What’s involved in creating an action plan that works? Well, this episode is all about how to make an action plan for achieving your goals so you can change your life. So, welcome to Episode 10 of the Change Your Life! podcast… your practical guide to creating a better life for yourself.
Episode Transcript
Have you ever set out to achieve a goal, only to find yourself just drifting along… or even running out of steam along the way? The truth is, without a solid plan, even the best of intentions can fall flat and it can be hard to figure out the way forward… which is why you need to create an action plan. Planning isn’t just a step in the process of achieving your goals — it’s the blueprint for your success; the difference between wishful thinking and real, tangible progress that turns your dreams into reality.
In today’s episode, I’m going to uncover why a well-crafted action plan is like the secret sauce for reaching your goals, no matter how big or small, and I’ll break down how to create a plan that not only guides you but also keeps you motivated and on-track. So, grab a seat and let’s talk about how to Change Your Life!
Hello and welcome to Episode 10 of the Change Your Life! podcast… your practical guide to creating a better life for yourself!
I’m Jeremy Godwin, I’m a writer, coach, and mental health counsellor, and I talk to clients about this type of stuff for a living (plus you might also be familiar with my other podcast, Let’s Talk About Mental Health, where I teach people how to improve their wellbeing each week). In this special 12-part series I’m sharing all the practical advice I possibly can about how to change your life for the better, based on quality research as well as all the stuff I’ve been learning along the way over the past few years where I’ve been making a lot of changes in my own life.
Last week I talked about how to identify all the different options for achieving your goals, and so today we’re here at last: it’s time for action! And it’s only taken until Episode 10 to get here! Why so long? Because, as you’ll discover over the next half hour or so, failing to plan is planning to fail… so this episode is all about how to create a plan that actually works for turning your goals into a reality… and then how to put the pedal to the metal to make it happen!
So, let’s start by talking about…
What is action planning?
OK, so, think about the last time you set out on a new journey somewhere, whether it was planning a holiday, starting a new job, or even tackling a big project at home. You probably didn’t just wing it — chances are, you had a plan, a roadmap of sorts, to guide you from start to finish. But what if, instead of a holiday or a project, that journey is about transforming your life? That’s where an action plan becomes your best friend. It’s not just about getting from A to B; it’s about navigating the twists and turns with confidence and knowing exactly what steps to take, how to take them, and when to take them. A good-quality action plan doesn’t just sit there as a piece of paper, or a note on your phone, but instead it’s something that actually drives you towards undertaking the steps you need to in order to create the life you want.
Broadly speaking, action planning is about creating a clear, structured approach to turn your goals into reality, and it’s crucial for achieving your goals. It’s the process of taking all the ideas and options you’ve brainstormed for how you could possibly achieve your goal, narrowing them down to the most viable ones, identify what you will do, and then mapping out the specific steps you need to take to move forward.
If you’ve listened to the last few episodes then you’ve just been through the first three stages of the GROW model — you’ve set a clear goal, explored the reality of your situation, and generated a list of potential options for how you could achieve that goal. Now it’s about action; it’s time to take all that groundwork and put it into practice, and that means going from what you could do to turn your goal into reality to what you will do. This is where action planning comes into play — it’s about taking those ideas and translating them into concrete actions that will guide you towards your desired outcome.
In a broad sense, action planning isn’t just about figuring out what needs to be done; it’s about creating a roadmap that considers the bigger picture as well as the finer details. It’s the bridge between your aspirations and the steps you’ll take to get there. Without an action plan, it’s easy to get lost in the maze of possibilities, unsure of where to start or what to focus on. But with a well-thought-out plan, you’ve got a guide that keeps you on track, helping you prioritise tasks, manage your time effectively, and stay motivated even when challenges arise.
But what does action planning actually look like in practice? Well, it’s not just a list of tasks to check off as you go. It’s about being intentional with your actions — understanding not just what you need to do, but also why each step is important and how it aligns with your broader goals. It’s about clarity and focus. You’re the one in control, so the plan needs to make sense to you, it needs to be realistic, and it needs to be something you can (and will) commit to.
In practical terms, action planning involves breaking down your specific goal into manageable chunks of practical steps you’ll take towards achieving that goal. For example, if your goal is to improve your physical health, then your action plan might include steps like researching exercise options, scheduling workouts, and gradually building up your fitness level. Each step is a small, actionable task that contributes to the bigger picture.
Action planning is also about flexibility. Just because you’ve created a plan that doesn’t mean it’s set in stone; sometimes, you’ll try something and realise it’s not working as you might have hoped and that’s OK — it’s all part of the process. The beauty of an action plan is that it can be adjusted as needed. If one option isn’t panning out, you can go back to the pool of ideas you generated in the previous step (which we discussed in Episode 9) and try a different approach. It’s all about moving forward, even if the path isn’t perfectly straight and linear.
The key here is to remember that action planning is about progress, not perfection. It’s about coming up with a plan for how you’ll take consistent steps, no matter how small, towards your goal. The work you’ve done in the first three steps of applying the GROW model that we’ve already covered — defining your goal, understanding your reality, and exploring your options — has laid a solid foundation; now, it’s time to build on that foundation with a plan that’s both practical and inspiring.
