Create Your New Year Action Plan

It is the last month of the year which is a perfect time to reflect on the progress you’ve made towards your goals.  Maybe you’ve achieved your goal this year or perhaps you’re not quite where you want to be.  Perhaps you had an action plan to achieve your goals this year or maybe you didn’t.  You may have hit a few small milestones or even experienced some major setbacks along the way.  In any case, determining what worked and what didn’t work this year is going to help set you up for success in the new year.  Learn how to create a new year action plan driven by the things that will actually help you make progress towards your goals.

What Worked

First, determine what worked this year.  Maybe that was making a to do list, using your planner to keep track of tasks, getting up earlier, meal planning, limiting time on social media, etc.  Figure out what actually moved the needle towards helping you achieve your goals this year.  Perhaps that was taking a break or time out for self care so that you could find the quiet space to get creative and come up with new ideas.  It could be that you started working on your mindset, confidence, and how you see the world.  These are the things you want to keep doing in the new year.

Proudest Moment

Then, list at least one thing you’re most proud of this year.  It could be accomplishing a certain milestone, stepping outside your comfort zone and trying something new, etc.  Consider what made you most proud of this achievement.  It may be that you worked really hard, persevered, stayed determined, got out of your own way, etc.  Maybe this thing you’re really proud of pushed you, challenged you, helped you learn, and grow.  You may have been really scared in the beginning but this turned out to be one of your proudest moments of the year.  Use this as fuel to help you try scary, unfamiliar things and reach even higher in the new year.

What Didn’t Work

Next, assess what didn’t work this year.  Perhaps you spent too much time scrolling social media, you didn’t prioritize your goal related tasks, you procrastinated, or got distracted.  Determine what things didn’t help you make progress towards your goals and actually caused you to stall, go backwards, or just give up completely on your goals.  Maybe you got in your own head by succumbing to the thoughts that you can’t do this, you’re not worthy, who are you to do this, etc.  It could be that you took on too many projects and you were spread too thin.  These are the things you don’t want to continue doing in the new year.

Action Plan

You’ve taken a look at what worked and what didn’t.  Now it’s time to make a game plan to accelerate what did work and limit wasting time on the things that didn’t work.  Perhaps you need to set some boundaries around screen time, certain people, or even with yourself.  Form a plan to get the help you need if you felt lost, confused, hopeless, or overwhelmed this year.  Whether that’s taking a class to further your education, gain new expertise, or work on your mindset.  Maybe that’s asking someone for help to mentor you or simply to take something off of your plate.  Delegate tasks to someone else so you can free up more time to work on the needle moving tasks that will help you achieve your goals.  Create an action plan for what you need to do in order to make massive progress towards your goals in the new year.

Commitment

Lastly, make a commitment to stick to your action plan.  Decide right now what you’re going to stop doing and what you’re going to start doing instead.  Make this a non-negotiable deal with yourself and commit to sticking to it in the new year.  Imagine how it will feel when you’ve made so much progress towards your goals by sticking to your new commitments.  Plan to reward yourself for a job well done when you stay committed.

You have big goals and dreams for yourself.  Do not let what didn’t work this year get in the way next year.  Learn the lessons, draw the line, and move on!  You have so much to achieve in the new year.  You cannot hold yourself back.  Creating an action plan to achieve your goals will help you make huge progress in the new year.  Make a commitment to stick to your action plan.  You’ll be amazed what you will accomplish when you do.

Take Action Challenge:

Your New Year Action Plan Builder

This week, complete your Mini Action Plan Audit.

Step 1 — Identify Your Big 3 Wins

Write down three things that worked for you this year — habits, decisions, mindsets, or routines that actually helped you move forward.

✨ Circle the one you want to double down on in the new year.

Step 2 — Call Out Your Energy Drains

List three things that didn’t work — procrastination habits, distractions, limiting beliefs, or routines that slowed your momentum.

🚫 Draw a line through the one you are fully done with and don't want to continue doing in the new year.

Step 3 — Choose Your Needle-Mover Activity

Pick one action you can take this week that aligns with the future you and supports your new year goals.

📌 Example: Limit screen time after 8pm, block a weekly planning hour, delegate a task, sign up for a class, adjust your morning or evening routine, etc.

Step 4 — Make Your Commitment

Write a commitment sentence and put it somewhere you’ll see it daily:

👉 “I am committed to doing ___ and stopping ___ because I am creating the life I want.”

This simple audit builds clarity, confidence, and momentum before the new year even starts.