[B1] My Goals for the New Year

Hi everyone, welcome back to the 5-minute English Practice.
As a new year begins, I find myself naturally slowing down and reflecting on what truly matters to me. Over time, I’ve realized that setting goals is no longer about creating a long list of things I feel pressured to achieve. Instead, it’s about choosing intentions that feel meaningful, realistic, and sustainable in everyday life.

In the past, I often started the year with very ambitious plans. I wanted to change everything at once, believing that strong motivation would be enough to keep me going. But experience has taught me that motivation is temporary. It comes and goes. What really lasts is a clear sense of direction and the willingness to take small, steady steps even when I don’t feel inspired.

One of my most important goals this year is to take better care of my mental and physical health. I’ve learned that constantly pushing myself without rest doesn’t lead to better results — it only leads to exhaustion. This year, I want to be more mindful of my energy, listen to my body, and allow myself to slow down without feeling guilty. Simple habits like getting enough sleep, moving my body regularly, and creating a calmer daily routine are small changes, but they make a big difference.

Another goal I have is to manage stress in a healthier way. Life will always have challenges, but I want to change how I respond to them. Instead of immediately forcing myself to push harder, I want to pause, breathe, and ask what I actually need in that moment. Sometimes the answer will be action, and sometimes it will be rest. Learning to recognize that difference is something I want to practice this year.

Personal growth is also very important to me. Rather than trying to learn everything at once, I want to focus on developing a few meaningful skills slowly and consistently. I’ve come to appreciate the value of deep learning — taking time to truly understand something instead of rushing just to feel productive.

This year, I also want to be more present in my daily life. I often notice how easily my attention moves to the next task, the next plan, or the next worry. Being present means fully listening when someone speaks, enjoying simple moments, and allowing myself to experience life without constantly being distracted.

Building stronger relationships is another goal I care deeply about. I want to be more intentional about staying connected with people I love — checking in, spending time together, and being emotionally available. At the same time, I want to learn how to protect my energy by setting healthier boundaries. Saying no is not about rejection; it’s about honesty and balance.

One goal that is especially close to my heart this year is continuing to develop 5-Minute English Practice. This project means a lot to me, because it’s not just about teaching English — it’s about creating a calm, supportive space where learners feel comfortable and confident. I want to improve the quality of the content, make the lessons clearer and more practical, and help more people feel that English is something they can enjoy, not fear.

I also hope that 5-Minute English Practice can reach more listeners this year — people who may feel shy, busy, or unsure about their English, but still want to improve step by step. My goal is to grow this project slowly and authentically, focusing on connection rather than numbers, and staying true to the original purpose of helping people practice real, everyday English.

Career-wise, my goal is not to work longer hours, but to work with more intention. I want to choose projects that align with my values and bring a sense of meaning. For me, success is no longer about being busy all the time, but about feeling fulfilled and balanced.

As I move into this new year, I remind myself that growth is not a straight line. There will be days when I feel motivated and confident, and days when I feel tired or uncertain. My goal is not perfection, but progress — continuing with patience and kindness toward myself.

In the end, my goals for this year are simple but deeply important. I want to live more intentionally, take better care of myself, grow steadily, nurture meaningful connections, and build something valuable through 5-Minute English Practice. If you’re setting goals this year, I hope you choose ones that feel honest and achievable. Small, consistent steps can lead to lasting change. Thank you for listening, and I wish you a new year filled with clarity, balance, and quiet progress.

