The "Lazy Girl's" Guide to Having the BEST YEAR EVER - Episode 35
Author’s Note: Season 2 of Jeans with a Blazer is finally here…enjoy ;)
Give Me 26 Minutes and I’ll Show You How to Have the Best Year Ever
If you’ve ever started January with a color-coded planner and big, sparkly goals, only to feel behind by February, you’re not alone. Most goal-setting advice is built for robots, not real people with deadlines, responsibilities, low-energy days, and a nervous system that would like a break.
That’s why this episode is a permission slip. Not to quit on your goals, but to stop treating growth like an extreme sport. If you’re craving accomplishing goals 2026 style, with realistic goal setting that doesn’t burn you out, you’re in the right place.
This is the Lazy Girl approach. And no, it’s not about being lazy in the traditional sense. It’s about being energy-aware, efficiency-driven, and committed to progress without burnout. Think soft hustle. Think sustainable goal setting. Think work smarter not harder, without the guilt spiral.
Below is a high-value breakdown of the episode and how you can apply it right now.
Meet with Me 1-on-1: Book a Virtual Meeting and I’ll Map Out Your Best Year Ever
Why Traditional Goal-Setting Fails (and What to Do Instead)
Here’s the uncomfortable truth: traditional goal-setting is broken for a lot of high performers. We set goals that are too rigid, too loud, and too much. Then life happens. Motivation dips. One slip-up turns into an all-or-nothing crash.
If you’ve struggled with how to set goals that actually stick, it’s not because you lack discipline. It’s often because you were taught to build a plan that requires constant high energy, perfect weeks, and heroic effort.
The Lazy Girl framework is designed for real life. The benefit is simple: you get a structure for burnout-free success without turning your year into a performance.
The Lazy Girl Philosophy: Three Rules That Make Goals Easier
This episode introduces “lazy girl goals” as a mindset shift. It’s a mental model you can remember on a busy day when you’re tempted to overstuff your to-do list.
1) Minimum Effective Effort: Do the Least That Still Works
Instead of asking, “What’s the most I can do?” you ask: What’s the least I need to do to still move the needle?
This is realistic goal setting at its best. You stop wasting A-plus energy on C-minus priorities. You learn to protect your time, your focus, and your sanity while still making progress.
If you’re a high-achiever, this concept is especially powerful because it gives you permission to aim your excellence strategically instead of everywhere.
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2) The Alignment Audit: A 60-Second Weekly Reset
Once a week, you do a quick check-in. You can write it in a journal, or jot it down in your phone. Answer three questions:
What felt expansive?
What drained me?
What gets removed next week?
This is mindful goal setting in action. Over time, you collect data about what fuels you, what drains you, and what needs to change. It builds a resilience mindset because you’re adapting instead of forcing. You’re leading your year with intention, not pressure.
3) Consistency Beats Intensity: Keep It Small and Repeatable
If you’ve ever gone all-in for two weeks and then disappeared for six, this one will hit home. Consistency beats intensity because it respects your real life.
Daily habits done in small, repeatable ways outperform dramatic bursts of effort. This is sustainable goal setting because it keeps you in motion without pushing you into exhaustion.
Do Less to Get More Done
This may be the most important takeaway for goal setting for high achievers: fewer goals = better results.
When you try to fix everything at once, you create decision fatigue. Your brain has too many choices and starts tapping out. You end up overwhelmed, disappointed, and stuck.
Instead, simplify.
Choose one primary goal and one secondary goal. In the episode, this expands into choosing one meaningful focus in four areas: career, personal life, health, and relationships. The key is ruthless prioritization. You’re not lowering your ambition. You’re protecting it.
Ask yourself: If only one thing worked out this year, what would change everything?
That is your North Star. That is how to have the best year ever without scattering your energy across 37 projects.
5. Trend #5: AI Avatars & Virtual Influencers Are Here to Stay
Meet your new coworker: they don’t sleep, eat, or demand a salary—and they might not even be real.
One of the wildest but most impactful 2026 content trends is the rise of AI avatars and virtual influencers. These digital personalities are being used as brand mascots, content hosts, and even full-time influencers.
We’re already seeing them in action—from Tilly Norwood (the AI actress) to fully AI-generated ad campaigns. It’s a shift that’s challenging what it means to “show up” online.
But here’s the opportunity: real human creators have never been more valuable. Personality still wins. Brands that lead with human connection, even in AI-enhanced worlds, will stand out.
If you’re a creator or personal brand, now is the time to get crystal clear on who you are, how you show up, and how you can use AI tools to extend—not replace—your reach.
The Lazy Girl Framework: A Simple Blueprint That Works
Now for the practical part. This is where you stop thinking about goals and start executing them.
The 15-Minute Rule: Shrink the Goal Until It’s Doable
If your goal can’t be started in 15 minutes, it’s too big. Break it down.
Want career growth? Send one email. Update two lines of your resume.
Want better health? Stretch for 10 minutes. Walk around the block.
Want creative progress? Write one paragraph. Sketch one idea. Create one rough draft.
These are micro habits that build momentum. You stop waiting for the perfect time and start collecting small wins. That’s progress without burnout.
Build Systems, Not Willpower
Willpower is unreliable. Systems are not.
The episode emphasizes creating structures that make success easier, especially on low-motivation days. This is where habit stacking and habit pairing come in.
Habit stacking: Attach a new habit to an existing habit.
After coffee, plan for 10 minutes. After work, change into sneakers.Habit pairing: Link a task with something you already do automatically so it becomes part of a routine.
You also reduce friction through environment design. Put the book on your pillow. Keep the guitar visible. Make the healthy choice the easy choice. This is how daily habits become automatic, and why work smarter not harder is more than a slogan. It’s a strategy.
“Good Enough” Progress: Stop Letting Perfectionism Steal Your Year
Perfectionism loves to disguise itself as high standards. But often, it is just fear with a prettier outfit.
Good enough progress means you finish things. You publish at 80 percent instead of stalling at 99. You do two workouts instead of quitting because you missed one. You write 200 words instead of abandoning the draft.
This is burnout-free success because it keeps you moving, learning, and building confidence without the emotional punishment.
Motivation Follows Action: The Mindset Shift That Keeps You Going
If you’ve ever thought, I’ll start when I feel motivated, this episode offers a better plan: start small, and motivation will catch up.
Action creates momentum. Momentum creates motivation. Motivation becomes a bonus, not a requirement.
The long-term win is identity-based habits. Instead of saying, “I’m trying to do this,” you become the kind of person who shows up gently, consistently, and without drama. That identity becomes your mindset for success because it makes your actions feel natural, not forced.