Ultimately, action planning is your way forward. It’s the stage where everything comes together, and you start making tangible progress towards your goal. By taking the time to create a thoughtful, well-structured plan, you’re setting yourself up for success. And as you take those first steps, you’ll see how all the preparation, reflection, and exploration you’ve done so far starts to pay off, guiding you closer to the change you’re striving for.
So, that leads me to the next part of this episode…
Why do you need an action plan?
And it may seem obvious, but an action plan serves as your guide, providing structure and clarity. When you jump straight into action without a plan, you risk taking steps that aren’t aligned with your overall goal, which can lead to wasted time and energy. You might find yourself going in circles, unsure of what to do next, or making choices that don’t actually bring you closer to where you want to be. And you can also find that, without a clear action plan in place, the initial burst of enthusiasm you have for getting started can quickly fizzle out, leaving you feeling overwhelmed, directionless, or even completely discouraged.
The importance of an action plan lies in its ability to keep you focused and on track by breaking down your big goal into smaller and more manageable steps, making the journey feel less daunting. Each step in the plan is carefully thought out, so you know exactly why you’re doing what you’re doing and how it fits into the bigger picture. This helps you to prioritise your efforts, manage your resources effectively, and stay motivated, because you can see the progress you’re making, even if it’s small.
An action plan also allows for flexibility and adaptability. Life is unpredictable, and things don’t always go according to plan; when you have a well-thought-out action plan, you’re better equipped to handle setbacks or changes in circumstances. You can adjust your approach without losing sight of your ultimate goal, rather than feeling like you’re starting from scratch every time something doesn’t go as expected.
In short, an action plan helps you move forward with intention and purpose. It’s not about being rigid or overly cautious; it’s about making sure that your efforts are truly effective and that every step you take is a step in the right direction. So, while it might seem like jumping straight into action is the fastest way to get things done, taking the time to create an action plan can actually save you a massive amount of time and energy in the long run, and help to ensure that your actions lead to meaningful and lasting change.
So, how do you do all of that? Well that’s a great question that I’m about to answer, but first let’s take a quick break to hear from the brands that help me create this show each week.
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And welcome back! Now let’s talk about…
How to make an action plan
OK, so this is specifically focused on making an action plan to achieve your goals (if you’re looking for more general action planning tips then there’s lots of stuff online, although I will say that the principles are basically the same so you’ll find this helpful regardless).
Let’s go through a simple step-by-step process for creating an action plan, then I’ll give you some tips to bear in mind to make it even more effective.
The first step is to start with clarity — before you dive into planning, make sure that you’re absolutely crystal clear on what your goal is; this is something we worked through back in Episode 7 and it’s a good time to go back and review what you created to make sure it reflects your current situation and your intentions. Ask yourself: What exactly do I want to achieve? Why do I want to achieve that? Is my goal specific, realistic, and measurable? For example, rather than saying, “I want to be fitter,” you might say, “I want to run a 5K in under 30 minutes within three months.” The more specific and measurable your goal, the easier it will be to create a plan that is realistic and actionable.
Next, review your options and select which one you’ll focus on — last week in Episode 9 we worked through how to create a robust list of potential ways to turn your goals into reality; now it’s time to take the list of things you could do and decide on what you will do. Pick one or two options to focus on and start to brainstorm what’s going to be involved in doing them (I’ll talk you through that in a moment). The piece here that I really want you to consider is to only pick one or two options at a time maximum, rather than trying to do a whole bunch of things. Why? Because you want to be able to give your full energy and attention to what you’re doing, rather than splitting your focus across 4, 5, 6 different things; it makes it easier to stay on-task, and it also helps you to quickly see whether or not things are working (rather than being distracted by multiple different tasks and then having to figure out which one hasn’t worked).
Next, list the major milestones — once you’re clear on your goal and the option (or options) you’re choosing to work on in order to achieve it, and you’re happy with how you’re going to move forward, think about the significant milestones you’ll be working towards along the way. These are the major checkpoints that indicate you’re making progress, and these tie back to the ‘options’ brainstorming from last week’s episode. To identify the milestones, ask yourself: What are the key accomplishments I need to achieve to reach my goal? For example, if your goal is to run a 5K, then your milestones might include:
- Week 1: Run continuously for 10 minutes
- Week 4: Run 3K without stopping
- Week 8: Run 4K in under 35 minutes
- Week 12: Complete a full practice 5K run
Each milestone represents a significant step forward, but it also serves to break your goal down into smaller and more manageable parts so that you’re not unrealistically trying to do everything all at once. This approach also helps to keep you motivated, because reaching each milestone provides a sense of accomplishment and progress.
