The Best Goal Books for Your New Year’s Resolutions

With the New Year, many people are ready to make a fresh list of goals or resolutions. Whether that includes popular options such as losing weight and starting a new career or more unique options such as focusing on self-care or mental health, there’s a book out there that can not only help you jot down those ideas but stay on task too. If you’re ready for “New year, new me” to take hold in your life, these are the best goal books that we recommend.

Buying Guide for Goal Books

Why buy a goal book?

Sure, you could write down your goals on a scrap of paper and hope for the best. But a goal book usually includes intentional entries that act as accountability steps to ensure that you stay the course. Plus, having one central location to journal your intentions and what you’ve done to achieve them can be incredibly helpful for focusing your mind and completing tasks.

What to consider when shopping for a goal book?

• Design: While not critical, design is an important feature. You can opt for minimalist journals that simply allow you to jot down notes as they pop into your head. Or you can pick a more ornate and year-specific book. This can be ideal if you’re the type who likes to create new goals every year and keep your books to see which goals came to reality and which ones were carried over into the following year.
• Binding: Goal books can be hardbound or paperback options. with paperback options, they can still be further split into spiral-bound or more traditional like a true paperback book. Additionally, you might also want to consider if you want a goal notebook versus a traditional book.
• Size: If you plan on creating goals throughout the year, that might mean that you need a book that’s travel-friendly. This might be a book that measures 4 by 6 inches or 5 by 7 inches but fits easily into a purse or backpack.
• Sheet Count: Again, you’ll want to think about your plans with this goal book. Is this a book that is intended for occasional use, or are you going to make new entries every day to track your progress? If you plan on using this as a daily intentional product, then a book with a large number of pages is important.

How do you know which goal book is right for you?

This is a question that depends on your preference and goals. Some people like to use a blank journal where they can simply write a list and potentially return to write fresh entries chronicling their progress. Meanwhile, other people might want a book that features prompts and dedicated pages for each month or specific goals to aid in focusing their thoughts and holding themselves accountable.

Our Picks for the Best Goal Books

Pros: If you’re really serious about your goals, you know that it takes baby steps every day to turn a dream into a reality. This undated weekly and monthly planner is a great way to tackle your goals — one week at a time. You’ll get a 52-week, 12-month planner that includes three bookmarks and a sturdy PU leather exterior so that you can use this frequently without fearing it’ll fall apart. And it comes in a wide range of colors.

Cons: Although this book does offer a weekly breakdown for the year, the daily allotted spaces may be too small for some people to write down all of their goals and/or plans of attack by day.

Bottom Line: Stay on track with those New Year’s resolutions thanks to this 52-week PU leather-bound goal book.

 

Pros: Being better about money is a common New Year’s resolution, and this financial tracker and weekly budget planner is a great way to start getting smart about what you earn and spend regularly. Available in five fun designs, this planner even comes with a bill pay pocket to ensure that you’re prepared to pay those regular expenditures.

Cons: Considering the price of this budgeting book, some people may feel that it should be a hardcover rather than a paperback option.

Bottom Line: If you’re ready to get serious about your spending and earnings, this 12-month budgeting book and expense journal is a great way to see where to cut back and save.

 

Pros: Reframing your mindset takes more than a hope and a prayer; it takes intentionality. This 90-day planner is designed to help you think about what matters most, reflect on past actions, and learn how to approach challenges and life situations in new ways. Along with a hardbound journal available in a wide range of colors, you’ll also get a sticker sheet. In total, there are 264 pages.

Cons: Although nice, this binder only covers roughly 90 days of self-reflective practices. This might be disappointing for someone seeking a thorough 365-day journal.

Bottom Line: Learn to channel new pathways and methods of approaching challenges with this 90-day life and goal planner.

 

Pros: Getting healthier is a very popular resolution. And this petite planner is a great way to stay on track. It allows you to track water intake, fitness, sleep, daily habits and more. Choose from five different designs, and enjoy the included sticker sheet too. Also, this compact planner measures 5.7 by 8.25 inches, making it perfect to fit in your gym bag, purse, or backpack.

Cons: Although there are technically enough pages to cover a full year of activity, some people may find that the allotted slots for entering daily nutritional intake are a bit tiny.

Bottom Line: Turn health goals into long-term habits with this personal fitness and wellness tracker.

 

Pros: Shifting goals from nebulous ideas into reality can feel like a tall order. This six-month planner offers space for weekly task setting, ensuring that you can break down overarching plans into realistic, achievable micro goals. Choose from three colors.

Cons: If you’re trying to plan for a full year, this six-month planner may fall short. Consider buying a second if needed.

Bottom Line: Create an action plan to turn those resolutions into realities with this six-month goal planner.

Final Thoughts

Turning goals into reality can take quite a bit of work. But part of the process involves writing down your intentions and making a plan of attack to help you get started. A good goal book can do all of those things.