158 Best Lifetime Goals & Examples to Live For

This post is all about lifetime goals & examples to use when making your own list.

How do you live a life without regrets?

A study that interviewed end-of-life-care nurses revealed that the most common regret that people have on their deathbed is “I wish I’d had the courage to live a life true to myself, not the life others expected of me”.

Don’t let that be you!

The best way to live a life without regrets is to identify what you want from life and then take clear steps to achieve those desires.

It is very easy to get carried away by the waves of life and the repetitiveness of everyday tasks.
So, in order to achieve your desired life outcomes and determine your own future, you must make a plan. More specifically, make a list.
A list of goals that you want to accomplish before you die. These are your lifetime goals.

What is Considered a Lifetime Goal?

Your list of life goals should answer the question- “what do you want to accomplish in your lifetime?” As mentioned before, they are meaningful goals that you want to have achieved by the end of your life.

Lifetime goals are long-term goals, not short-term ones.
They are not for immediate gratification. On the contrary, they may take decades to accomplish and may even take the entire course of your lifetime.

To accomplish them, they must be broken down into short-term goals.

For example, if you make a lifetime travel goal to visit every continent, your smaller goals might be to create a travel fund for yourself and deposit money into it monthly, to join a travel group to research countries within each continent, to get your passport and/or to schedule an international trip every other year.

Lifetime goals are the big goals that define your life.

Why Set Life Goals?

Why not just “wing it”? Why even worry about setting such long term goals?

It could be easier and more “freeing” to just live a ‘que sera sera’ life where ‘whatever happens happens’.

Well, the answer lies here-
Do you want to risk getting to the finish line of your life just to realize that you didn’t achieve anything that you were proud of after all that time?

Lifetime goals are the only way to navigate your life with meaning and purpose.

Specifically, setting life goals will:

• Help you to prioritize your time and efforts in daily life
• Prevent you from wasting time
• Motivate you to work towards a better future and towards your best self
• Drive you out of your comfort zone
• Help you to focus on the future which can subsequently help you to let go of the past
• Be your North Star so that when it is tempting to get stuck in the pettiness of life, you can return to your list and rediscover your most important things
• Inspire you to live with a sense of purpose
• Give you a sense of accomplishment as you achieve each goal

Lifetime Goals Examples

Now that you are all caught up on the meaning and the importance of life goals, it’s time to make your own lifetime goal list!

If you’re having a mental block as you are trying to come up with ideas, don’t worry.
I have compiled a HUGE list of examples of lifetime goals to inspire you. Use these life goal ideas to help you develop your own list.

Personal Goals & Aspirations

This first set of examples are goals for becoming the version of yourself that you’ve always wanted to be and finally attaining the things that you’ve always admired.

This mini-list includes health goals, fitness goals, personal development goals, intellectual goals and achievement goals. They will inspire you to challenge yourself and draw out every last bit of your potential.

1. Get into the best shape of your life
2. Get rid of an addiction
3. Learn to speak a new language fluently
4. Become a published author
5. Invent something
6. Run a half marathon or marathon
7. Complete a triathlon
8. Volunteer for a humanitarian cause
9. Give a TED Talk
10. Become a mentor
11. Buy your dream car
12. Buy your dream house
13. Meet your hero(s) / role model(s)
14. Build an orphanage
15. Build a school
16. Own a boat
17. Become a socialite
18. Get involved in politics and make a difference in your community
19. Teach a class about something you’re really good at

Financial Goals

While goals that have to do with money shouldn’t be the only things on your lifetime goal list, they are important. These goals are geared towards attaining financial security and having enough money to achieve the things that are most important to you.

20. Pay off your student loans
21. Achieve a million dollar net worth
22. Achieve an 800+ credit score
23. Purchase some real estate
24. Pay off your credit cards
25. Pay off your mortgage
26. Develop a passive income stream
27. Become an angel investor
28. Become completely debt-free
29. Achieve FIRE (Financial Independence Retire Early)
30. Become a philanthropist

Relationship & Family Goals

For most people, there is nothing more important in life than our family, friends and homes. It is of no surprise that the ideas on this list are of the highest priority to many of us. Family goals are crucial because our relationships are where we find real joy and happiness.

related : 15 Romantic Husband & Wife Goals to Set for Your Marriage

31. Start a family / Have children
32. Find and marry your soulmate
33. Splurge on your parents
34. Adopt a child
35. Build a homestead
36. Become food and energy independent
37. Own a vacation home
38. Travel the world with your family members
39. See your grandchildren
40. Build your dream home from scratch

Business Related & Career Goals

Lifetime career and business goals are any aspirations that you have toward your professional life. This may include specific job titles that you desire or professional recognitions that you’d like to be awarded.

