Yearly planning that works. 6 proven methods

Plans and dreams are an important component of every person’s life. But do people always achieve their goals? What's stopping them? Of course, each individual person has a lot of reasons why this or that dream never came true. However, the root of most of them lies in one simple word - planning. As many managers argue, it is without this process that achieving goals most often ends in failure. In this article we will learn how to make a plan for the year and stick to it.

Why is this necessary?

One Italian aphorism says:

Only dead fish float with the flow.

If you have a question not “how to make a plan for the year”, but “why is this necessary?”, it means that your entire adult life you have simply gone with the flow. On the one hand, this is not so bad. But when uncontrollable situations arise, a person begins to realize that he is not the “master of his life,” but other people or some circumstances. Planning is an important and very responsible process that not only allows you to structure your dreams and desires, but also helps you find solutions to achieve your goals. It's time to take the reins into your own hands. Then you can confidently say that you are in complete control of your life.

Health

This is also a very important block. Here is an example of a list of health-related goals for the year:

Avoid white sugar completely.
Start eating right, balance your diet.
Refuse to drink alcohol for no reason, a la “Yes, I’ll just have a bottle of beer in the evening.”
Join a fitness club and hire a personal trainer.
Go to the pool.
Instill in yourself the habit of drinking 1.5-2.5 liters of clean water every day.
Start running on the track. Over the course of a year, increase the speed from minimum to maximum.

Numbers may also come into play here. This is especially true for girls - many of them include weight loss in their list of goals for the year and carefully describe how many kilograms they want to get rid of in a month.

When to make a plan

Of course, the best time for this is the end of the year and the beginning of the next. It is during this period that it is useful to analyze past mistakes and think about what you really want. If the question “how to make a plan for the year” became relevant in the middle of summer, then this is also not a problem. In this case, it would be best to make a list of goals before the end of the current year. And then make a new one, for 365 days. In fact, planning should be done exactly when you are really ready for it. The main thing is not to put off this matter, because because of the bustle you can forget about your goals and intentions.

Some tips for the future

These recommendations will help you not only better plan for the next year, but also more effectively implement your plans.

Maintain motivation (use visualization method );
Be patient;
Use positive attitudes in your head;
Stop blaming others;
Start analyzing your actions;
Learn good habits .

If it is difficult to understand what you want from life, then use the services of a specialist (for example, a psychologist). He can help you understand yourself and start improving!

Planning for the new year is a serious thing that needs to be approached responsibly. If you really work hard and put in the effort, you will definitely be proud of yourself. Let goal setting bring you only positive emotions and accelerate personal growth.

Analysis of the past

Before you start making a plan, you need to think back to the previous year. It is very important to have a pen and paper at hand at this time. For yourself you can write:

What goals did you set for last year?
What have you achieved? Why?
What didn't work out? Why?

Carefully analyze all the questions for yourself. Were these goals really important to you? Was the effort spent worth the result? Only after you have a clear picture of the past year in your head can you proceed to the next point.

Work on mistakes

Do you remember how at school everyone was forced to do “work on mistakes”? Now let's remember this time a little. The data obtained from the previous paragraph must be usefully applied for future purposes. How to make a plan for the year, taking into account past mistakes? On a piece of paper you need to make the following diagram:

On the left side you need to indicate all the goals that were achieved, on the right side - the plans that could not be achieved. Under each point you should briefly indicate why this happened. Now, with this diagram it will be very easy to answer the question: “how to make a plan for the year, taking into account past mistakes?” Particular attention should be paid to the right column. Analyze the need for these goals. If their importance has not decreased, then they need to be rewritten for next year. However, to such a goal, one of the sub-points will be the task of achieving it. So, for example, in the diagram above, the girl was unable to buy a new car, since she was unable to save and raise the necessary finances. To achieve this goal, the task will be as follows: save n-amount of money every month.

