The start of the new year is just around the corner and planning for it can help you stay ahead of your goals. A fresh start, a new year. This is the perfect time to prepare for what’s ahead. This is your guide on how to effectively plan for the new year. Plus, a few great goal ideas to get you started in your planning.
How To Plan For The New Year
Start With An Audit
Before you start planning for the future, it’s good to take a look back at where you’ve been and where you’re currently at. A little audit of the year, and where you are at this very moment, will allow you to plan more effectively for the new year.
This is also a great time to look back and ask yourself “what drained me” or “what gave me energy”. By being able to identify these things, you can then better create goals and plans for the new year that will be more effective and yield your best results.
Build A Habit, Instead Of An Outcome
When planning for the new year, it’s important to think about what your main goals may be. But by putting “run a marathon” on your goal list, you may feel pretty damn overwhelmed by it and not know where to start. So, while yes, put the big goal on the vision board, but when it comes to planning your routines, build the habit first. Maybe it’s going for a run twice a week as your goal. This will help you get to your goal faster by creating a habit first.
Choose A Few Focus Areas
Instead of coming up with a list of dozens of things you want to do in the new year, choose 3-5 things in focused areas. These may be things you’re really wanting to work on, like a health journey or financial goal, or just self-care. Then choose 3-5 snackable habits and goals to build into them.
This will feel more manageable than saying “save $50,000”. Instead, you could make a goal of eating out less, setting a monthly goal for saving and figuring out a side hustle. Three more snackable habits and goal setting that can lead to your big, overarching goal.
Set Quarterly Check-Ins
We often tend to set some lofty goals in January, and by mid-month, they’ve gone to the wayside. Instead, try making quarterly check-ins a part of your new year’s goal routine. This is one of the best tips for goal setting: creating check-ins!
Set a reminder in your calendar every 3 months to check-in on your goals. See which ones are working, which ones need adjusting and which ones you totally abandoned. Maybe for good reason, or maybe you need that quarterly reminder to jump back in.
Digital Declutter
Planning for the new year goes beyond setting some goals. It also means setting yourself up for success in every way. Try a digital declutter by unsubscribing from emails you don’t need. Getting your inbox in order by creating a folder for the year (one for receipts, one for important info and so on) so that you can keep things organized. Archive the rest for the prior year so things are tidy.
Go through your phone and delete any texts, photos and unnecessary apps that are taking up space. And the same goes for your inbox and computer!
A Financial Cleanup
Start the year off on the right foot financially. Cancel any subscriptions you’re paying for that you don’t need. And always call your favorite providers to see if they have any promotions happening. You’d be surprised how willing companies are to keep a customer!
Take a look at your finances and determine where you can save, where you can invest and be sure to open a high yield savings account so you can maximize your money this year. Learn more about my favorite money saving tips here and create an action plan for your finances.
Choose Your Word or Mission For The Year
Some people may go in the direction of choosing a “word” of the year, or a phrase, or motto. Whatever you choose, now is the time to brainstorm what you want the new year to be. Is it a year of “yes”, or is it a year of calm and serenity? Choose your word or phrase, and write it down. Frame it on your desk, pop it on the fridge, wherever you’ll see it often to remind you throughout the year what you want your year to be.
Plan Your Non-Negotiables
Everybody has their non-negotiables that they want to make sure they create time and energy for. Yours may be the annual family vacation, holidays with family and so on. But don’t forget about the non-exciting ones, like your annual doctor appointments and personal days that are important for your overall well being and mental health. Plan and book everything out at once if you can to ensure you meet your non-negotiables this year.
Not yet ready to book your family vacation but know it needs to be done by May of this year? Pop it on your calendar as a reminder so you don’t let it slip by.
Declutter Your Everyday
Lastly, I like to declutter my everyday, so I’m starting the year off fresh. This includes going through your cabinets in the kitchen and tossing anything that’s expired and maybe restocking the things you need. Purge your closet and clean out that beauty cabinet. Maybe it’s finally time to donate old towels and blankets to the animal shelter and old clothes to the local clothing drive.
What Are Some Good Goals For The New Year
These are a few ideas to get you inspired for coming up with yearly goals. From wellness and self-care, to financial and travel, these are some great options to think about when planning for the new year and writing down your big (and small) goals!
Wellness & Self Care
- Commit to a simple morning routine
- Make your bed every morning
- Move your body 3x a week
- Prioritize your doctor appointments
- Create a Sunday reset ritual
- Drink more water
- Take your PTO
- Start a creative hobby like watercoloring or knitting
Personal Growth
- Read a book a month
- Start a journaling habit
- Take a new class or workshop
- Say yes to something that scares you once a quarter
- Practice saying no without over-explaining
- Volunteer in your community
- Learn a new skill
Financial
- Increase retirement contributions or open a new investment account
- Build a 3-5 month emergency fund
- Track monthly spending for more awareness
- Choose one big purchase to save for intentionally
- Do a financial check-in each quarter
Realtionships & Community
- Plan a friend date once a month
- Say yes to solo activities to meet new people
- Host a small gathering each season
- Set healthy boundaries around time and energy
Lifestyle & Home
- Declutter one area of your home each month
- Organize your digital life
- Set a phone-free hour every evening
- Upgrade your bedding to make your bedroom more hotel-like
Fun & Pleasure
- Visit a new destination
- Be a tourist in your own city once a quarter
- Start a restaurant or coffee shop bucket list for the year
- Cook your way through a cookbook
- Take a solo trip
I hope this list helps inspire you to try new goals this year, make new habits and help you plan for the new year. Set some time aside to really go through some ideas and come up with a game plan. Also, if you’re wondering what to do on New Year’s Eve alone, this is the perfect activity. Plan and organize yourself for the new year that’s to come!
Or sit the family down with some paper and maybe magazines and do a full vision board night. You can have some fun coming up with ideas together. Either way, creating your yearly goals and planning for the new year should be fun and inspiring and set you up for success.
