Hey Goal Investigator. Welcome back with the Week 7 Action Plan. This week, with your action plan, you will continue to take action on your goals – one action step at a time. You will also look at your vision board. Continue to work with your happiness list, and keep up your weekly tracking.
Your vision board
Your Happiness List
Weekly Tracking
Your vision board
Back when I first learnt about vision boards, you got a blank piece of paper, and you cut out pictures of what you wanted in your life. Now that technology has advanced, there are so many more options.
Paper collage
Photo folder on your phone and computer, and watch your vision board as a slide show as you play a motivating song.
Pintrest
Other memo apps and software
Use as many as you like, just gather images and words and graphics of what you want in your life and visualise them daily. I personally use a folder on my phone and watch them on a slide show.
Your happiness list
As you will know by now if you have been following along with the weekly Action Plans from week 1. Your happiness list is items that you like to do that make you happy. These can be personal care such as getting a facial or giving yourself one, doing your nails, applying a divine body lotion to your skin with your nighttime routine, Activities that make you happy such as going for a dog walk on the beach or with your partner, working on your car, building something. Crafts such as embroidery, decorating cakes, making jewellery, crocheting or knitting. Do at least one thing from your happiness list daily, as a reward for completing an action step from your goal, as a pick-me-up when you are feeling sad or stressed, or you have done one of the activities from the roadblocks or sabotages exercises.
For my personal care this week, I bought myself a body lotion, and it smells divine, and it makes my skin feel silky soft. Next week I will be getting myself a mascara – I am torn whether to buy the ingredients to make myself one or to just buy one.
Weekly tracking
Continue your weekly tracking; this is where you record the action you have taken this week, what you have accomplished and how you rewarded yourself.
Weekly Tracking
Focus of the week
Top 3 Tasks of the Week
Resources required
Accomplishments of the week
Weekly Tasks/habits
Weekly Notes
Top 3 Action Steps for next week
This concludes this week’s action plan. If you haven’t already created a vision board, continue to do things that make you happy and track your actions. If you want help with your goal investigation, you can purchase our WhatsApp Goal Investigation support, where you can share multimedia texts with your Goal Detective. You can ask questions about something you are stuck on with your goal investigation. If you need weekly support and accountability with your goals, or anything else goal-related. The minutes are counted with your Goal Detective’s time, not your time sending the message. The good thing about the WhatsApp Goal Investigation Support is that it is a tool you can use on the go, and you don’t have to book in time to work with your Goal Detective.
Sydney is an empty neaster, her children are grown and are living there own lives.
She is trying to choose what to do with her life now that it doesn’t revolve around her children.
She has to choose what she wants to do for her occupation and has been trying to decide between:creating products (home fragrances such as candles, reed diffusers, soaps and the like), to increase her part-time cleaning jobs to full time work, or to become a freelance copywriter.
She has some debt from decisions she has made in the past
She is currently in a relationship, but doesn’t see her family much. She has a few close friends who she meets up with a few times per month.
She has a few hobbies and leisure activities: she likes to read and stream series and movies, she likes to crochet and do craft things, she wants to take up a hobby or activity that requires joining a group.
She has recently been diagnosed with osteoarthritis and high cholesterol
She doesn’t exercise as much as she know she should
Feeling in control: for the most part she feels she is in control of her life
Feeling relaxed: except for being a bit restless now that she has more free time on her hand, she is mostly relaxed.
Living conditions: she lives in a tiny house with her partner, they have realised that living in a tiny house isn’t working for them anymore and are wanting to buy a small standalone house in a rural setting.
She doesn’t have another life area that she wants to explore.
This Starter Guide gives you a full sneak peek of what to expect in future Goal Investigation Weekly posts. Ready for more? Week 1 launches soon!
Hey there, Investigator-in-the-Making!
I’m Goal Detective Cindy, founder of Holistic Goal Detectives LTD — and your guide on this journey toward Creating Your Dream Plan Action Life.