Spirituality

As many people know, this term denotes the highest level of self-regulation and development of a mature, integral personality. Many people want to become more highly spiritual, but this requires major work on themselves, their character and views, so that it can be formed into a goal list for the year. Here are examples:

Learn to be calm and calm in any situation.
Try meditating.
Learn to think coldly, quickly and soberly in particularly tense and emotional situations.
Practice gratitude.
Help someone for free.
Give up stereotypes and clichés, learn to understand and accept other values, respect them.
Overcome three of your fears.
Find answers to important questions: “Who am I in this world? What is my role? What is the meaning of my life?

Also in this block of the list of goals for the whole year you can include reading thematic books, practicing various meditations and states, watching educational lectures and programs.

How to formulate correctly

The way the goals themselves are written matters a lot. The wording should be short and accurately reflect the task. In addition, it is advisable that the goals you write are tied to certain images. This way, it will be easier for you not to forget about them. Some people even make collage plans. They display not only the target, but also its image.

How to make a work plan for the year if there are no specific goals? Sometimes it really happens that a person himself does not know what he wants. Many management experts argue that a plan should be made depending on the areas of life. For each, you need to choose one important goal and write down tasks for it.

Spheres of life

So, there are 6 main goals, but there can be many more:

self-development,
finance,
house,
health,
family,
Job.

For each area of life, you need to choose the goal that is the highest priority for you. Moreover, in order to make achieving goals much easier, they are divided into tasks by month or even week. For example, if in the area of “self-development” the goal is to learn English, then the tasks could be the following:

Sign up for English courses.
Get a notebook for studying.
Exercise at least 3 times a week for 60 minutes.
Learn a poem in English.
Write a story about yourself.

Before drawing up a plan, you need to ask yourself one by one: what do I want to achieve in the field of work, health, and so on? The answers that come to mind, you should consider whether you really need it. So, step by step, a goal plan will be formed.

How to properly structure goals and objectives

In order to make your dreams come true as simply as possible, the formulated goals should be placed in the correct order. Firstly, such a plan will be much easier to read. In addition, most likely, you will remember it well and follow it. There are many ways to design a plan. Each person should do what is convenient for him. It is especially important that you like the plan.

For example, you can often find collage plans. Each goal is supported by a vivid illustration. For those who love a strict style, a table plan is suitable. In a word, we can say that in this case the flight of imagination is limitless. It is only important that all goals are clearly visible on the plan, and you do not need to search for them with your eyes for a long time.

Separate item

You can create another important and very necessary point in the plan. We are talking about things or things that you have constantly put off on the back burner. In every person’s life there are tasks that he does not want to complete and constantly postpones them for later. It is in the plan for the year that they should take pride of place. Unresolved matters affect all areas of a person’s life. They, like dirty garbage, clutter your head and take away energy. Agree that from time to time you remember about them, start to get nervous that you won’t complete them, say to yourself: “Well, that’s it, I’ll definitely do it next Monday” and forget again. The situation repeats itself in regular cycles, but is not resolved in any way. Be sure to write down all “those things” in your plan for the year. Set aside a specific month or day for them and do it as planned.

This item should also include what you have been wanting to get rid of for so long. These are things that no longer generate income or people who are annoying with their communication. Always set priorities in everything, then it will be easier for you to navigate: what needs to be thrown away and what to pay attention to.

Also, very often people have plans and goals that they have been dreaming about for years, but do nothing about it. How to make a life plan for the year if there is no clear understanding of the importance of a particular dream.

In this case, it is also very important to determine whether you really need it? If the answer is no, then cross it out, forget it and never remember it. Don't waste your time and energy on something that will never come true. If the answer is yes, be sure to write it down in your plan and implement your plans.

Superstitions and signs about planning a family budget

When planning your budget for the year, it would be a good idea to take into account various folk signs related to money.

