PART 2: Planning It Out – Building a Roadmap You Can Actually Follow

Once you’ve identified the real, honest goal you want to pursue – the thing that’s been lingering in your mind, tugging at your energy, or quietly frustrating you – it’s time to move into the next phase: planning.

This is where many New Year’s resolutions go sideways. People set a goal (“I want to lose weight,” “I want to save money,” “I want to get organized”) but skip the part where they map out how they’re going to accomplish it. Without a plan, even the most exciting goals quickly become overwhelming.

Think of planning like giving your goal a skeleton. Without it, your goal is just a loose idea floating around. With it, your goal becomes something solid – specific steps, clear boundaries, and a path you can actually walk.

Let’s break down what creating a strong, realistic, and actionable plan really looks like.

Why Planning Matters More Than Motivation

Motivation is great, but it’s unreliable. It changes with your mood, your energy, and even the weather. Motivation alone can’t carry a goal through an entire year.

A plan, however, doesn’t rely on your mood.
A plan works on days when you’re excited and on days when you’re dragging.
A plan allows you to be successful even when you don’t feel motivated at all.

The plan is the structure. Motivation is just the spark.

Start With the Big Picture

Once you know the general direction of your goal, ask yourself:

What would reaching this goal actually look like in real life?

Let’s say your goal is to improve your energy levels.
Paint the big picture:

You want to wake up feeling rested.
You want fewer afternoon crashes.
You want to be more productive without feeling drained.
You want to feel clear-minded instead of foggy.

Or maybe your goal is to reduce meal-related stress.
Your big picture might look like:

Having simple meals planned and ready.
Knowing what groceries you need each week.
Not scrambling at 5 p.m. wondering what to cook.
Feeling confident that you’re eating in a way that supports your health.

Understanding the big picture helps you create a plan that isn’t random. It helps you understand the destination so you can map out the route.

Now Break It Down: What Has to Change?

Ask yourself:

What needs to happen for me to get from where I am now to where I want to be?

Some examples:

If you want more energy…

Your sleep schedule may need structure.
You may need to change what you eat or when you eat.
You might need to cut back on activities draining your energy.
You may need better hydration or more movement.

If you want meal-time to be easier…

You may need to create a simple meal plan template.
You may need to simplify grocery shopping.
You may need to rotate meals instead of choosing new ones every day.
You may need to prepare ingredients ahead of time.

If you want your clothes to fit better…

You may need to focus on protein, hydration, and balanced meals.
You may need to start walking or increasing daily movement.
You may need to reduce stress or emotional eating habits.
You may need to give yourself time – realistic, sustainable time.

This step is about identifying the “moving pieces” of your goal.

Most goals are not one single action. They’re a collection of habits working together.

Get Really Specific Using SMART Strategies

SMART goals are the backbone of a strong plan. Here’s how to create one effectively:

S — Specific:

Clearly define the goal.
Not: “Eat better.”
But: “Follow a 3-day rotating meal plan to reduce daily decision fatigue.”

M — Measurable:

Add something you can track.
Not: “Walk more.”
But: “Walk 20 minutes 4 days per week.”

A — Achievable:

Your goal should be possible, not perfect.
Not: “Wake up at 4 a.m.” if you currently wake up at 8 a.m.
But: “Go to bed 20 minutes earlier for the next 2 weeks.”

R — Relevant:

Your goal should match your needs – not someone else’s.
Ask yourself: Is this truly important to me?

T — Time-bound:

Give your plan a timeframe.
Not: “I’ll work on this sometime next year.”
But: “I will create my meal plan template by Sunday.”

SMART planning turns a wish into a strategy.

Identify Your Resources: What Do You Need?

Ask yourself what tools, support, or knowledge will help you succeed:

Do you need to purchase something?
(A planner, water bottle, walking shoes, meal containers, etc.)
Do you need to get rid of something?
(Clutter, distractions, unhealthy foods, overstuffed schedules.)
Do you need to learn something new?
(How to cook simple meals, how to budget, how to strength train, how to improve sleep hygiene.)
Do you need accountability?
(A friend, coach, app, tracking sheet, community.)

A plan without resources is a recipe for frustration. Gathering what you need in move forward removes barriers before they arise.

Make Your Plan Simple Enough That You CAN Follow It

Many people think goals require massive, dramatic change all at once.

That’s why they fail.

Your plan should be simple, repeatable, and sustainable.
Think “small but consistent” instead of “big and overwhelming.”

Choose the 1 – 3 smallest actions that would make the biggest impact. Examples:

Drink 40 – 60 oz of water before lunch.
Prep breakfast for the week.
Walk 10 minutes after dinner.
Write a grocery list before shopping.
Go to bed 15 minutes earlier.

Small steps done daily create more change than huge steps done rarely. A great resource for big impact from small actions is Atomic Habits by James Clear.

Prepare for Obstacles Before They Happen

A strong plan acknowledges that life happens.
Ask yourself:

What could get in my way?
What’s my backup plan if things go wrong?
How will I stay consistent when I’m tired, traveling, stressed, or busy?

Examples:

If you can’t do a 30-minute workout, do 10 minutes.
If you can’t cook dinner, choose a healthy semi-prepped meal.
If you can’t follow your exact plan, follow a simplified version.

This is the difference between giving up and adjusting.

Put It All Together: Your Roadmap

A solid plan includes:

The main goal
The big-picture vision
The specific actions
The measurable targets
The resources needed
The backup plan
The timeframe
The method of tracking

Once you have all of these pieces, you officially have a roadmap – not just a goal.

What’s Next

In Part 3, we’ll dive into tracking: how to document your progress, what to measure, how often to check in, and why tracking is the secret weapon most people skip.

Missed part one of the series? Check it out HERE.