How to Plan for a Great Year.

The holidays always seem to make me lazier. My main goal each day is to watch as many TV shows and movies as I can while consuming as much food as possible. At least that’s what I end up doing, so I like to pretend that it was an intentional goal to be that lazy from the start. I was being so lazy this year that the holidays snuck up on me. What kind of person forgets it’s Christmas time?! Someone who is so consumed by Hulu that she has no idea what day it is, that’s who.

Needless to say, New Year’s snuck up on me too. Now, I usually start planning for the upcoming year BEFORE the new year actually starts, but you can guess what I was doing instead. When New Year’s Eve came and went and I hadn’t done any goal planning for the new year I was going to just forget about making goals. But I’m glad that I didn’t give up and that I decided that it doesn’t really matter WHEN I start on my goals, as long as I make sure I get started on them.

SO for others out there that were caught off guard by the new year (also: shout-out to my fellow procrastinators out there, this is for you too) I want you to know that just because you got a late start doesn’t mean you should forget about even starting. To help you create a great plan for 2016, I decided to create a worksheet to guide you through the steps I took to reflect back on 2015 and look ahead to the awesome things you’re going to do in 2016.

 

Before you get started here are some tips to remember:

Don’t just write down your plan and put it in a drawer to collect dust. Put the pages on a bulletin board or even frame them! Whatever helps you look at your plan as much as possible. It will help keep your goals in the front of your mind.

Break down goals into smaller tasks. Sometimes big goals (like getting out of debt) can seem REALLY overwhelming. But breaking those goals into smaller steps makes them seem a lot more achievable. On a separate sheet of paper write down one goal and use the rest of the page to break that goal into baby steps. It is seriously one of the best feelings ever when you can cross things off and see how much closer you are to your goal.

Make sure you review your plan regularly. Make a note on your calendar or set a reminder on your phone to review your plan every quarter/month/week. You can see how you’re doing plus it will motivate you to make your dreams a reality. Trust me, the more you review it, the more you’ll be encouraged to work towards those goals.

Don’t feel like goals have to be set in stone. You’re going to realize that some of the goals you thought were exactly what you wanted are just not for you. Whenever you review your plan (whether it’s quarterly, monthly or weekly) make sure to evaluate whether or not it’s something you really want/need to pursue.

Really think about what YOU want. Take the time to figure out what you’re passionate about and how you want to better yourself and your family. Don’t just write something down because you think you SHOULD. Just because other people found a routine/activity that makes THEM happy, doesn’t mean it will automatically make YOU happy.

Don’t be afraid to try something new. Don’t get stuck making the same goal to run every day when you know YOU HATE RUNNING. Try something new like belly dancing, rock climbing, water aerobics, or surfing. Each of those are good ways to burn calories and you may even find out that you actually ENJOY exercising.

Share it with someone. Sharing your plan publicly or privately will help keep you accountable. You can choose to share all of your goals with one person or share specific goals with multiple people. Just make sure you have someone to help remind you that you have goals and that will motivate you to stick to them.

Now that you have all of those helpful tips to guarantee that you succeed, it’s time to get started on writing your plan for a great year. So without further ado…here is a FREE printable for you. Just click on the image below and you will be able to download MY PLAN FOR A GREAT YEAR.

What are some of your goals to make 2016 a great year? Did any of these tips or this worksheet help you plan for a great year? Let me know…