Don't borrow money on Monday, otherwise you risk never seeing it again.
You cannot pass banknotes from hand to hand: it is believed that it is better to first put them on the table.
Another bad omen is to lend money in the evening. If you must do this, place the money on the floor and let another person pick it up.
It is better to repay loans in the morning and in small bills.
When a debt is returned to you, put your left hand in your pocket and fold the fig.
Store money in your wallet carefully: put it in a special compartment, unfolded, and distribute it according to face value.
Place paper bills with the front side facing you.
Place a piece of wood from a swallow's nest in your wallet. This amulet will protect you from bankruptcy.
Having received a large amount of money, take one bill from there and keep it with you as a talisman.
Never give an empty wallet.
The following ritual will help you attract money: you need to put a coin in each corner and say “Let it come to my house.”
Use red envelopes or bags to store your savings.
Start a money tree at home and take care of it.
Money loves counting. When you receive change, always count it.
Make sure your wallet is not empty. Never give away your last money.
If there is a small child in the house, put money under his pillow.
Recalculate your savings on Maundy Thursday.
Discussing other people's material problems is a bad omen.
Don't judge people based on whether they are rich or poor, otherwise you may end up with nothing.
It is believed that if a cat is stretching, this is a good sign.
But seeing an evil cat in a dream means theft.
Having a cat or dog in the house attracts wealth.
There is a belief that a black cat or dog protects the house from theft.

There are also signs that tell you how to attract wealth in the new year:

Before the celebration, put on new socks and underwear, and do a festive hairstyle.
At the table, try seven different dishes and place seven coins under the chair.
Distribute all debts before the New Year, even right during the celebration.
During the chiming clock, make a wish related to material success, holding a coin in your left hand.
Throw money into a glass of champagne and drink it. Afterwards you can wear this coin as a talisman.
On the first day of the new year, wash your face with water and coins.

What you shouldn’t do if you don’t want financial problems:

put empty bottles on the table;
sit on the table;
keep money on the table;
sweep up trash in the evening;
stand on the threshold;
whistle at home;
exchange big money for small ones.

Perhaps the most important thing is to handle money carefully, not to crush or tear it, and not to leave your wallet empty. Some people prefer not to pay attention to such superstitions, but some are confident that following them helps achieve material well-being just like proper budget planning.

Monitoring your successes

We have already learned how to make a plan for the year to change your life for the better. But how can you test its effectiveness? Of course, in order to achieve all goals, all this must be constantly monitored. There are two ways to do this.

So, you can mark all successes and defeats on a general plan for the year. It is especially important to mark what has already been achieved. Then, approximately in the middle of the year, when the fuse becomes less and the thought “hey, maybe this plan” creeps into your head, you will take it and see how much you have already achieved. This will be a kind of motivation that will not allow you to take a step back.

If the plan turns out to be so beautiful that you don’t want to write anything on it, then you can draw up additional ones. For example, one of the goals was to make purchases. So, you have roughly outlined what and how much you need to buy. Now take another piece of paper. How to draw up a procurement plan for the year? Everything is very simple! Divide it into 12 months and in each month write down how much and what you will need to buy. Now, having looked at the main plan and seeing the “make purchases” goal there, you will open the additional one and see all the details. So you don't need to keep them in your head.

Yearly planning that works. 6 proven methods

Planning for the year is difficult for many people. It seems like a year is so long, and it is full of situations that we cannot predict in advance.

That's all true, of course. However, this does not exclude the possibility and necessity of planning the year. I'm not talking about planning in advance what you will do on a given day. Although this is partially possible, but more on that later.

First of all, we are talking about strategic planning. We choose a main course or landmark, mark control points along this long path that we already know about. And then, taking into account those very sudden and unpredictable circumstances, we plan for shorter periods of time and constantly adapt our plan to changing circumstances. This way it will not lose relevance and provide the necessary flexibility.

A plan for the year is not a vice into which we squeeze ourselves, making it hard to breathe. This is a useful tool that makes life easier. When used correctly, of course.

Does planning for the year work or not?

Every year, people actively share their goals for the coming year on social media. They put them on a grand scale, because in the pre-holiday period it seems that mountains can be moved, and energy will be on the rise throughout the 12 months.

But then January and February come, and everyone gradually returns to their usual pace of life. There is a feeling that there is still a lot of time ahead, so it is not necessary to sign up for the gym or English courses right now.

If there is a specific goal (for example, moving to an English-speaking country soon), or strong internal motivation, then there is a chance of achieving the goal. But, unfortunately, this is not the case for everyone. And the list of goals, instead of a ticket to a new life, becomes a silent reproach and a reason to criticize yourself for the whole year.

