has occurred over the last twelve months, observing how it has affected me and my life both positively and negatively. I ask myself:

• What went well? What moments brought me joy, growth, or fulfillment?

• What didn’t work? Are there patterns or habits that held me back?

• What lessons did I learn, and how can I carry them forward?

Reflection helps me celebrate progress while acknowledging the obstacles. I often use this time to dive deep into my feelings and experiences, recognizing patterns that have shaped my year. By journaling or meditating, I give myself the space to honor milestones and also process any disappointments or challenges. It’s a way of honoring the journey rather than rushing into the next thing, ensuring I move forward with clarity and intention.

2. Integrating Tarot and Numerology

Incorporating tarot and numerology into my yearly planning adds depth and insight, aligning my intentions with the energies of both the collective and my personal journey. Working with the collective energy is important because it helps us tap into larger patterns and themes that influence not only our individual lives but also the world around us. By aligning with this shared energy, we can feel more connected, purposeful, and supported in our personal efforts. Here’s how I integrate these elements:

Understanding the Collective Year Card

Each year carries a universal energy, represented by a tarot card from the Major Arcana. For 2025, the collective card is The Hermit, symbolizing introspection, self-discovery, and enlightenment. This suggests a global focus on inner growth and reflection.

Calculating the Collective Year Card:

1. Sum the digits of the year: For 2025, add 2 + 0 + 2 + 5 = 9.

2. Identify the corresponding Major Arcana card: The 9th card is The Hermit.

Determining My Personal Year Card

To gain personalized guidance, I calculate my Personal Year Card, which reveals the themes and lessons specific to me. For 2025, my card is The Chariot (7), symbolizing determination, willpower, and triumph over obstacles. The Chariot also aligns with my Life Path, amplifying its significance and making 2025 a year of focused progress and movement.

Calculating the Personal Year Card:

1. Add your birth month and day to the current year:

   • For example, my birthday is January 24:

     • Month: 1

     • Day: 24

     • Year: 2025

     • Calculation: 1 + 24 + 2 + 0 + 2 + 5 = 34

2. Reduce to a number between 1 and 22:

   • If the sum exceeds 22, add the digits together: 3 + 4 = 7.

3. Identify the corresponding Major Arcana card:

   • In this case, 7 corresponds to The Chariot, symbolizing determination and forward movement.

In Tarot, The Chariot represents determination, willpower, and achieving goals through focus and discipline. This year invites me to take charge, steer my life in the direction I desire, and overcome challenges with confidence and control. I am encouraged to harness my inner strength and resilience to stay aligned with my path and create meaningful progress.

I encourage you to calculate your own Tarot Year Card and explore its energy. Understanding your card’s themes can provide valuable guidance, helping you align your actions and intentions with the unique opportunities and challenges of the year ahead. By embracing this practice, you can work with the natural flow of energy to achieve your personal and collective goals.

3. Choosing a Word or Theme for the Year

Every year, I like to select a word or theme that encapsulates my overall intentions. It serves as a guiding star, influencing decisions and priorities as I move through my daily life. This practice helps me stay grounded and focused, especially during challenging moments. For example, last year my theme was “ease”—a reminder to find flow and let go of unnecessary stress. This year, my theme is “fun,” encouraging me to infuse joy, spontaneity, and playfulness into my actions and choices. By anchoring myself to this theme, I can approach the year with a lighthearted and optimistic perspective, making space for experiences that uplift and energize me.

4. Setting Goals with Heart and Purpose

Now that we have the foundations set, it's time to create goals for the year. To ensure I maintain balance, I use the Wheel of Life as a way to set my goals. The Wheel of Life is a tool that divides our life into key areas—relationships, career, health, spirituality, finance, personal growth, and physical environment. The Wheel of Life helps me visualize the different facets of my life. By assessing each area, I can identify imbalances and prioritize accordingly. This ensures that I don’t over-focus on one aspect, like career, at the expense of others, fostering a more holistic approach to goal setting.