This Starter Guide introduces you to the tools, systems, and mindset shifts that can help you move toward the life you want — or at least that first, doable goal.
You’ll also get a sneak peek into what to expect in the Goal Investigation Weekly series, and you’ll walk away with tools you can start using right now. Just simple, practical steps to help you investigate your goals like a pro.
Who This Guide Is For
This is perfect for you if:
You are at a crossroads and want help working out which path to take
You want to feel clearer, calmer, and more capable of moving forward
You love journaling, planning, or personal growth (even if it’s messy sometimes)
You’ve never had a coach — or maybe you’re curious what it would feel like to have one
What Is a Goal Investigation?
A Goal Investigation is exactly what it sounds like: It’s where you investigate what you truly want — and why.
We start with reflection.
You’ll take a snapshot of where your life is right now, then zoom in on one life area that matters most to you. From there, you’ll gently define a simple, meaningful goal — and break it down into something doable. Let’s get started,
Cindy Your Friendly Goal Detective
What Is a Goal?
A goal is simply a clear decision about what you want to create or change in your life — and the steps you’ll take to make it happen.
Goals give your dreams structure. They turn someday into soon — and give you a way to track progress, stay motivated, and celebrate the little wins.
What Makes a Good Goal? Try SMART.
SMART is a simple tool to help you shape your goals into something achievable — not just wishful thinking.
S – Specific What exactly do you want to achieve?
M – Measurable How will you know when you’ve made progress or finished?
A – Achievable Is it realistic for your energy, time, and resources — but still helps you grow?
R – Relevant Does it matter to you? Will it make a difference in your life right now?
T – Timebound When do you want to complete it by? A deadline helps keep things moving.
Try It Now:
Write down one small goal you’d love to explore. Then ask: ✔ Is it SMART? ✔ Can you tweak it to be clearer or more doable?
This might be your first mini-investigation — and a great warm-up for what’s ahead.
Life Assessment (Lite Version)
Before we zoom in on one goal, let’s take a quick snapshot of where you’re at. Use a 0–10 scale to rate your current satisfaction in each of these five life areas:
Life Area
Scale 0-10
What about this Life Area do you want to focus on?
Finances
Health
Career
Relationships
Joy
Which area feels most important to you right now? That’s where we’ll begin.
Brainstorming: Idea Playground
Take the life area you want to focus on — and let your ideas flow.
Use a fresh page in your journal or even just a blank piece of paper; to brain-dump all your thoughts, hopes, and changes you’d love to see. Don’t overthink — just write freely.
Then, choose one idea or goal to carry forward.
Goal Details
SMART Element
Your Notes
Specific
What exactly do you want to achieve?
Measurable
How will you know it’s done?
Achievable
Is it realistic and growth-focused?
Relevant
Why does this matter to you now?
Timebound
What’s your deadline or timeframe?
Monthly Task Tracker (Record your first three action steps)
Tick when complete
Action Steps
Due Date
Finish
Action Step 1
x
Action Step 2
x
Action Step 3
x
Start small — you’re not behind. You’re beginning.
Next Steps With Holistic Goal Detectives:
Want hands-on off support: Holistic Goal Detectives blog has free and paid articles that can help you on your journey to Creating Your Dream Plan Action Life. www.hgdnz.online
The Goal Investigation Weekly NZD$4.50 per week, you can choose to pay weekly, monthly, or yearly. This series takes you through the whole process, starting where you are and guiding you on the path to Creating Your Dream Plan Action Life. www.hgdnz.online
Hey there, Goal Investigator! If you’re waiting for a sign, a push, or a nudge to start working on your goals and dreams, consider this it. You’ve got this! Sometimes, the idea of taking that first step can be scary, like a terrier. But remember what Mel Robbins says: 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, launch. In this case, it’s 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, take action.
