Are you ready to make 2024 your best year yet? As 2023 comes to a close, I find it fitting to share insights on “How to plan”, a task that has consumed much of my time lately, both for my personal life and business.
I have condensed my planning process into six actionable steps.
Step 1: Craft your mission statement and set big goals
Let’s kick off by dreaming big! Personally, I love tackling planning from the big picture before diving into the specifics. So, my first step is to pen down my mission statement for the year. It’s like a bird’s eye view of what you want to accomplish by the end of 2024. This becomes your lifeline—something you can revisit whenever you need that extra push to persevere, whether it’s combating burnout, regaining focus, or when you feel like giving up.
Now, think about all the hats you wear in your various life domains—be it as a parent, friend, professional, or in any other role. Jot them all down.
Next, think about what roles you play in different areas of your life, both in personal life and in your work. It could be a mother, a daughter, a teacher, an influencer, a friend, a brother, a manager, an employee and etcetera.
Lastly, for each role on your list, set at least three goals. Let’s get specific. Say you are a blogger: aim for 100,000 monthly views, earn a solid $2k monthly from AdSense, and launch digital courses on your website. Or, as an individual, maybe you are eyeing four countries to travel to, kicking off your vlogging journey, and shedding 5kg.
When writing down these goals, be ambitious. If your goals don’t scare you, they are not good goals. And specifics matter. Don’t just say “lose weight”; how many kilos are we talking about? Not just “monetize your blog”; how exactly will you do it? Break it down. This part is a bit like scripting in manifestation. As you jot down your goals, try to feel the moment when you actually achieve these and amplify the emotions.
Step 2: For every goal, write down all action steps you can think of
For every goal you have just jotted down, let’s dive deeper into the nitty-gritty of how you can actually achieve them by the end of 2024, or maybe even sooner. Take that goal of hitting 100,000 monthly views for your blog, for example. Picture this as your big goal and brainstorm on how you can make it happen. Consider boosting traffic through social media, ramping up your SEO game, diving into email marketing, experimenting with paid ads, engaging in public relations, or even taking courses tailored to achieve this specific goal. Write down all the ideas buzzing in your mind.
What I wanted to point out here is that all these action steps fall into two realms—the “Things that I know I know” and the “Things that I know I don’t know.” But, and this is important, stay open to the unknown unknowns, the “Things that I don’t know I don’t know.” Often, these are the game-changers that lead to breakthroughs and goal-smashing moments. So, as the year unfolds, if you stumble upon new inspirations or ideas, feel free to add them to this list. Opportunities often come from unexpected places.
Step 3: Prioritise your action plan
Now, let’s talk about priorities—the game-changer! You have got this extensive list of action steps, but here’s the reality check: we need to be practical. There is a good chance you won’t be able to tick off every single thing by the year’s end.
So… what do we do? The time management matrix. This is a lifesaver, not just for yearly planning but also for monthly, weekly, and even daily prioritisation. This is something I have learned after reading the book “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People”.
The time management matrix is split into 4 quadrants.
- Both urgent and important
- Not urgent but important
- Urgent but not important
- Not urgent and not important
Now, for maximum effectiveness, focus on activities falling into Quadrants 1 and 2. These are the real game-changers, the activities that will fast-track you towards your goals. Spend most of your time on these crucial tasks that can bring you to your goal FAST.
Step 4: Plan your first month
Time to zoom into the first month of the year 2024! Now that you are armed with your priorities, let’s shift gears from the yearly overview to a monthly dive. Here’s where we get into the specifics of what exactly you will be doing in the upcoming month.
My personal approach? I like to break things down into different aspects of my life and workstreams, jotting down goals and plans.
Following that, I begin scheduling my daily tasks. I’m all about avoiding burnout, so spreading out my to-dos is key. Since my work involves a lot of social media tasks, I schedule posts, reels, pins—the whole shebang—in advance. This not only keeps me efficient but also frees up time for crucial activities like research, courses, and brainstorming new products.
As I complete tasks during the month, I will check them off on my sticky notes.
Beyond work, I make it a point to document everything in my physical diary. I ensure that my plans touch all four dimensions—physical, mental, spiritual, and social/emotional. I treat this time as my personal “ME time,” where I “sharpen my saw.” It is a breather from the hustle and bustle, allowing me to focus on self-improvement in every aspect. This intentional break is my secret weapon against burnout—it strengthens me as an individual.
Step 5: At the end of the month, reflect and Plan your next month
Time for some reflection! At the end of the month, circle back to your goals—how many did you manage to tick off? If it is a clean sweep, give yourself a well-deserved pat on the back. I am all about celebrating wins, even the small ones. It could be treating myself to a night off or indulging in my favourite cake.
Now, if not every goal gets a checkmark, no worries. It’s not about perfection; it’s about progress. Think about how you can do better. Reflect on the month—what worked, what didn’t, and what lessons you can carry forward. Consider what adjustments you can make to hit those big goals.
And don’t limit your reflections to just work. Ask yourself: Have I grown as an individual physically, mentally, spiritually, and emotionally? Remember, facing life’s challenges becomes easier when you are growing stronger every day.
Once you have done your deep dive into the past month, it is time to gear up for the next one, just like we discussed in step 4. But here’s the catch: up your game, work smarter, and incorporate lessons learned from the past month. This way, every passing month becomes a stepping stone, bringing you closer to those big goals. It is all about progress and continuous improvement.
Step 6: Stay Consistent and Committed.
Most importantly, stay consistent and committed. Know your WHY – why you need to achieve these big goals. Whatever you do, don’t throw in the towel. Be accountable for those goals you set at the beginning of the year.
Life is like an upward spiral. You do it, you learn from it, you commit to it, and then you repeat the process. It is a rhythm of growth and progress.
I still remember what my teacher once shared with me: Life isn’t like a stock market with its higher highs and higher lows. Life is a mix of higher highs and lower lows, thanks to the law of balance. If you want to achieve something great, you need to prepare to face substantial challenges. Strengthen your mind, body, and spirit.
So, what are you waiting for? Start planning, gear up, and prepare yourself for what could be the best year yet!
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