---
name: Goals
slug: goals
category: Writing
description: Goals helps structure aspirations into goals with milestones, progress logs, and regular reviews. Use it to track active goals, reflect quarterly or yearly, and move stalled goals to abandoned or someday lists.
github: "https://github.com/berabuddies/Semia/tree/main/tests/fixtures/skills/ivangdavila/goals"
language: Python
stars: 594
forks: 66
install: "npx degit https://github.com/berabuddies/Semia/tree/main/tests/fixtures/skills/ivangdavila/goals ~/.claude/skills/goals"
installs_to: ~/.claude/skills/goals
source_path: tests/fixtures/skills/ivangdavila/goals/SKILL.md
collection_size: 25
category_size: 1012
collection_url: "https://dirskills.com/collections/berabuddies/Semia"
added: 2026-08-25T05:13:18.562Z
last_synced: 2026-08-25T05:13:18.562Z
canonical_url: "https://dirskills.com/skills/goals"
---

# Goals

Goals helps structure aspirations into goals with milestones, progress logs, and regular reviews. Use it to track active goals, reflect quarterly or yearly, and move stalled goals to abandoned or someday lists.

**Install:**

```bash
npx degit https://github.com/berabuddies/Semia/tree/main/tests/fixtures/skills/ivangdavila/goals ~/.claude/skills/goals
```

## README

## Core Behavior
- User mentions an aspiration → help clarify and structure as goal
- Track progress without nagging → surface when relevant
- Regular reviews → quarterly and yearly reflection
- Create `~/goals/` as workspace

## Goal vs Project vs Habit
- Goal: outcome you want (run a marathon, save €10k, learn Spanish)
- Project: defined end state, series of tasks (plan the wedding)
- Habit: recurring behavior (exercise 4x/week)
- Goals often spawn projects and habits to achieve them

## When User States a Goal
- "What does success look like specifically?"
- "By when?" — deadline creates urgency
- "Why does this matter to you?" — motivation for hard days
- "What's the first small step?"

## Goal File Structure
One file per goal: `run-a-marathon.md`
- What: specific outcome
- Why: motivation and meaning
- By when: target date
- Milestones: checkpoints along the way
- Current status: on track, behind, ahead
- Progress log: dated updates

## Milestone Design
Break big goals into checkable milestones:
- Marathon: 5k → 10k → half marathon → full
- Save €10k: €2.5k per quarter
- Learn Spanish: A1 → A2 → B1
- Each milestone is a mini-celebration

## Folder Structure
```
~/goals/
├── active/
│   ├── run-marathon-2024.md
│   └── save-10k.md
├── achieved/
├── abandoned/
└── someday.md
```

## Progress Tracking
- Log updates when progress happens
- Quantify when possible: "Week 8: ran 15km"
- Note blockers and breakthroughs
- Keep log brief — not a journal

## Review Cadence
- Weekly: glance at active goals, any action needed?
- Monthly: real progress check, adjust if needed
- Quarterly: deep review, add/remove goals
- Yearly: major reflection, set next year's goals

## Quarterly Review Prompts
- Which goals progressed? Which stalled?
- Any goals no longer matter? → abandon or pause
- New goals to add?
- Are milestones still realistic?
- What's blocking the stuck ones?

## Yearly Review
- What did you achieve this year?
- What did you learn from abandoned goals?
- What themes emerge?
- What do you want next year to be about?
- 3-5 goals maximum for the year

## Goal Limits
- Maximum 3-5 active goals — more means diluted focus
- One "big" goal at a time — marathon training doesn't mix with startup launch
- Someday list for future goals — parking lot, not commitment
- Quarterly rotation — finish or abandon before adding

## When Goals Stall
- No progress in 30+ days → surface in review
- Ask: still important? → if no, abandon guilt-free
- Ask: what's blocking? → solve or accept
- Ask: break down smaller? → maybe milestone too big

## Abandoning Goals
- Not failure — priorities change, that's life
- Move to abandoned with note: why stopped
- Extract lessons: what would you do differently?
- Make room for goals that matter now

## What NOT To Suggest
- SMART goals framework obsessively — clarity matters, acronyms don't
- Too many goals — focus beats quantity
- Guilt about abandoned goals — they served their purpose
- Complex tracking systems — simple file is enough

## Motivation Maintenance
- Revisit "why" when motivation dips
- Celebrate milestones — don't just move to next
- Share with accountability partner if helpful
- Visualize completion — what does life look like after?

## Goal Categories (Optional)
- Health & fitness
- Career & work
- Financial
- Relationships
- Learning & growth
- Creative
- Don't force categories — use if helpful

## Integration Points
- Projects: goals spawn projects
- Habits: goals require habits
- Journal: reflect on goal progress
- Calendar: milestone deadlines

## Someday Goals
- Ideas not ready for commitment
- Review quarterly — promote or keep parking
- No shame in long someday list
- "Would be nice but not now" is valid