Written by Learning Network member Emily Walton
Coming into 2025, you might be ready to shed old habits and build new ones with a New Year’s resolution. This tradition is believed to have started 4,000 years ago with the ancient Babylonians, who made promises to their gods in exchange for blessings in the coming year. While I always appreciate a good goal, this long-standing tradition of setting hefty goals seems to not stick for most people.
Why don’t New Year’s resolutions always work? A lot of the time, the goals are just too big, and they can end up feeling more like a punishment than something exciting. If you’ve ever made a resolution to give up something you love – like cookies – you probably know exactly what I mean.
Hi, I’m Emily! I’m a Learning Network member and a former school teacher who loves finding ways to make learning (and work) more fun. One idea to shake up your New Year’s resolutions is to turn them into a game – something you’ll actually look forward to. So, how can you make New Year’s resolutions, especially work-related ones, fun?
You turn them into Bingo cards!
In this post, I’ll explain why using Bingo cards can help you stick to your goals and how to make your own 2025 Professional Bingo Card. I’ve even included a downloadable template you can use! Keep reading to find out how to create your own Bingo card!
What is a Professional Bingo Card, and Why Should You Make One?
New Year’s resolutions are a great way to set goals, but they can sometimes feel overwhelming. Even worse, Nassir Ghaemi, a professor of psychiatry at Tufts University, points out that “making resolutions and not keeping them could lead to a decrease in your self-esteem.” Falling short of your goals can actually hurt your confidence and make it harder to stay motivated.
That’s where the 2025 Professional Bingo Card comes in! Instead of setting one or two big, intimidating goals – you create a Bingo card filled with smaller, more manageable goals. This approach turns goal-setting into a fun game that motivates you to “play.” It keeps you focused while also being more flexible and forgiving. Plus, you get to celebrate small wins, like completing a single row or even just one square. Over time, this can increase your confidence, strengthen your commitment to growth, and improve your self-esteem!
If you’re not sure where to start, here is how to make one:
Step 1: Brainstorm
Before you start writing, it’s a good idea to think about what you want to add to your Bingo card. If you’re including a “free space,” you’ll need to come up with 24 different activities that will help advance your learning path, professional network, or your career.
For example, if you’re making a “just for fun” Bingo card, you might add something like “see a movie with a friend.” To make it more work-focused, you could change it to “watch a webinar on time management with my team.” While these don’t need to be as detailed as SMART goals, make sure they are clear enough so you don’t get stuck trying to figure out what to do next when you look at your Bingo card.
Tip: If you had a bigger goal for your New Year’s resolution, think of small actions to support it. For example, if you want to start your own coaching business, you could add things like “publish portfolio online” or “network with 10 people at Learning Connect.” Remember, the Bingo card is meant to be a fun way to stay on track, not the only thing you rely on. Make sure you also have a timeline in place for your bigger goals!

Step 2: Put Together Your Bingo Card
Once you’ve picked your goals, add them to your Bingo card! You can either make your own Bingo card or download the template I created for the Learning Network.
If you decide to make your own, you can use Canva or even draw it out by hand. All you need is a 5×5 grid, the word “BINGO” at the top, and your goals in the squares. If you want to make it fun, you can add images or drawings around the edges that inspire you!
Step 3: Play!
Now for the fun part! Put your Bingo card on your desk or hang it somewhere you can see it every day. Focus on completing one task each month and mark it off with a highlighter. Try to avoid using a solid marker – it is more fun to see each one and reflect on what you’ve accomplished. The goal of Bingo is to get 5 in a row, so feel free to plan ahead – but if one task really stands out to you, go for it!
Last year, for each small task I completed, I gave myself a small reward. It was usually a fancy coffee from the shop instead of my regular coffee from home or a drive to the mountains for some fresh air and apple cider. When I finally got BINGO, I celebrated with a few colleagues!
Tip: Include Your Community
If you’re making a professional 2025 Bingo card, see if anyone else in your office or network wants to join in. You can plan a few overlapping activities and keep each other accountable. It’s also way more fun to celebrate with someone else! You can even make it a competition to see who gets BINGO first or who fills up the whole board first.
So, as you gear up to set your goals for the new year, remember this: It’s not just about the resolution, it’s about making the journey fun, achievable, and engaging! Turning your goals into a Bingo card is a playful way to track progress and stay excited about the path ahead.
Ready to play? Download your free 2025 Professional Bingo Card template today and start creating your own game plan. Whether you’re in it solo or with a group, this approach will help you stick to your resolutions and have a little fun along the way!