With the Wheel of Life as my base structure, here's how I then go about setting my actual goals:

• Start with Why: I deeply reflect on the purpose behind each goal. Understanding the "why" helps me ensure my goals align with my values and create meaningful impact. For example, instead of setting a vague goal like "exercise more," I might focus on "building strength and energy to enjoy outdoor adventures with my family."

• Focus on Growth Over Perfection: I remind myself that progress, not perfection, is the true measure of success. This approach allows me to stay motivated even when outcomes don’t meet initial expectations. For instance, rather than aiming to “read 50 books,” I commit to “reading regularly to expand my knowledge and perspectives."

• Break It Down: To avoid feeling overwhelmed, I divide big goals into smaller, actionable steps. For example, if I want to create an oracle deck, I break it into milestones like "draft an outline," "create one card design a week," and "seek feedback from a trusted friend." This makes large goals manageable and keeps momentum steady.

5. Letting Go of What No Longer Serves Me

Planning with intention isn’t just about adding to your life; it’s also about subtracting. Letting go is a deliberate act of making room for growth and alignment. Here are some of the things I am consciously releasing:

• Unrealistic Expectations: I’ve learned to give myself grace and embrace imperfection. Instead of striving for unattainable ideals, I focus on progress and celebrate small wins, understanding that growth is a journey.

• Toxic Relationships: If a connection feels draining, unbalanced, or is no longer aligning with my values, I am going to take time to reevaluate its place in my life. Letting go of these relationships creates emotional space for connections that uplift and inspire me.

• The Need to Please: Saying “no” to commitments or expectations that don’t resonate with me is liberating. By setting boundaries, I free myself to say “yes” to opportunities and experiences that align with my values and bring joy.

Releasing is never easy, but it is an important and necessary part of the growth journey. Letting go creates space for the new and the meaningful, allowing me to approach life with a clearer, more intentional focus. Remember, letting go is an act of self-care and empowerment. As you release what no longer serves you, trust that you are making room for opportunities and connections that align with your highest good.

6. Creating Systems to Stay Intentional

Intentions without systems can fade quickly. Here’s how I maintain momentum:

• Regular Check-Ins: I review my goals monthly to track progress and make adjustments. This habit allows me to celebrate small wins, identify areas for improvement, and course-correct as needed. I also like to align my goal-setting process with the cycles of the moon. During the new moon, I implement new goals or habits, and by the full moon, I assess how they are going and make any necessary adjustments. As the moon wanes, I reflect on what’s working and prepare for the next cycle. This rhythmic approach helps me stay connected to natural cycles and provides a structured yet flexible framework for progress.

• Visual Reminders: A vision board or journal keeps my focus clear. By seeing my goals and intentions daily, I stay inspired and motivated to take consistent action. Connecting with the energy of my goals on a creative frequency helps me build a deeper emotional and intuitive connection to them, making them feel more tangible and inspiring sustained commitment.

• Accountability: Sharing goals with a friend or group helps me stay committed. Having someone to check in with not only reinforces my dedication but also provides encouragement and fresh perspectives.

• Habit Stacking: Inspired by James Clear's Atomic Habits, I incorporate new habits by attaching them to existing ones. For example, I might review my goals right after my morning coffee or add five minutes of journaling to my evening routine. Even as someone with ADHD, I’ve found Clear’s strategies to be illuminating and helpful, enabling me to create sustainable habits that align with my goals and intentions.

7. Embracing Flexibility and Self-Compassion

Life is unpredictable, and even the best plans can shift. Instead of seeing this as failure, I’ve learned to adapt. Flexibility allows me to pivot when necessary, while self-compassion ensures I’m kind to myself during setbacks. While goal setting is a valuable tool for clarity and direction, it’s equally important to remain open to change and adaptability. We can’t predict the future, and clinging rigidly to self-imposed structures can limit our growth. Embracing the unexpected with grace enables us to adjust our paths while staying aligned with our broader intentions.

Final Thoughts

Planning my year with intention has transformed how I approach my life on a day to day level. It’s not about perfection or rigid control; it’s about living deliberately and authentically. By focusing on what matters and letting go of what doesn’t, I create a year that feels aligned, purposeful, and fulfilling.

How do you plan your year? What do you let go of to make room for what truly matters? I’d love to hear your thoughts!