Today is a good day to take action
Hey there, Goal Investigator! If you’re waiting for a sign, a push, or a nudge to start working on your goals and dreams, consider this your push. You’ve got this! Sometimes, the idea of taking that first step can be scary and terrifying. But remember what Mel Robbins says: be like a rocket going into space 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, launch. In this case, it’s 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, take action.
Often, we get caught up in our heads on what we should do and get stuck in analysis paralysis. We get so stuck in the research stage that we forget to actually take action and get started. Because at the end of the day, we aren’t going to achieve our goals and dreams if we don’t start taking action. It doesn’t have to be a big, scary action; it can be baby steps. It’s just the first thing you can think of to get started. Often, the hardest part is getting started.
Is there a daily activity you can incorporate to build a habit and make progress? For instance, if your goal is fitness, consider a thirty- to sixty-minute walk before work with your dogs. The initial attempts might be challenging, but if you persist, it will soon become a part of your routine.
Another example is if you are writing a book, is there a time of the day that you can write for thirty to sixty minutes, OR are you more motivated with a number of words? How many words each day can you write at a minimum? My minimum number of words daily is 300. It is a doable amount, and often, I will write more than this.
What I am saying is to set a minimum goal to get you started, and often, once you are started, you will do the full amount or more.
Let’s build a community of support and motivation. Share your tips and tricks for getting started and staying on track. Together, we can overcome procrastination and achieve our goals.
Like many of you, I often feel overwhelmed by a large goal or an extensive Task Tracker list. The sheer magnitude can lead to procrastination, self-sabotage, or a belief that the task is too daunting to tackle. However, I’ve discovered a powerful strategy that brings relief: breaking it down into manageable baby steps.
First, I gain an overview of what I want to achieve by brainstorming the goal and listing all the tasks I need to complete. I also take time to define what success looks like for me. Then, I work backward from the desired outcome, identifying the steps needed to reach it. Once I have a clear destination in mind, the next step is to plan my first move. This simple act of planning helps me feel more in control of my journey.
What is the very first thing I need to do? Is there anything else I can tackle in the meantime? Sometimes, I find myself waiting for someone else to respond. During those moments, it’s essential to practice patience and tolerance. Can I do something else while I wait?
Personally, I start with the big picture and then determine the next step. After completing that step, I move on to the following one. At times, I need to plan several steps in advance, especially if they build on each other or if there are time-sensitive tasks involved.
Since we are at the start of Quarter 2 for 2025 a lot of the recent posts have been about planning for this coming Q2. I have also given you a look into my life with my personal Life Assessment Reflection for Q2 20225.
Planning for the month ahead helps you stay on track with your quarterly focus. It allows you to break it up into smaller, manageable chunks. It also allows you to evaluate what is important to you. By pre-planning, you will be more prepared for the action steps you need to take, and you won’t be surprised by events.
Manifesting a loving partner involves a combination of self-awareness, positive thinking, and taking actionable steps. Here are some strategies to help you on your journey to attract the right person into your life.
I was in a car accident on 1 November 2024. This has affected all areas of my life, and I have had to not take on any new clients in my backup job as a domestic cleaner. I am not sad about not being able to take on new cleaning clients, but I am sad that it has finally set me back about two years.
Embark on the Life Assessment, a crucial step in the Create Your Dream Plan Action Life. This assessment, which I’ve shared my own version of, serves as the cornerstone for understanding your current life situation and setting your future goals.
Embark on the Life Assessment, a crucial step in the Create Your Dream Plan Action Life. This assessment, which I’ve shared my own version of, serves as the cornerstone for understanding your current life situation and setting your future goals.
A clear understanding of your current situation is the key to unlocking your future goals. It’s like a puzzle, where each piece represents a different aspect of your life. For instance, my accident led me to rely on government financial assistance. But I’ve set a goal to replace this with my own earnings, not just to improve my life, but to gain independence and self-sufficiency.
