Why I’m Choosing a "Goalless" Year
- Zahra Khan
- 2 hours ago
- 3 min read
For as long as I can remember, I’ve been a goal-setter.
Every December, I would sit down and map out my year - career milestones, financial numbers, personal growth targets, spiritual goals. I didn’t just set goals; I gave them timelines. Clear ones. Aggressive ones.
And every December of that year, I would do the same thing: review that list and judge myself against it.
If I didn’t hit a goal on time, it wasn’t “progress.” It was disappointment.
When Goals Start to Feel Heavy
The issue was never effort. I work hard. I push myself. I show up even when I’m tired.
What started to wear me down was the pressure of time.
I tied my self-worth to how fast things happened. If something didn’t happen within the year I planned for it, I treated it like a failure instead of part of the process.
At 27, that pressure feels louder than ever.
There’s this unspoken expectation that by your late 20s, you should have things “figured out.” Career direction. Financial stability. Life structure. Purpose. Love Life.
What’s strange is this:
When I look at other people, 27 feels young.
When I look at myself, 27 feels old.
That disconnect made me pause.
A Conversation That Changed How I Think
One of my close friends lives completely differently from me.
He doesn’t set rigid goals. He doesn’t plan his life in yearly checkpoints. He focuses on showing up every day, doing better than yesterday, and staying grateful for where he is.
No attachment. No constant comparison. No disappointment when things take longer.
One day, he told me something simple:“Letting go of timelines took away most of my stress.”
That stuck with me.
He wasn’t unmotivated. He wasn’t careless.He was intentional, just without the pressure.
And it made me question something important.
What If the Problem Isn’t Goals, But Attachment?
I realized I wasn’t burned out from ambition. I was burned out from attachment to outcomes and deadlines.
I didn’t fear failure, I feared being “behind.”
So this year, I decided to try something uncomfortable for me.
What a Goalless Year Actually Means
A goalless year doesn’t mean I’m doing nothing.
It means:
No strict timelines on growth
No yearly checklist deciding my worth
No pressure to “arrive” by a certain age
I still want success. I still want growth. I still push myself daily.
The difference is that I’m focusing on direction instead of deadlines.
I have rough intentions, not rigid goals.I make moves every day without obsessing over how fast results show up.
Navigating Your Late 20s Without Losing Yourself
Your late 20s are an in-between stage.
You’re not a beginner anymore, but you’re not settled either. Society expects clarity, while internally you’re still evolving.
That tension creates anxiety. Comparison. Constant self-evaluation.
I don’t want to live like that anymore.
I want to enjoy my life while building it.
I want ambition without burnout.
I want discipline without self-criticism.
Redefining Success for This Life and the Next
At the core, my biggest goals haven’t changed.
I want to be successful in this life and the afterlife.
I want peace, purpose, and alignment.
I want to grow without losing myself in the process.
So instead of asking, “Where should I be by now?”I’m asking, “Am I moving forward today?”
Because consistency matters more than speed.
Why I’m Letting Go of Timelines
This year, I’m choosing:
Effort over pressure
Consistency over urgency
Faith over fear
I’m still building. I’m still growing. I’m just letting life unfold without punishing myself for the timing.
Maybe a goalless year isn’t about lowering standards. Maybe it’s about trusting that showing up every day is enough.
Until next time, Peace 🌿
Comments