Want to know how to get TONS accomplished and meet your goals in the new year? It starts in the planning stages, right now.

5 Tips for Successful New Year Blog Planning

1. Evaluate Last Year

The First Tip for successful future planning is evaluating last year. That may seem silly, or unnecessary, but in reality, if you know how you got to where you are, or what lessons you learned along the way, it’s MUCH easier to plan for the future. Michael Hyatt teaches this as well in his course (affiliate link:), The Best Year Ever. Here are some things to look at when evaluating:

What did I achieve?
What went well, why? What specifically made that a success?
What did not go well? why? How can I improve this year?
What did I NOT do this year, that I wish I would have? How can I make that a reality this year?
What did I achieve that I don’t feel got sufficient recognition?

2. Review Life Time Goals

What’s on your all-time bucket list? I want to visit all 50 states in the USA. I want to celebrate a wedding anniversary in Greece, one year… What is it that you want to do? Is there any way you can take steps toward reaching that goal this year? Plan for it.

3. Plan Around the Non-Negotiables

There are things in our lives we all HAVE to do, like it or not. Taxes. Income/expense reports. Holidays with the family. Business trips. Make a list of the non-negotiables for next year’s schedule and get them on your calendar now. Then, you can plan all of your flexible events around those “must-do” events, making sure you give yourself enough room in the schedule to do all things well.

4. Set Your Goals

Do you want to hit $10/mo income? Do you want to release 4 new products? Do you want to loose weight and change your diet? Set the goal and create action steps and deadlines to get there, planning for it around the non-negotiables.

The action steps and measurable-ness is what makes it a “goal” and not just a dream. Be sure to plan regular goal check-in deadlines into your calendar too. If you set a “goal” with action steps and measurability and then forget about it, well, now it was just a great idea. Goals require commitment, follow up, check-ins, evaluations, measurement.

I also try not to set more than 3-5 big goals in any one area for the year. Then I choose one big goal or project per month. It’s a great way to focus and really accomplish things.

5. Inform Your Team

Do you have a family? Do you have people in place as a support system? Do you have part-time or full-time help? Give them a heads up of your schedule and goals for the New Year. Get everyone on the same page. Let them know the expectations, goals and action steps you’re planning. It’s great for increasing the support you get, and inside a business, it also improves morale, unity and communication. A great place to start the new year from.

Click here for a free download planning form. Or check out our Blog Like a Pro Planner for a comprehensive, no-nonsense, blog/business planner. Others in the industry cost $60 or more, but ours is Just $27 through January 2017.