Setting these overarching profession goals may lead you to consider a career change or even starting your own business. Overall, setting clear career goals will guide your job-related decisions from the present all the way through to your retirement.

41. Start your own business
42. Get a degree or certification in a field you are passionate about
43. Speak as an expert at a conference
44. Join a fraternity or sorority
45. Become a social media influencer
46. Become the CEO of a successful company
47. Star in a movie/show
48. Become recording artist
49. Write a New York Times bestselling book
50. Start a Youtube channel in your area of expertise
51. Become a director / producer / filmmaker
52. Become a chef
53. Open a restaurant or bar
54. Open a coffee shop
55. Employ a staff / Hire employees

Spiritual Goals

Spiritual goals have to do with your beliefs, value system and religion. Any big goals that are related to the meaning of life, your purpose, your inner peace and your relationship with the Highest Power can be put in this section.

56. Read the entire bible
57. Forgive someone that hurt you deeply
58. Go on a spiritual retreat
59. Complete a religious pilgrimage
60. Achieve inner peace
61. Become a minister / spiritual leader
62. Become a missionary
63. Cultivate a specific trait like graciousness, kindness or generosity

Adventure & Travel Goals

Do you like to travel to different places, experience new cultures and live a fun, spontaneous lifestyle? If so, then travel and adventure goals are important goals for you to set.

These goals will organize and provide motivation for the travel experiences that you wish to have. They will give you something to work towards and look forward to.

64. Travel to every continent on Earth
65. Travel via private jet
66. Go on a cruise
67. Visit all 50 states in the United States
68. Skydive or bungee jump
69. Visit all the 7 wonders of the world
70. Take a cooking class in a foreign country
71. Go on a wildlife safari
72. Visit famous museums around the world
73. Attend a cultural festival in a foreign country
74. Take a road trip across the country
75. Go on a wild adventure, such as hiking the Appalachian Trail or trekking the Himalayas
76. Go on a hunting or fishing trip
77. Go on a motorcycle or bicycle tour
78. Go on a water adventure (whitewater rafting, scuba diving, surfing, etc)
79. Go on a snowboarding or skiing trip
80. Go on a kayaking or canoeing trip
81. Go on a camping (or glamping!) trip
82. Go on a wildlife photography trip
83. Go on a hot air balloon ride
84. Go on a mission trip
85. Go on a backpacking trip alone
86. Attend a food festival or competition
87. Participate in Carnival

Legacy & Retirement Goals

When you have finished living life, how do you wish to be remembered? Do you wish to be remembered at all? What type of impact do you want to have? These are all questions to ask yourself when setting legacy related goals.

In this category, you will find ideas for how to leave meaningful memories and a positive impact when you are dead and gone.

88. Scrapbook your life
89. Trace your genetic ancestry
90. Draw out your family tree
91. Leave a financial inheritance
92. Write a will
93. Write a memoir and document your life story
94. Keep a journal
95. Retire in your dream location

Learning Goals

Life long learning, by itself, is an important lifetime goal.

By setting goals for learning, you can ensure that you are continuously evolving and spending time on the hobbies and passions that you love. They also push you outside of your usual boundaries and stoke a sense of excitement and awe within you.

96. Learn to ride a horse
97. Learn to ride a motorcycle
98. Learn to take stunning photographs
99. Learn to play a musical instrument
100. Learn carpentry
101. Learn to sail or kayak
102. Learn to scuba dive
103. Learn to meditate or practice yoga
104. Learn to paint or draw
105. Learn to code or program
106. Learn to juggle
107. Learn to perform magic tricks
108. Learn a martial art
109. Learn to make your own clothes or jewelry
110. Learn to rock climb
111. Learn to mountain bike
112. Learn to garden or farm
113. Learn to make pottery or ceramics
114. Learn to cook
115. Learn to make your own soap or candles
116. Learn to fly a plane or helicopter
117. Learn to sew or knit
118. Learn to make your own soap or candles
119. Learn to make your own ice cream or gelato
120. Learn to dance a new style, such as salsa or ballroom
121. Learn to speak in public with confidence
122. Learn to make your own furniture
123. Learn to make your own pasta or bread
124. Learn to fish
125. Learn to make your own wine or beer
126. Learn to train a service animal
127. Learn to make your own skincare or beauty products
128. Learn to make your own honey or jam