Having this figure allows me to set smaller goals (milestones), the first of which was to have a Gross wage of $160, and the next milestone will be $200, and then $250, and so on until I reach the magic number of $700. This also allows me to set business financial goals with the target of $850 (The wage is about 82% of sales). But this is just a starting point. Once the business has reached this sales goal, it can switch to the next financial goal.
I want to add that once I have raised my wage to $700, I need to stay there for at least 13 weeks. Another way to look at it is for an entire quarter, plus the partial quarter if the target isn’t reached at changeover. This is to allow me to get comfortable in my new situation before levelling up again. This can also be referred to as reaching an upper limit. You can find more on this by reading or listening to Gay Hendricks’ “The Big Leap.”
You need to ask yourself, where are you now? And where do you want to go?
Want a planner to help you plan and track your quarterly goals? The Quarterly Planner is for you.
I was in a car accident on 1 November 2024. This has affected all areas of my life, and I have had to not take on any new clients in my backup job as a domestic cleaner. I am not sad about not being able to take on new cleaning clients, but I am sad that it has finally set me back about two years.
In the early stages of recovery, I was inspired to start with my Crafty Monkey Creations product range of candles and reed diffusers. You can check them out at cmchgd.com; you can buy them if you live in NZ. This has made me realise that I must change how I do things. I need to sell only the products I already have in stock, not those I INTEND to sell. I do better if I pre-make the product and then sell it. There is too much pressure for me to pre-sell something and meet the demand.
Part of this is that I have a short attention span. I am creative and like to make something once or twice but then get bored or another project catches my eye.
I cycle through projects, which means making products in bulk to sell via the website or creating products that are set and forgotten. I also need to batch-write blog posts so you get one new post from me daily.
Finances: My finances have taken a hit due to the accident. I have not been able to work at all for a couple of weeks and have been working reduced hours since December. All of my savings have been used, and I have unfortunately had to go back full-time on the benefit.
Solution for finances: I need to bring home a Gross wage of $700, which will give me an in-hand amount of $547.49. This doesn’t improve my financial situation, but it gives me independence.
Job or occupation: As mentioned above, I am returning to Domestic Support part-time. I have started a home and body product range via Crafty Monkey Creations, but this is a slow build.
For my passion project, Holistic Goal Detectives LTD, I have started to write a book, Create Your Dream Plan Action Life – Take Your Dreams and Make Them a Reality. I realised I was forcing myself to make a course, and it just wasn’t feeling right for me at this time. Thus, I have gone back to basics and focusing on my writing. And I am committed to writing one blog post a day. Once I get back in the habit of writing daily, I will turn some of my posts into an audio podcast. I just (last night) found out that my web host has a section for setting up a podcast, so look out for that very soon. At this stage, my planners are the final part of Holistic Goal Detectives LTD. I started with The Quarterly Planner, which I updated for personal use. Next will be The Future Plan, which is still in development. I will also make the individual components available for purchase so that you can pick and choose the inserts you want to make the perfect planner for your needs.
The first financial goal for the Holistic Goal Detectives LTD group is $850 per week or $3700 per month.
Friends: I am happy with my interaction with my friend group. It would be nice to have a business friend to bounce ideas off, but that would require me to go to a networking event, so I am not interested in doing it at this stage.
Leisure: While recovering, I have had plenty of downtime. I am happy with the books I am reading and the streaming services I have. OHHHHH and I have started gardening. Rather than failing again at in-ground gardening, I have been trying container gardening and have had some success. It is very addicting, though, but in the long run, it will help with my health because I will eat more fresh fruit and vegetables than snacking on junk food.
Once I have some extra money
I would like to start going to the beach more often to walk the girls (dogs). The cost of extra petrol means I can only occasionally go to the beach at the moment, which is about a thirty-minute drive from home. It is a good way for me to de-stress and find peace.
I want to get a day back and hiking boots and start going on day hikes again. Furthermore, I would like to get a multi-day pack and relevant tools and equipment for several days of hiking. I would like to do more of the Te Aroha track and other Great Walks of New Zealand. It is an amazing way to see the country I live in.
