Wow, how is it that another year is almost behind us? The older I get, the more I feel like time is just flying by, and if you're not intentional about making the most of your time, you'll get left behind chasing goals you never quite reach. This reality feels even more true as I reflect on 2025 and look ahead to what I want to accomplish in 2026.

In the spirit of making the most of my time and staying intentional with my progress, I'm a firm believer in the power of planning, setting, and reflecting on goals…both personal goals for my life and business goals for City Girl Savings. But here's what makes goal-setting even more powerful: accountability.

Sharing my goals publicly with the CGS community holds me accountable to actually working toward them instead of letting them sit in a journal collecting dust. It also gives you real-world examples of how entrepreneurs balance personal wellness goals with business growth targets, manage financial priorities while building wealth, and adjust expectations when things don't go as planned.

In this transparent episode, I'm sharing my complete personal and business goals for 2026, along with honest progress updates on the goals I set for 2025…the wins, the misses, and the valuable lessons learned along the way. From maxing out my Roth IRA to managing a short-term rental property, from improving profit margins to taking a podcast break for mental health, I'm pulling back the curtain on what it really looks like to run a business while prioritizing personal wellness.

My hope is that you finish this episode feeling empowered and inspired to set and reflect on your own 2026 goals, whether they're financial, health-related, business-focused, or all of the above.

Here's What You'll Learn in This Episode:

Balancing ambitious financial goals with realistic expectations

Investment strategies: maxing out retirement accounts (Roth IRA)

Real estate investment lessons from managing a short-term rental property

Business finance: increasing profit margins while managing revenue fluctuations

Health and wellness goals for entrepreneurs and busy professionals

Managing screen time and reducing social media-induced anxiety

Prioritizing nervous system regulation and work-life balance

Setting business revenue and profitability targets for sustainable growth

Radical Transparency for Accountability:

This isn't a highlight reel—it's an honest look at what worked, what didn't, and how an entrepreneur balances million-dollar net worth building with mental health priorities. Use this as your roadmap for setting realistic, meaningful goals that honor both your ambitions and your wellbeing.

Here's a glance at this episode:

• [03:37] Health Goal Progress: Hitting 12,000 daily steps 90% of the year and evolving fitness goals with naturopathic support.
• [06:43] Real Estate Reality Check: Palm Springs Airbnb lessons—prioritizing memories over profit and managing investment expectations.
• [11:35] Email Growth Strategy: How City Girl Savings tracks newsletter subscribers and sets baseline metrics for growth.
• [16:42] 2026 Life Goals: Planning a courthouse wedding and 3-week European honeymoon adventure!
• [18:51] Nervous System Regulation Priority: Why slowing down and reducing stress is Raya's top personal focus for 2026.

Rate, Review, & Follow:

Did you love this episode? Are you a fan of the City Girl Savings podcast? If so, please consider rating and reviewing the show!

This helps spread the word about City Girl Savings, and hopefully helps more people make the best money moves possible on the way to their dream life!

To leave a review on Apple Podcasts, click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select "Write a Review." Then be sure to let me know what you loved most about the episode!

Also, please make sure you're subscribed and following the City Girl Savings podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube!

Podcast Update: No new episodes in Q1 2026—the show returns with fresh content the first Monday in April 2026! Past favorite episodes will air during the break.

Resources mentioned in this episode:

Listen to Episode 187 - 2025 Mid Year Personal and Business Goals Check In

Learn about Raya's Financial Focus Coaching Program

Follow City Girl Savings on Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok

Join the City Girl Savings Facebook Group

Subscribe to the City Girl Savings Newsletter!