Bucket List Goals

Last but surely not least, these lifetime goals ideas consist of those once-in-a-lifetime feats that you’d like to accomplish before your last breath. Even though these goals are unlikely to be ongoing, they are the ones that will give you fond memories to enjoy and interesting stories to tell for the rest of your life.

129. Own a horse
130. Compete in a bodybuilding or physique competition
131. Attend the Olympics
132. Attend a championship-level game like the Super Bowl, World Series or World Cup
133. Sit front row at a professional league game
134. Participate in a charity walk or run
135. Develop your own clothing line
136. Read 100 classic literature books
137. Attend a film festival
138. Attend a live concert of your favorite musician
139. Participate in a protest or rally for a cause you support
140. Write a screenplay or stage play
141. Attend a comic book or science fiction convention
142. Perform your own poetry to an audience
143. Write and record your own song
144. Deliver a stand-up comedy set
145. Attend a music awards show
146. Attend a book signing or author talk
147. Attend an opera or ballet
148. Attend a visual arts exhibition
149. Organize a cultural celebration for your community
150. Attend a theater performance
151. Attend a dance performance
152. Attend a music festival
153. Attend a poetry slam
154. Attend a comedy club or improv show
155. Attend a film screening or movie premiere
156. Attend a music concert in a foreign country
157. Attend a fashion show or fashion week
158. Attend a writing workshop or retreat

How To Achieve Your Lifetime Goals

Now that you have an awesome list of life goals, how do you turn it from a wish list to an actual action plan?

Well, the first step is to make sure that your goals are crafted into “SMART” goals. This means that your goal must be:

S (SPECIFIC) – you should be able to describe the who, what, where, when & why of your objectives
M (MEASURABLE) – how will you tell that you are making progress. You need a way to capture the steps that you are taking toward the end-result.
A (ACHIEVABLE) – Is your goal realistic? Making a goal to become POTUS when you weren’t born in the country is a waste of your precious time and efforts. Make sure that your goals are actually within the realm of possibility.
R (RELEVANT) – does your goal make sense when you consider your life purpose and values?
T (TIME-BASED or TIME-BOUND) – your goals should have a realistic time frame and target date. This will motivate you and keep you accountable.

Now that your goals are “smart”, knock them out of the park with these last tips:

Tips For Utilizing Your Life Goal List

1. Break Each Big Goal Into a Set of Small Goals

Then, break those smaller goals into more small steps until you can identify the daily actions that you need to take to make progress towards your end-result.

2. Be Committed to Hard Work

It won’t be easy. If you realize this from the beginning, you are less likely to be caught off-guard or to get discouraged by setbacks that come your way. Stay diligent and commit to work on your goals every day. Nothing good comes easily.

Use affirmations, a positivity daily planner or a 30-day challenge to inspire you to work hard every day.

3. Stay Motivated

Visualize the look, feel, smell, taste and sound of attaining your goal and then, let those feelings propel you. Remember that motivation fluctuates, so it is important to work on your mindset daily. How you think determines how you act.

Use tools like vision boarding, motivational quotes and visual cues to feed your motivation everyday.

4. Celebrate Your Progress Along The Way

Check in with your goals and assess your progress on a regular basis

Do this by journaling your progress, using a habit tracker or by making gratitude lists.

5. Take Care of Yourself

Take care of your physical health, mental health, spiritual and emotional health, and they will take care of you. Avoid burnout by filling your cup regularly.

Do this by:

• Surrounding yourself with a nurturing and positive community
• Investing in self-care
• Getting enough sleep

Setting lifetime goals helps you to work hard towards becoming a better version of yourself.
As cliche as it may sound, remember that life is not completely about the destination. It’s about the process of achieving your goals.

If you liked these lifetime goals examples, then be sure to make your own list and leave some ideas in the comments!