Set Your 2025 Songwriting Goals with This 5-Step Process

As songwriters, we’re no strangers to ambition. We dream big, set goals, and picture a year filled with creativity and progress. But how often do we find ourselves falling short, with some goals thriving while others fade into the background? If that sounds familiar, let’s make 2025 different—together.

I’ve always been a fan of setting goals, but sticking to them has been a challenge. This year, inspired by Feel-Good Productivity by Ali Abdaal, I’m trying something new. Ali, one of the world’s top productivity experts, redefines productivity as joy, not hustle. As a songwriter, that’s a game-changer.

“Hustle” has always felt like the opposite of creativity to me. I’m all for hard work, but creativity flourishes with mindfulness, reflection, and enjoying the process. That’s why I’ve developed a new approach—one that balances productivity and creativity, helping us hit our goals while keeping the joy in songwriting.

I call it The Five I’s, and I’m excited to share it with you to inspire you to set meaningful songwriting goals and engage with a community that supports you every step of the way. These 5 steps also pull from lessons I learned from our January Book Circle pick, Atomic Habits by James Clear.

The Five I’s: A Songwriting Goal-Setting Framework

1. Identify

   
   

   Define your goal as simply as possible—something even a five-year-old could understand. Then, ask yourself: Why is this my goal? Writing down your goals and the reasons behind them significantly increases your chances of success. Studies show you’re 42% more likely to achieve your goals if you write them down and review them regularly (source).

   
   

   Example:

   Goal: Write 25 songs in 2025.

   Why: To build a portfolio of work for collaborations, improve my songcraft, and express myself authentically.

   
   

2. Invert It

   
   

   Flip the script: What would you do to never achieve this goal? This exercise helps uncover potential barriers and bottlenecks, making it easier to spot and address them.

   
   

   Example:

   To NEVER write 25 songs, I’d:

   → Never set aside dedicated time for songwriting.

   → Avoid collaborating with others.

   → Leave my instruments and tools unorganized.

   
   

   The list would probably be much longer, but you get the idea! This step is surprisingly cathartic—it shows how small adjustments can lead to big changes.

   
   

3. Ingredients

   
   

   What do you need to achieve your goal? List the tangible and intangible resources required to bring it to life.

   
   

   Example:

   Tangible: My guitar, notebook, and access to recording software.

   Intangible: Quiet time, a songwriting challenge for inspiration, and a supportive community (hello, fellow songwriters!).

   
   

   Pro Tip: Stock up on essentials! I used to spend more time searching for a guitar pick than actually playing, so now I keep bags of them everywhere. Small preparations can save you time and frustration.

   
   

4. Implementation

   
   

   What actions do you need to take to reach your goal? Consider your time, energy, and focus. Ask yourself: What will I need to let go of to prioritise this goal?

   
   

   Example:

   Actions:

   → Spend 30 minutes daily on songwriting.

   → Join an online songwriting community.

   → Participate in challenges like FAWM (February Album Writing Month) or Songtember.

   → Use car journeys to listen to songwriting podcasts or other resources.

   → Create a dedicated songwriting area/space.

   
   

   Sacrifices:

   → Reduce time spent on social media or other distractions that don’t add value or joy.

   
   

   To stay focused, I’ve decided to go “phoneless” one day per month to eliminate distractions and fully immerse myself in my songwriting.

   
   

5. In Case of Emergency (ICE)

   
   

   Life happens—plans derail, and motivation wanes. What’s your backup plan when things go off track?

   
   

   Examples:

   If burnout strikes: Take a break by listening to inspiring music, watching a songwriting tutorial, or journaling about my feelings.

   
   

   If life gets hectic: Scale down my goals temporarily (e.g., write just a chorus instead of full songs) and remind myself that progress is progress. Small steps make a big difference over time. In 2024, an unexpected move to Africa completely disrupted my plans, but looking back, I realise I could’ve adjusted and kept moving forward if I had an ICE strategy in place.

   
   

Join a Songwriting Community that Supports You

The best way to stick to your goals is to surround yourself with like-minded people who encourage and inspire you. Joining a songwriting community can provide the accountability, inspiration, and support you need to stay on track.

If you’re looking for a community that offers all of this—and more—We Write Songs could be the perfect fit for you.

Here’s what we offer:

• Accountability: Share your goals and progress with others on the same path.

• Inspiration: Learn from others’ creativity and experiences through masterclasses, courses, and our rich resource library.

• Support: Celebrate successes, navigate challenges together, and get peer feedback on your songs at any stage.

• Coaching: Quarterly one-on-one coaching is a brand-new feature for our premium members in 2025—designed to go even further in supporting your songwriting journey.

Let’s Make 2025 the Year We Achieve Our Songwriting Goals!

I’d love to hear your goals for 2025! What are you working toward, and what bottlenecks are holding you back? Share your thoughts in the comments or join the conversation in We Write Songs.

Let’s make 2025 the year we embrace productivity with joy and creativity. Together, we can write more songs, achieve our goals, and grow as songwriters.

Ready to get started? Drop your goals below and let’s connect!

Note: The links to books and resources in this post are not affiliate links. They are simply recommended materials to help you on your songwriting journey.