Today, we’re talking about an alternative to traditional goal setting… and how you can use it to completely transform your 2025 into a year filled with purpose, excitement, and meaningful growth.

And listen—it is not too late to plan for this year. I know we’re already past the first month, and you might be thinking, “I missed my chance.” That’s A-OK. Life is ongoing. It is never the wrong time to think about how to get the most out of your days and make room for what matters to you most.

Before We Dive In…

Make sure you’ve downloaded our free 2025 New Year Success Workbook. If you haven’t grabbed it yet, head over to jenerationacademy.com/endofyear and get your copy. It’s designed to help you clear space, align your goals, and set yourself up for success this year—and beyond.

It’s full of actionable prompts and specific steps to kick off the year with intention and focus. Because you can’t get where you’re going if you don’t know the steps to get there. Let this be your roadmap.

Okay—let’s get into it.

What Is Life First Planning?

This episode is called Life First Planning, but what does that even mean?

Life First Planning is about flipping the script. Instead of starting with work and everyone else’s demands, you start with YOU. Your dreams. Your joy. Your happiness. Your priorities.

It’s about intentionally designing your life—and then letting everything else fit in around that.

For example, maybe you want family movie nights every Friday. You pop popcorn, pile on the couch, and binge your favorite show together. That’s scheduled. That’s on the calendar. You don’t fit it in after everything else—you schedule it first. And then everything else fits around it.

Why Try It?

Two big reasons:

1. It Prevents Burnout

Life First Planning helps you prioritize rest and well-being. Even if you’re in the middle of a major client launch or a huge initiative, if you’re running on empty, you won’t be showing up as your best self. You’ll feel more resentful than creative, more drained than energized.

You need to schedule in the rest. Don’t power through. That leads to burnout. Trust me—I’ve been there.

2. It Fosters Fulfillment

It’s not just about ticking boxes. Sure, I love a good checklist—but are those tasks actually filling you up?

Are you making time for reflection, for connection, for joy?

Or are you stuck in reactive mode—pinged by texts and emails, always responding to someone else’s needs before your own?

Spotting Work First Planning

This is the default for so many of us. These are some of the thoughts that come up:

• “I need to be available for everyone before I focus on myself.”
• “If I don’t reply immediately, my clients will think I’m not working hard enough.”
• “My worth is tied to how much I accomplish.”
• “If I say no, I’ll let people down.”
• “I’ll rest after I hit my goals.”

Sound familiar?

And it shows up in how we behave:

• You schedule work first and try to squeeze in personal stuff if there’s time left.
• You feel guilty taking a break.
• You skip meals. (I’m guilty—I’ll eat while catching up on a video or watching a podcast.)
• You answer emails during family time.
• You sacrifice sleep just to get more done.

Being present means your mind, your focus, your energy are where your body is. And if you’ve got kids, they’re watching you. When you tell them to put away the screens and they see you glued to yours… yeah. They notice.

So start putting your phone away. Like, literally put it in a drawer if you need to. Be present where you are.

How to Shift Into Life First Mode

Step 1: Recognize the Pattern

Look at how you’re currently structuring your days. Are your personal priorities only getting the scraps of leftover time? Or are you being thoughtful and proactive?

Step 2: Reframe Your Mindset

Ask yourself:

“How can I fit work around my life?”

That question can change everything—your stress level, your sense of joy, your energy, your connection with the people you love.

Step 3: Reshape Your Schedule

I’ve got to give credit to Jesse Itzler for this one. He’s been a mentor of mine, and his whole approach to building your life resume really stuck with me.

If you’ve been around, you know I did the 29029 Everesting event he created. No snow, just a ski resort in Utah, where I hiked up and down until I hit the vertical equivalent of Everest. Nine ascents. Headlamp at night. By myself. Terrifying. And one of the most rewarding experiences of my life.

He created this huge wall calendar—the Big Ass Calendar—and the whole idea is: PLAN YOUR LIFE FIRST.

What to Plan (and How to Start)

You’ll find all of this in the workbook too, but here’s how I break it down:

1. Top 3 Experiences You Want in 2025

What are they?

Why are they meaningful to you?

What steps do you need to take to make them happen?

For me, that meant planning a trip to the Nethercutt Museum with my dad. He’s a car guy. I wanted my boys to experience that through his eyes. We had the best day. And I planned it. (And I’m not usually the planner in our house—shoutout to my husband who’s a 10/10 trip planner.)

2. Six Out-of-the-Ordinary Experiences

Try one every two months:

• Take a cooking class
• Master Neapolitan pizza dough
• Learn calligraphy or pottery or the drums (yes, I bought vintage drums from my neighbor—they’re mine now!)
• Start a cutting garden
• Race cars on a track (did it for my birthday—unforgettable!)

3. One New Habit at a Time

Try one per month, or one every two months if that feels better.

Think about which habit would make the biggest difference in your life. Maybe it’s walking 10,000 steps a day. That could change your sleep, your water intake, your food choices, your energy.

And put systems in place to help:

• I got a walking pad and a standing desk.
• I got better walking clothes and gear.
• I make sure I have everything ready so it’s a no-brainer.

What systems will you need?

Reflect and Adjust

Ask yourself:

• What were my greatest hits from last year?
• What were the worst misses?
• What lessons can I take from them?

For example, I recently reconnected with a childhood best friend. We hadn’t seen each other in years, even though we live close. We made a plan, hung out, and while we were together—we scheduled the next one. On the spot. And it’s on the calendar.

If you’re doing something fun—out with a friend, getting a massage, visiting family—schedule the next one while you’re there. Don’t leave it open-ended.

Prioritize Your People

Think about who lights you up. Who do you feel good around? Be proactive about spending time with them. Don’t wait for the invite—be the invite.

If you have a partner, set up a weekly or biweekly date night. Find a babysitting swap. Get creative.

Commit to Boundaries

Protect your time. Say no to what doesn’t align.

Not because you’re being difficult—but because you’re saying YES to yourself.

And don’t forget to regularly review and adjust your calendar. If something needs to move, move it. But don’t let it disappear. It matters.

You Deserve a Life That Works for YOU

Work-first planning is easy to fall into. Society encourages it constantly. But you deserve a life where your priorities come first. Not just squeezed into the leftover cracks.

Shift the focus back to YOU. Create a life that’s full of joy, connection, adventure, and presence.

And if this resonated with you, I’d love to hear it. DM me on Instagram @jenerationpr or join our free Facebook group, Powerhouse Pros. It’s filled with thousands of incredible PR professionals all over the world, supporting and lifting each other up.

Let me know how you’re putting Life First Planning into action for 2025.

I’ll see you in the next episode—and until then, go out and crush it. I’ll be crushing it right alongside you. 💥