Planning in the style of “from January 1st, a new life: I will wake up at 5 am, run every day, learn 30 foreign words” and everything like that is nothing more than a wish list compiled in a state of emotional excitement caused by the pre-holiday atmosphere .

In particular, in the 63rd episode of the “Time for Change” podcast, the hosts discussed exactly this problem and shared their thoughts on this matter.

In this article I will talk about a practical approach to planning the year. These are several methods that can be used either separately or in combination with each other. I have been using them for quite a long time, I have managed to verify their effectiveness, and I am happy to share them with you.

Well, let's move on from general conversations directly to planning the new year.

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Method one: Franklin's Pyramid

I have an article on my blog about long-term planning using the Benjamin Franklin method. It is also called a pyramid because it offers six stages of planning. It all starts with defining your life values and priorities, long-term goals. On their basis, planning then takes place for 3-5 years, for a year, a month , a week and a day .

Read also:

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10 common mistakes when planning

In the article about the Franklin pyramid , I spoke in detail and with examples about this planning method, so I will not repeat it here.

If you approach planning using Franklin's method, it's likely that planning for the year won't cause you much difficulty or take much time.

The advantage of this approach is that you will always keep your long-term goals in focus. And, even if a lot changes during the year, it will not affect plans that are distant in time. Unless it speeds up their achievement.

Let me give you an example: one of my long-term goals is financial freedom. At the beginning of the year, I can set plans for existing sources of income or think about how to create new ones. But, regardless of how the methods of income change (you can get a new job, open an online store, close an old project, etc.), the long-term goal will remain the same. And all my actions will be aimed at choosing the optimal way to achieve it.

So, within the framework of this goal, it would be logical to close the old project if the new one in the future will bring in more money with less effort. Or it will be completely passive, etc.

Method two: write down everything we already know about

I said a little higher that already at the beginning of the year we can fit a lot of things into our annual plan. I'll tell you with my own example.

— At the beginning of the year, I enter in the diary the birthdays of family members, friends and their children, and the birthdays of good acquaintances. I also mark the dates in advance when it’s worth taking care of gifts for birthday people.

Next, I write down important family dates: anniversaries, etc.

Instead of a diary, all this can be entered into a calendar, planning application , mind map , depending on the method convenient for you.

- The next step is to add information about other events, affairs, trips that I know about in advance. I also note the approximate dates when you need to start preparing for them.

— In America, every year we fill out and submit tax returns. I know the deadline for submission in advance, it is April 15th.

In order to submit a declaration, you need to collect a number of documents. I have a checklist for this in Trello . And in my diary I note exactly what needs to be done and when.

— Another stage is entering information about holidays. I mark on the calendar the main state and national holidays of the United States (the country in which I live), as well as Russia and Ukraine, since my projects are associated with these countries. There is no point in planning any business if it is a day off, banks are closed, etc.

I also write down information about religious holidays, as well as dates and events that are important to take into account in my projects (for example, many events have discounts and other events in the online store, I need to prepare content for blogs in advance, etc.) So this This point in planning is very important for me and saves a lot of time in the future.

Read also:

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New Year's to-do list

— If I know the dates of some payments, for example, for credit cards, payment for hosting services and renewal of domain names for blogs. This is also displayed in advance in my diary.

— At the beginning of the year, I note the approximate dates for general cleaning of the house (with subsequent possible adjustment of dates depending on busyness) and other periodic household chores.

Since I have them tied to events and seasons that repeat from year to year (before the New Year, during spring break, etc.), there are no difficulties with this either.

— If there are other things that are done regularly (for example, weekly writing an article for a blog, preparing a video for a channel, etc.), then you can safely include all this in your plans in advance.

I usually try to assign tasks to specific days of the week, this simplifies the planning process and saves time. In my diary, I mark such things in pencil so that I can easily make changes if necessary.

I don't always specify the topic of a specific article, but simply note that an article should be published on that day for a planning blog or for a blog about the USA. And what exactly it will be about, I will determine closer to this date based on the list of topics in Trello .

