The Monthly 22-for-22 Check-In
Instead of setting a traditional New Year’s resolution, one built around daily consistency that collapses the moment you miss a day, consider setting a loose list of 22 things you’d like to accomplish sometime over the year. There’s no fixed order and no daily requirement, just 22 one-time goals to check off whenever you get to them. To keep that list from quietly vanishing into a drawer, I check in on the 22nd of every month as a small, built-in deadline, roughly two goals per month if you want to stay on pace.
Why the check-in matters more than the list itself
A list like this is easy to forget entirely once it’s out of sight, our brains aren’t great at holding onto low-urgency items without a prompt. That’s the whole point of a recurring check-in, it’s not about judging yourself for slow progress, it’s about surfacing the list back into view before too much time passes.
A pleasant surprise worth watching for
Sometimes pulling the list back out reveals genuine progress you didn’t consciously track, a goal you accidentally knocked out while focused on something else entirely. That’s worth celebrating just as much as deliberate progress.
What to do depending on where you land
If you’ve completed several items, celebrate that pace and keep going. If you’ve completed one, use this check-in as a nudge to tackle a second before the month closes. And if you haven’t touched the list at all, don’t spiral into guilt, there’s usually still a week or so left in the month, and ADHD brains tend to respond well to a tight, urgent deadline. Pick the easiest or most appealing item left and give yourself a real shot at finishing it before the month ends.
Your practical, actionable step
Pull out your own list of loose, one-time goals for the year right now, and see honestly where you stand. If you’re behind where you’d like to be, pick one achievable item and commit to finishing it before the month is out.
Until next time, continue to choose joy.
Don't miss the latest episode of the podcast!