It’s March 10 as I write this, which means Q1 is almost over, and here’s the truth: I didn’t hit my top two goals.

One of them was money-related—realistic, totally achievable, and yet… it didn’t happen. And I know exactly why.

• I set the goal but didn’t track my progress consistently.
• I didn’t break it down into micro-tasks with deadlines to keep me on track.
• I let shiny distractions pull me away from what was actually important.

It sucks. There’s no sugarcoating it. But the thing about missing a goal is that you have two choices:

1. Let it discourage you and slow you down.
2. Take a hard look at what went wrong, adjust, and go harder next quarter.

I’m choosing option #2.

If you’re in the same boat of feeling like Q1 slipped away but still determined to make this year your year, here’s what I’m doing to reset my goals, build better systems, and actually hit my targets in Q2.

How I’m Resetting My Goals for Q2 (And How You Can Too)

1. Stop the Spiral and Get Real About What Went Wrong

Before jumping into “fixing” things, I need to actually process what happened. The biggest mistake people make after missing a goal is skipping the reflection phase and setting a new goal without learning from the last one.

Here’s how I’m looking at it:

• Was the goal itself the problem? No. It was realistic and achievable.
• Did I track it consistently? Nope. I checked in occasionally but didn’t have a system to stay on top of it.
• Did I let other things pull me away? 100%. I got distracted by projects that weren’t the priority.
• Did I stretch myself enough without overdoing it? I set the right goal but didn’t push myself hard enough with structure and deadlines.

This step isn’t about beating yourself up. It’s about figuring out what needs to change so you don’t repeat the same cycle in Q2.

2. The 48-Hour Rule: Resetting Goals the Right Way

Instead of just setting a new goal and hoping for the best, I’m using the 48-hour reset rule.

Here’s how it works:

1. Take a full day to process what didn’t work—without guilt.
2. On day two, create the new plan, making sure it actually fits into your life and work.
3. By the end of 48 hours, commit to the refreshed goal with a clear roadmap.

I’m giving myself next weekend to do a full Q2 reset so I hit the ground running by the end of the month.

3. Goals Need a System, Not Just a Deadline

One of my biggest mistakes in Q1? Not having a system to track my progress.

For Q2, I’m doing things differently:

Breaking my goal into micro-milestones.
→ Instead of saying, “I need to make X amount,” I’m setting weekly revenue targets and tracking progress every Friday.

Setting action-based goals, not just outcome-based ones.
→ Example: Instead of just aiming for “X amount per month,” I’ll track how many pitches, content pieces, and outreach efforts I do weekly.

Using the ‘Future You’ Method.
→ Every Sunday, I’ll check in with myself: “If Future Me hit this goal, what did she do this week to make it happen?” Then, I’ll adjust my tasks accordingly.

Making tracking part of my weekly routine.
→ If I don’t track my progress, I’ll repeat Q1’s mistake. This time, I’m adding my revenue + progress tracking into my Notion dashboard and checking it every Friday.

4. Stop Playing Small and Stretch the Goal Just Enough

One thing I don’t want to do? Play it safe just because I didn’t hit my goal last quarter.

But I also don’t want to go overboard and burn myself out. The balance is stretching the goal just beyond what feels comfortable.

For example:
If my Q1 goal was $10K, and I hit $6K, I’m not lowering it to $6K for Q2. Instead, I’ll stretch it to $12K—enough to challenge me without feeling impossible.

The key is to push yourself without making the goal so big that it paralyzes you.

5. Building a Q2 ‘No List’ (So I Stop Getting Distracted)

Shiny distractions killed my Q1 progress. Random projects, unnecessary deep dives into things that weren’t urgent, content ideas that didn’t align with my goals.

So, for Q2, I’m making a ‘No List’—a list of things that look productive but actually pull me away from my main goal.

No unnecessary content rabbit holes. If I’m making content, it’s because it supports my bigger goal, and not just for the sake of posting.

No projects that don’t align with my revenue goal. If it’s not directly tied to hitting my Q2 financial target, it’s a no.

No overcomplicating things. If there’s a simple way to do something, I’m choosing that over perfectionism.

6. Accountability and Public Tracking

One thing I know helps is making the goal public—not just in a “tell everyone” way, but in a way that keeps me accountable.

Ways I’m doing this in Q2:
✔ Sharing progress updates on my social media/blog (not just the wins, but the real numbers).
✔ Checking in with a freelance accountability buddy weekly.
✔ Keeping a visual tracker in Notion so I see my progress every day.

If you struggle with self-accountability, find a way to bring others into the process. It makes a huge difference.

Q2 is Not a Write-Off, It’s a Reset

Yes, I didn’t hit my Q1 goals. But instead of seeing that as failure, I’m using it as a reset—a chance to refine my systems, stretch myself just enough, and actually hit my targets this time.

If you’re feeling like Q1 slipped away from you too, you can still turn the year around. Your goals aren’t lost. They just need a better plan.

What’s one thing you’re changing for Q2 to make sure you hit your goals? Send me a DM and let’s support each other!