Need some new Year motivation? WOOP is a quick goal-setting method that helps you plan for reality—so your goals don’t rely on willpower.

What WOOP stands for

W — Wish
Pick a goal that’s specific and realistic for your next few weeks.
Example: “Improve my PR turnaround time.”

O — Outcome
Picture the best result if it works (make it concrete).
Example: “Less stress, fewer late reviews, and smoother releases.”

O — Obstacle
Name the main internal obstacle that usually gets in the way (habits, emotions, patterns).
Example: “I avoid reviews when I feel behind, so they pile up.”

P — Plan
Create an if–then plan for the moment that obstacle shows up.
Example: “If I feel behind and want to avoid reviews, then I’ll review one small PR immediately (10 minutes max).”

How to use WOOP for New Year dev goals

1. Pick 1–3 goals you want to lock in by March (keep it focused).
2. Write one WOOP per goal (four lines).
3. Make the plan tiny and specific—something you can do on a chaotic day.
4. Put it where you’ll see it (top of your weekly notes, Jira personal task, or a sticky note on your monitor).

Quick WOOP examples for developers

1) Consistent learning (without burning out)

• Wish: Learn system design 3x/week
• Outcome: More confidence in interviews/architecture talks
• Obstacle: I’m tired after work and default to scrolling
• Plan: If I feel tired, then I’ll do 10 minutes of notes/flashcards before anything else

2) Better code reviews

• Wish: Review PRs daily
• Outcome: Faster feedback and fewer merge crunches
• Obstacle: I wait for a “big block of time”
• Plan: If I’m waiting for a meeting to start, then I’ll review one file or leave one useful comment

3) Finish side projects

• Wish: Ship one small feature weekly
• Outcome: Momentum and visible progress
• Obstacle: Perfectionism and over-scoping
• Plan: If I start expanding the scope, then I’ll cut it to the smallest deliverable and open a “later” ticket

WOOP works because it turns “I want to…” into “When this happens, I’ll do this.”

Categories: Productivity

Tags: behaviour change, career development, code reviews, Developer, developer productivity, DevOps, engineer, goal setting, goals, habits, if-then planning, learning, mental-health, motivation, New Year goals, personal development, personal-growth, planning, Software, Software Development, WOOP