5 Reasons You Must Plan Your Year

I always find the beginning of a new year an exciting time.

At the beginning of the year, my husband, Rohan, and I sit down and plan the year in detail. We diarise everything from date nights, adventure weekends with our kids, webinars, podcast recordings and more. I honestly find it energizing and motivating.

Planning the year is super helpful, in so many ways.

Here are 5 reasons you must take time (ok, MAKE time) to plan the year that is to come:

1. Planning your year helps determine priorities.

When you make time to think about the year ahead, you automatically start thinking about what is important to you and what you want to achieve. Planning your year helps you to identify those things and actually commit to them, by putting them in your calendar.

2. Planning your year is incredibly motivating.

It really is so exciting to see YOUR priorities in the diary, not just those that reflect your job or the priorities of others. When you write down the things that are important to you, and see them in your calendar as actual appointments and engagements, it feels amazing! (You can download some printable New Year’s motivational quotes here).

3. Planning your year gives you direction.

I know this sounds obvious, after all, that’s why we plan the year right? To get direction. But I really think it’s worth a reminder – that planning your year does give you direction. It helps you to get a feel for the year and for the next right steps you need to take to see your goals and dreams progress and become reality.

4. Planning your year lets you measure your progress.

A planned year gives you a way of measuring how well you’re doing in sticking to your plan. Your plan keeps you accountable. It is a measure that you can refer to and chart how you’re going. It lets you track that goal, that project, that thing you’re working on. And just being accountable is motivation in itself.

5. Planning your year sets you up for a win.

When you make the time at the beginning of a year to plan for the year ahead, you really are making a huge investment into yourself and into your future. You are positioning yourself in the best possible way to have a successful and fulfilling year.

So…

Take the time. No, MAKE this time THIS WEEK to plan this year ahead.

Sit down, grab a coffee, start thinking and start planning.

You will seriously thank yourself 12 months from now.

Enjoy the journey.

Enjoy the moments.

🙂

Megan

P.S. Principals and School Leaders: To make the most of your year (and those on your staff), you should check out Rohan’s (my hubby) amazing Making The Most Of The Year stuff.