To accompany the multi-day hikes, I would like to get a food dehydrator and dehydrate some of the fruit and vegetables that I grow on the land. I would also like to dehydrate my own meals for when I am hiking.
Once my fitness is better than what it is now, I would like to get a kayak.
Partner or relationship: I am still single; I have been working on myself. As much as I would like a partner, I need to get my financial situation sorted first. By that, I mean I need to get to my minimum wage first. That way, I can feel like I am an equal partner, not a lesser partner in the relationship. I don’t know; this is just how I feel. I miss having a best friend who is a companion, but he needs to be the right person. And if I see a red flag, I need to learn that means stop, not jump in anyway.
Health: Alright, let’s get into it; having to write this section out has held me up writing this post. But here goes. On 1 November 2024, I was driving to Auckland from Whangarei (about 2.5 to 3 hours to get to my aunt’s place from my home). I was driving at the speed limit of just under a few days before I had been given a speeding ticket. I was going straight on the highway, and as I came to the intersection at the Ruakaka turnoff, a car pulled out in front of me. I tried breaking, to no avail. After impact, I tried to get as far off the road as possible.
The impact was on the passenger side bonnet and door. Thankfully, Fluffy, my small white dog, was in her car seat, and I think that cushioned her impact, and she was unhurt. The airbag punched me in the face, but thankfully, I didn’t get bruises on my face. I also suffered from a whiplash from the seat belt and the impact. My injuries were cracked ribs and bent bone in my neck, and I injured my back in new places. I am so very thankful that my injuries were not any more serious. Oh, I did have an MRI after I was ambulance to the hospital. I think it is an MRI, the one where you have to remove all of your jewellery, and you are put horizontally into the machine that takes images of your insides.
Today as I write this, it is Friday, 4 April 2025; my ongoing injuries are my ribs still hurt from time to time, only a mild niggle. My back is excruciating; sometimes, walking is very painful.
I have this week made an appointment with the doctor to see if I can get a pain management plan in place. Because I need some help.
Also, I went from 73kgs to 82kgs.
Exercise: Yeah, exercise. Hmm. My chosen form of exercise is walking. But for a while there, I couldn’t even do that. It was a struggle to walk maybe 50 steps of where my driveway meets the shared driveway. Since “getting better”, I have done a few walks but haven’t done as much as I should. For free exercise, I can walk along the road. There are two problems: I hate walking along the rural road, and my shared driveway is long and narrow. Okay, three points; the third is if my land was shaven, I mean weedeated, then I could do laps on my property. Sadly, it is overgrown with brambles, and I cannot use my weedeater.
Living conditions: Around the time of my accident, I was getting some work done on the lifestyle property:
I got my tiny house turned around, and wastewater/septic sinkhole holes were dug
a flushing toilet was installed and upgraded from a camp toilet
10,000-liter water upgraded from 1,000 litres
To help with all of this, I got some groundwork done.
What’sWhat’s next:
A proper house water pump
A vegetable garden that provides 80% of my vegetables from now on
I need a shed for my laundry to get a proper automatic washing machine with enough space to dry the laundry in winter. And space to operate Crafty Monkey Creations until I can get a building made for my office/crafts/Crafty Monke Creations
Then, a bedroom pod for when my youngest visits on the weekend.
Feeling relaxed: I am a little tense right now because of everything that is going on. I will feel better once I reach my minimum financial goal.
Feeling in control: For the most part, I am in control of my life. I can’t control when people buy from me, but I can do some marketing and advertising to increase awareness, which will organically increase sales.
Are you ready to take control of your time and achieve your goals? Introducing The Quarterly Planner, your ultimate tool for effective planning and personal transformation. This planner, designed with practicality at its core, empowers you to take action today and make meaningful progress over the next three months, giving you a sense of control and confidence in your journey.
