Crafting a Plan for the Coming Year

As promised in our December 2025 blog, we’re going to continue our revolt against New
Year’s resolutions, and instead embark upon a more sustainable way of realizing our
intentions for the coming year.

First, let’s define the difference between “resolutions” and implementing a Plan. A
resolution is a sentence that sounds strong and purposeful. But it’s often flavored with
self-reproach, as if we’re just fed up with our “old” selves. Then as January flies by, we
do our best to put in our Heroic Effort toward the resolution, and inevitably become
overwhelmed or run out of steam. We can only hold our fist up in the air for so long. By
February 1st , we’re back to where we started, demoralized and disheartened. Nobody
like that!

A Plan, on the other hand, gives us a roadmap toward our intentions. We focus on
progress, not overnight change. It feels easy (sometimes), and involves less pushing.
Going through with a Plan takes time, but positive results are measurable. And we love
ourselves through the whole process. We like that!

If that sounds good, follow the steps below to make a Plan that you can work on all year
long toward whatever makes you happy.

1. Take stock of your “wins” from last year. Yes, they are there if you look for
   them. (You can read about making a “wins” list and what to do with it here: Taking a Year-End Inventory). Deep gratitude for whatever came your way last year – whether
   they were gifts from the universe or results of your own efforts – will get you into
   the positive mind frame for the rest of the exercise.
2. Check your mindset. “New Year, New You” gets a big strike-out: there is
   nothing wrong with the old you. It’s the old “you” who is going to encourage this
   year’s “you” to start some new habits. We need to start with self-love and self-
   acceptance, or this whole game will go down the toilet with your January 2nd gym
   membership.
3. Ask your heart what it wants. There’s nothing wrong with wanting a new car /
   job / set of abs, but scratch below the surface a bit to see what’s underneath: do
   you really want greater freedom? Better health? More joy? Use this insight to
   form your intentions.
4. Watch your language. Pick two or three things that you’d like to see happen
   by December of this year. Write down your statements of intent with the following
   in mind:
   • Put the statements into present tense, as if they have already come to
     fruition, ie “I’m enjoying perfect health” vs “I’m going to feel much healthier.”
     Now you’re living in the reality you want.
   • Use positive wording, ie “I can breathe freely” vs “I don’t want any more asthma attacks.”
5. Get into the details. The key to creating a sustainable Plan is to make a list of
   the smallest steps possible. For example, “I’m going to lose weight” can get
   broken down to the tired old “eat well and exercise,” but that’s still too vague. Try
   starting with “I’m eating more vegetables for a few weeks until it becomes a
   habit” before adding on your next micro-step.
6. Write out your schedule. Use your detailed list to create a program for yourself
   that takes only a few minutes a day – but make sure it’s every day. A year-long
   plan relies on steady progress.
7. Note your wins daily. Haha, back to the beginning! But now you’re really
   paying attention to the small moves that will add up, and reminding yourself to
   stay in a positive mind-set. A quick daily journal entry will suffice.
8. Ask for help. Please don’t follow Tik-Tok advise without backing it up with
   professional assistance. Ask your health-care practitioner* for a get-healthy plan,
   work out with a certified trainer, go to an in-person yoga class. Don’t flounder by
   yourself or make dangerous mistakes that can be avoided with sound guidance.
   

It’s important to not scare yourself. Very few people do well with radical, sudden
change. The rest of us need to tiptoe around the part of the brain that senses danger –
making imperceptible shifts so as to not wake the Fear Dragon. Little by little, you can
realize your intentions – or something even better.

*Drop me a line! 😉