“I also mark on the calendar the beginning and end of the school year at my daughter’s school, information about vacations and holidays when school is not open. This helps in planning work tasks.

For example, when choosing a date for a planning consultation with clients or a webinar or live broadcast, I most likely will not schedule them on a day when school is not open and the child will be with me.

Method three: planning for the year from point B

Another popular approach to strategic planning for the year. The point is to write down in as much detail as possible where you see yourself after 12 months. What do you do? Where do you live? Who do you work for or what projects are you developing?

If you already have a business, what happened to it in a year? What new directions are you developing? How did your income increase?

Where have you visited during the year? What courses did you take and what did you learn?

How long do you rest? How much time do you spend with your family and how often do you see friends?

These questions are ideas for visualization, you can come up with your own in accordance with your desires and goals.

The point of the exercise is that knowing exactly where you want to go makes it much easier to plan your route. That is, determine exactly what actions will lead you to this point. Planning from point B also helps with prioritization.

Such a plan, as in previous versions, can be compiled in the form of a list on a sheet of paper, in an application , mind map or in the form of a vision board. This is a little different than a wish card , but the meaning is the same.

Some tips: Be realistic in your plans. Don't set too many goals that will require you to spend too much time and effort to achieve. It's better to practice small steps. By acting in this way, even after a year you will achieve impressive results.

You can take stock of your progress monthly by referring to your roadmap. Are your actions leading to point B? Have any of the described goals been achieved? If not, what progress? Are there goals on which you have not made any progress at all? If so, why? What is the next action to take? Or maybe there are some goals that have lost their relevance altogether?

Method four: Brian Tracy's method

To make the coming year productive, I recommend taking the advice of the famous time management and efficiency specialist Brian Tracy. He gives it in the book “Get Out of Your Comfort Zone. Change your life" .

Book on the topic:

Brian Tracy's book Get Out of Your Comfort Zone. Change your life" on the website of the publishing house MYTH

Below is a quote from the author:

“Take a blank piece of paper right now and make a list of ten goals that you would like to achieve over the next twelve months. Formulate them as if a year has already passed and they have become a reality. Use the present tense, indicative mood, and speak in the first person to ensure that the goals you list are positively received by your subconscious.
For example, you could write: “I earn X dollars a year” or “I weigh X kilograms” or “I have such and such a car.”
Then re-read the list and select one goal that, if you achieved it, would have the most significant impact on your life. Now write it down on a separate sheet of paper, indicate a deadline for its implementation, make a plan to achieve it, start acting in accordance with this plan, and then do something every day that brings you closer to your goal. An exercise like this in itself can radically change your life!”

Method five: 12 weeks a year

This approach is described in the book “12 weeks a year. How to do more in 12 weeks than others manage to do in a year .

As the authors explain, when planning for 12 months, many people (and companies) raise their expectations and set too many goals. Then they procrastinate most of the time, not doing much to achieve them. But at the end of the year, in the last few months, they make a push to complete as many tasks as possible.

As an alternative, Moran and Lennington suggest shortening the period for which plans are made. So that, in essence, there is simply nowhere to put it aside. After all, a deadline in 12 weeks is not at all the same as a deadline in 12 months.

The book describes all this in some detail and gives many practical recommendations. I definitely recommend reading it and trying this approach.

Book on the topic:

The book “12 weeks a year” by Brian Moran and Michael Lennington on the MYTH publishing website

Method six: improving our life in different areas

This is one of my favorite approaches to planning for the year. The idea is simple: we make a list of everything that we would like to improve. For example: “I want to spend more time with my family”, “I want to add more physical activity”, “I want to increase my income”, “I want to travel more often”, etc.

You can do this in the form of a list or using the “Balance Wheel” exercise. I already talked about it in the article about planning the month .

This approach sets a certain course for the year and identifies areas that can be improved. At the same time, there is room for imagination.

Physical activity can be running, hiking, cycling or walking in the park. A five-minute charge, after all. This can be done every day, on weekends, on vacation. That is, combine in different variations.

As a result, the actions will correspond to those stated in the list, but will not create pressure or provoke a state of procrastination. But this will help keep the issue under control throughout the year.