Word / Phrase Part of Speech Meaning (English) Example Sentence
Reflect Verb To think deeply about something I like to reflect on my goals at the end of the year.
Truly Adverb Really; in a sincere or honest way Health is what truly matters to me.
Setting goals Noun phrase Deciding what you want to achieve Setting goals helps me stay focused.
Pressured Adjective Feeling pushed or stressed to do something I feel pressured to succeed sometimes.
Intentions Noun Things you plan or want to do My intentions this year are simple and realistic.
Meaningful Adjective Important and valuable Spending time with family is very meaningful to me.
Sustainable Adjective Able to continue for a long time Small habits are more sustainable than big changes.
Ambitious Adjective Having big goals or plans She has very ambitious plans for her career.
Motivation Noun The feeling that makes you want to do something My motivation is stronger in the morning.
Temporary Adjective Lasting for a short time Motivation is often temporary.
Sense of direction Noun phrase Knowing what you want and where you are going A clear sense of direction helps me make decisions.
Steady Adjective Slow but regular Take steady steps toward your goals.
Mental health Noun Emotional and psychological well-being Taking breaks helps my mental health.
Physical health Noun The condition of your body Exercise is good for physical health.
Exhaustion Noun Extreme tiredness Working too much leads to exhaustion.
Mindful Adjective Paying attention to the present moment I try to be more mindful every day.
Guilty Adjective Feeling bad about something I feel guilty when I rest too much.
Manage stress Verb phrase Deal with stress in a healthy way Walking helps me manage stress.
Pause Verb To stop for a short time Take a moment to pause and breathe.
Respond Verb To react or answer How you respond to stress matters.
Personal growth Noun phrase Improving yourself over time Learning new skills is part of personal growth.
Consistently Adverb Doing something regularly I study English consistently every day.
Deep learning Noun Learning something deeply and carefully Deep learning helps me understand better.
Present Adjective Fully focused on the current moment I try to stay present with my family.
Distracted Adjective Not fully focused My phone makes me feel distracted.
Intentional Adjective Done with purpose and thought I want to live more intentional days.
Boundaries Noun Limits you set to protect your time and energy Setting boundaries helps me stay balanced.
Fulfilled Adjective Feeling satisfied and happy I feel fulfilled when my work has meaning.
Progress Noun Moving forward, even slowly Small steps lead to progress.
Achievable Adjective Possible to do Choose goals that are achievable.

Exercise 1: Fill in the Blanks

Use the correct word from the box.

(reflect – meaningful – sustainable – motivation – temporary – exhaustion – mindful – manage stress – present – progress)

  1. At the end of the year, I like to __________ on my goals.
  2. Spending time with family is very __________ to me.
  3. Small habits are more __________ than big changes.
  4. __________ helps us start, but it doesn’t always last.
  5. Motivation is often __________.
  6. Working without rest can lead to __________.
  7. I try to be more __________ and enjoy the moment.
  8. Walking and breathing help me __________.
  9. I put my phone away so I can be fully __________.
  10. Small steps every day lead to real __________.

Exercise 2: Matching

Match the word with its meaning.

A B
1. Ambitious a. Able to continue for a long time
2. Sustainable b. Very tired
3. Exhaustion c. Fully focused on now
4. Present d. Having big goals
5. Boundaries e. Limits to protect your time and energy

Exercise 3: Choose the Correct Answer

  1. If something is temporary, it:
    a) lasts forever
    b) lasts a short time
    c) is very difficult
  2. To manage stress, you should:
    a) ignore it
    b) work harder
    c) deal with it in a healthy way
  3. Someone who is mindful:
    a) thinks about the past only
    b) is aware of the present moment
    c) is always busy

Exercise 4: Rewrite the Sentence

Rewrite using the word in brackets.

  1. I want to think deeply about my goals. (reflect)
    → ______________________________________
  2. These goals are possible to reach. (achievable)
    → ______________________________________
  3. She improves herself slowly over time. (personal growth)
    → ______________________________________

Exercise 5: Speaking / Discussion

Answer in full sentences.

  1. What is one meaningful goal you have this year?
  2. How do you usually manage stress?
  3. Do you think small, steady steps are better than big changes? Why?
  4. How can you be more present in your daily life?

✅ ANSWER KEY

Exercise 1: Fill in the Blanks

  1. reflect
  2. meaningful
  3. sustainable
  4. motivation
  5. temporary
  6. exhaustion
  7. mindful
  8. manage stress
  9. present
  10. progress

Exercise 2: Matching

1 – d
2 – a
3 – b
4 – c
5 – e

Exercise 3: Choose the Correct Answer

  1. b
  2. c
  3. b

Exercise 4: Rewrite the Sentence (Sample Answers)

  1. I want to reflect on my goals.
  2. These goals are achievable.
  3. She focuses on personal growth over time.