2020 Recap: CrazyFitnessGuy Milestones & Goal-Setting Lessons

2020 was a difficult and unpredictable year for many people. It was also a year that showed me the value of small steps, steady effort, supportive people, and goals that can bend when life does not go as planned.

This post is a look back at milestones CrazyFitnessGuy and I reached in 2020, along with the goal-setting lessons that still matter today. It is not a checklist you need to copy. Use what fits your life, energy, needs, and priorities—and leave the rest.

CrazyFitnessGuy milestones from 2020

Every view, listen, message, share, and return visit helped CrazyFitnessGuy keep moving forward. I am grateful to everyone who read the articles, listened to the podcast, and supported the work.

• The monthly podcast reached 1,400 total plays.
• The website reached 1,400 visitors in a month.
• The website began covering its operating bills.
• The CrazyFitnessGuy chatbot was rebuilt and brought back online.
• The newsletter grew to more than 20 subscribers.
• Seventeen people joined the Facebook group.
• The website began reaching page two of Google for relevant searches.

These numbers may look different from today’s goals, but they mattered because they represented real people finding the content and choosing to come back. Growth does not have to be huge to be meaningful.

Personal and professional wins

2020 also included milestones that mattered to me as a speaker, writer, podcaster, and person.

• My first article was published in The Mighty.
• I had appeared on 44 podcasts at that point in my journey.
• I spoke at a virtual convention attended by 1,100 people.
• I read 21 books during the year.
• I completed my yearly goals before 2021 began.
• I reconnected with a childhood friend from New Jersey.
• I stayed on top of writing thank-you notes.

Some achievements are public, such as a speaking opportunity or a published article. Others are quiet: finishing a book, reconnecting with someone, keeping a promise to yourself, or resting when you need to. Both kinds count.

What this year taught me about goals

Goals can give you direction, but they should not become another way to judge yourself. A good goal works with your real life. It can be adjusted for health, burnout, changing responsibilities, money, time, or energy.

• Small goals create momentum. One email, one walk, one chapter, or one task is still progress.
• Flexible plans are stronger than rigid rules. Changing a goal is not failure; it is information about what you need.
• Visibility helps. Keep a goal somewhere you will naturally see it, such as a calendar, note, journal, or simple task list.
• Rest belongs in the plan. Recovery, sensory breaks, and low-energy days are part of a sustainable routine.
• Celebrate the process. Notice the actions you repeated, not only the final result.

A low-pressure way to set a goal

Try this approach when you want direction without building an overwhelming system:

1. Choose one area that matters right now: health, rest, relationships, reading, work, finances, or creativity.
2. Name a small action you can realistically repeat.
3. Make the action specific enough to start. For example, “read for five minutes” is easier to begin than “read more.”
4. Decide what a low-energy version looks like.
5. Check in after a week or month and adjust without guilt.

For example, instead of setting a goal to “work out every day,” you could choose “move for five minutes three days this week.” On a high-energy day, that might mean karate practice or a walk. On a low-energy day, it could mean stretching, standing up, or taking a short lap around your home.

Goal ideas for any season

Your goals do not need to follow a new-year calendar. You can begin in January, July, on a Monday, or after a hard week. Here are a few adaptable ideas:

• Read one book or listen to one audiobook at your own pace.
• Create a short, realistic digital or paper to-do list.
• Schedule one rest activity that helps you reset.
• Reduce one source of digital clutter, such as an email folder or a few unused apps.
• Reach out to one person you care about.
• Try one gentle movement option that works with your body and energy.
• Set one boundary around social media, news, or work messages.

How to stay supported

You do not have to reach every goal alone. A trusted friend, coach, family member, therapist, community, or written reminder can make it easier to return to what matters. Accountability should feel supportive, not punishing.

If sharing a goal feels helpful, tell someone what you are trying and what kind of support you want. That could be a simple check-in, a reminder to rest, someone to celebrate with, or just a person who listens without trying to fix everything.

Progress is not always a straight line

Looking back at 2020 reminds me that progress often comes from showing up imperfectly and continuing after a plan changes. You can set ambitious goals and still treat yourself with patience. You can pause, restart, scale something down, or choose a new direction.

The goal is not to become productive every minute of the day. It is to build a life that feels more manageable, meaningful, and aligned with who you are.

Explore more gentle support

• Listen to The CrazyFitnessGuy® Show
• Watch Weekly Motivation with CrazyFitnessGuy
• Browse free autism-friendly resources
• Join the Wellness Newsletter
• Read about journaling for self-improvement

Final thought

Your achievements do not need to look impressive to anyone else to matter. Choose one small next step, make room for real life, and let progress be personal.