Same thing with the example of increasing income. You can talk to management about increasing your salary, moving to a higher-paying position in the same company, or changing jobs completely. Other options: try yourself in business, launch a new project, start investing. There are a huge number of ways.

The very fact that the list is compiled from the position of “want” and not “need” motivates you to look at it more often.

Then, based on such a list of wishes (or resolutions, as they are more often called), specific items can be included in monthly , weekly and daily plans.

Planning for the year in paper or electronic form?

What else should you take care of when planning for the coming year? Of course, you need to choose a planning method (if you haven’t decided on this issue up to this point).

Some people like to keep a paper diary. Others prefer to use special programs and applications. You can also combine both options. That's what I do.

I talked about the experience of combining these two methods in an audio release dated December 18, 2021 in my Telegram channel “Planning is Easy” .

Summing up

The most important thing is that you plan your affairs not in your head, but in writing. Over time, this becomes a habit and is not difficult. Then everything is organized, and your head is not filled with unnecessary information about small tasks.

And in closing, I want to quote Brian Tracy again:

“Of all adults, only about three percent are able to clearly formulate their goals in writing. These are the people who manage to do ten times more than their colleagues.”

Good luck to you and may the new year be unforgettable!

Watch the webinar:

How to not only set goals, but also achieve them

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This article contains affiliate links. This means that I receive a small commission for recommending such products or services. This does not make them more expensive for buyers. The funds received help me develop my blog about planning and make it more interesting and useful for readers.

Other types of plans

Planning is an amazing and exciting thing. Any event or goal can be described down to the smallest detail - this is called an algorithm. This is exactly the same principle that computers work on. Interestingly, some people make plans for several years. Most often, entrepreneurs and businessmen do this. This is vital for them.

Making a plan for 3 years or 5 years is not difficult at all. All you need to do is identify the main goals and assign tasks to them. The most difficult thing is to stick to such a plan strictly.

It is very important that the goals in the plan are related to the person’s capabilities. You should not confuse an unattainable dream and clearly defined goals. If you are not confident that you can achieve a certain task yourself, then you should not write it down. In the example “how to make a plan for the year” presented above, you can see that all goals should depend only on the person himself, his desires and abilities. There is no place for other people or random events. You should always rely only on yourself.

To sum it up, making a plan is not difficult at all. To do this, you need to carefully analyze your life, draw the necessary conclusions and write them down in the form of a table or list.

Your skills are always more important than your desires

Renowned psychologist Anders Ericsson coined the term “thoughtful preparation.” His research was made famous by Malcolm Gladwell, who is famous for his 10,000 hour rule.

As history shows, people with innate abilities rarely make it into the world elite. Rather, those who end up there are those who devote most of their time to their craft. For example, most of the world's top violinists have played 10,000 hours of violin before they turn 20.

You can master anything and enjoy it more and more as you get better at it.

If you spend three hours, seven days a week, focused on a specific activity, you will accumulate 10,000 hours in 10 years. If you spend four hours five days a week, you will accumulate 10,000 hours in 10 years.

If you thoughtfully prepare for the same things you do at work, it means you can only work 3-4 hours a day. But your activities must be focused and productive.

Prioritization and Execution

What is the task that makes everything else seem easy or completely unnecessary? What are you willing to consciously practice for 3-4 hours a day?

Simplification

To prioritize 3-4 hours of time to hone your craft, you need to simplify your life. Without a doubt, you need to get rid of activities, behavior, relationships that are pulling you back.

It is difficult to get rid of everything unimportant. Just yesterday I emailed a professor to let him know that I would no longer be able to participate in collaborative research projects this year. While I really enjoy working with this particular professor, the projects distract me from my main priorities—my family, blog, and personal development.

It might be a little scary to cancel projects, end commitments, or end an unhealthy relationship. But once you do it, you will feel incredible relief. You are free! Free from the shackles of inner experiences.

Call to Action Simplify your life as much as possible. We all only have 24 hours in a day. How you spend this time depends on your priorities.

If you can't prioritize 3-4 hours a day, you don't deserve to be great at what you do. Make a plan for daily practice if you want to become a professional. Do it.