Structured Reflection: Begin your journey with a Life Assessment, a comprehensive tool to evaluate your current situation in various aspects of life such as career, health, and relationships. This reflection section helps you understand your current state and set a meaningful focus for the next three months.
Goal-Oriented Approach: Break your priorities into manageable monthly goals. No more overwhelm—feel equipped and focused as you confidently tackle each milestone.
Flexible and Undated: Our planner is an undated downloadable document, allowing you to start whenever you want. You can print it out each quarter and customise it to fit your needs, making it a truly personalised tool for your planning journey!
What’s Inside?
1. The Quarterly Planner: Start with a comprehensive guide to plan your quarter effectively, including space for notes and reflections. This planner is designed to meet all your planning needs in one place.
2. 2025 Monthly Planner: Featuring each month across two pages, with dedicated note sections to jot down important ideas and reminders. The 2025 Monthly Planner is dated.
3. 2025 Weekly Planner: Stay organised with daily spaces for appointments, to-do lists, and sections for tracking weekly goals and additional notes. This insert has two pages per week and is dated.
4. Task Tracker: With 15 dedicated pages, you’ll have plenty of room to keep track of your tasks, ensuring nothing falls through the cracks. Need more? Print as many as you need!
5. Notes Pages: A total of 15 pages devoted to your thoughts, ideas, and inspirations.
Ready to Transform Your Planning?
Don’t let another quarter slip by without making meaningful progress. With The Quarterly Planner, you can embrace a practical approach to your goals, ensuring you feel ready to take action daily.
Order Now! Get instant access to your downloadable planner and start your journey to success today!
There are only six days left in March and Quarter 1 of 2025. Where has the time gone? That means one Quarter is ending, and 1 quarter is about to start. By now, you have most likely forgotten what you had set out to achieve in the past 90ish days. At the very least, you may have drifted off course. It’s time to review what was accomplished, what wasn’t, what worked, and what you would do differently. And to prepare for the next 91 days.
(c) 2025 Goal Detective Cindy (Hargreaves). Cindy’s actual planner.
Q1 2025 Review and reset
Before you can set the focus for Q2 2025, you need to review the focus and actions from the previous Quarter. This will give you an idea of what you need to focus on next and help form the basis of the next quarterly plan.
You will need a notebook to Create Your Dream Plan, Action Life plan, or buy the PDF Printable of the Q2 2025 Quarterly Planner.
What was the focus for Q1?
At the start of the Quarter, what did you set out to achieve that Quarter, the focus? If you use a notebook, head up a page with Q1 2025 Focus. Yes, for this section, we are focusing on the Quarter that has just begun. Summerise the focus for the Quarter.
What worked?
On a new page in your notebook, head it with “What worked.” Think back over the last three months and consider what action steps you have taken. Out of those steps, what worked?
In the coming Quarter, as you go, you will note down what worked in the Q2 2025 section.
For example, for my other business, Crafty Monkey Creations, I recently launched a shop using Shopify (that has been a big win). I have recently started an action step to create a purchase order for the stock I need to make. This helps because then I can easily input the stock values into my Makers Calculator spreadsheet to determine the quantities of the raw materials I need for the restock.
What did not work? And What would you do differently?
This section on “What did not work” doesn’t mean you failed; it just means you tried something and it wasn’t the right action for you. This section ties in with the next section, “What would you do differently?” Both of these help you, on reflection, work out what is right for you, your goals, and what you are trying to achieve right now.
Q1 Monthly Review
We will zero in on January, February, and March of 2025. This will let you look closer and highlight various aspects in more detail. For each month, make notes on the following, just like you did for the quarterly review:
Monthly focus
What did you achieve this month?
What do you still have to do?
What did you do instead of or as an extra activity towards your goal?
Having the quarterly review recorded helps you plan your actions for the next Quarter. It also helps you with the end-of-year review and setting your goals for the next year.
In the next blog post, we will look at setting the plan for Q2 2025.