Next, determine the key steps — with your milestones in place, now it’s time to figure out the key steps needed to reach each one. These steps are the broad actions that will guide you through the process, focusing on what’s essential rather than getting bogged down in the details. To identify your key steps, consider what actions are necessary to achieve each milestone. For example: to reach the first milestone in the 5K scenario (which was running continuously for 10 minutes), key steps might include:
- Setting a consistent training schedule (e.g., running three times a week)
- Gradually increasing your running time with each session, and
- Incorporating strength training to support your endurance
Then for the second milestone (which was running 3K without stopping), key steps could be:
- Following a structured running plan, like a Couch to 5K program
- Practicing interval training to build your stamina, and
- Monitoring your progress and adjusting the pace as needed
See how these are much more specific? Each key step should be broad enough to cover the essential actions but specific enough to give you clear direction. Think of these steps as the building blocks of your action plan — they should be actionable, realistic, and aligned with your milestones.
Next, plan out your steps — which simply means to organise your steps in a logical order. What needs to happen first? What follows after that? Sequencing your steps ensures that your plan flows smoothly and that each action builds on the one before it. For example, in your running plan, you wouldn’t jump straight into running 3K; you’d start with building up your stamina gradually. You’ll find that incorporating this type of logical progression helps you to build momentum and it will also keep you from feeling too overwhelmed.
Next, allocate timeframes — OK, so real talk here: timeframes are absolutely crucial for keeping your action plan on track, otherwise things will just drag and drift (and the next thing you know you’ll be old and grey with a beard like Santa, wondering why you never got around to doing that thing you really wanted to when you were a young whippersnapper!). Once you’ve sequenced your steps, allocate realistic deadlines for each one. You want to give yourself a decent amount of time, so you’re not rushing (or even endangering yourself), but not too much time, so that things don’t drag on for too long. Continuing on with the 5K example, you might decide to reach your first milestone of running 10 minutes continuously by the end of the first week. Setting these clear deadlines gives you something to aim for and helps maintain a sense of urgency and purpose. However, it’s also important to stay flexible; life happens, and sometimes your plans need to be adjusted. Adopt a healthy balance between staying on-track within realistic timeframes while also allowing space to deal with the types of challenges that inevitably pop up from time to time.
And then the next step is to review and adjust — which is about taking a step back and reviewing your action plan. Does it make sense? Are there any gaps or areas that need more detail? Reviewing your plan allows you to fine-tune it before you start taking action, ensuring that it’s both practical and aligned with your overall goal. If you can, and if you feel comfortable to do so, maybe show it to a close friend or a mentor (or a coach if you work with one) and ask them if there’s anything they think you may have missed. Remember, an action plan is a living document; don’t be afraid to make adjustments as you go along. The key is to keep moving forward, staying focused on your goal while being adaptable to changes along the way.
OK, so now you’ve created an action plan… hooray! Well done on achieving that milestone! Now let me share some simple bits of advice to consider along the way:
First, identify potential obstacles — a big part of effective planning is anticipating potential challenges or obstacles that might pop up along the way, which helps to prepare you to handle setbacks without losing too much momentum; like I said earlier, life is unpredictable so it’s better to have a plan for how you’re going to deal with potential obstacles that get in your way (it’s that old saying of “hope for the best and plan for the worst” in action!). You can do this by brainstorming possible challenges and thinking of strategies to overcome them (or doing some research if you’re not sure). For example, if time management is potentially an issue then you might plan to set aside specific blocks of time for working on your tasks. Having a contingency plan in place can make a huge difference if and when things don’t go as planned, and since we all know that sometimes shit happens (and ‘sometimes’ can also sometimes mean ‘lots of the time’!) I’ll be talking next week about how to overcome challenges and setbacks. Next…
Leverage your strengths — when you’re creating your action plan, it’s important to consider your strengths and how you can use them to your advantage; doing so allows you to play to your natural abilities, making your plan more effective and enjoyable to execute. The wheel has already been invented so there’s no point in trying to reinvent it; draw as much as you can from what you’re already good at to make things easier for yourself. You can do this by identifying the skills, resources, and experiences you already have that can help you achieve your goal. For example, if you’re a great organiser, you might focus on creating detailed schedules or systems that keep you on track. OK, next…
Avoid overloading yourself — it’s important to avoid taking on too much at once because that can quickly lead to burnout or frustration; basically, the message here is to not bite off more than you can chew, which helps to ensure that your action plan is sustainable and that you can maintain steady progress over time. That doesn’t mean you don’t challenge yourself or reach big, but you need to be realistic about how much you can handle at any given time and pace yourself accordingly. Prioritise quality over quantity, and remember that slow and steady progress often leads to the best results (because they tend to last longer than quick and chaotic!). Next…
Maintain your focus — staying on-track and focused on your goal is crucial to the success of your action plan, because it helps you avoid distractions and it keeps you moving steadily in the direction of your goal. You can do this by setting aside dedicated time for working on your plan, minimising interruptions, and reminding yourself regularly of your goal and why it matters to you. You’ll also find that techniques like mindfulness or time-blocking can be very effective in helping you to maintain your focus. Next…
Stay organised — organisation plays a key role in keeping your action plan on track; when everything is in order, you can easily see what needs to be done and by when. This helps to reduce stress and confusion, making it a lot easier to stick to your plan. Stay organised by keeping all your action plan documents, notes, and resources in one place (whether that’s a physical folder, a digital app, or a simple notebook), and regularly review and update your plan, as well as keeping track of your progress. Speaking of that, my next tip is…
Monitor your progress — regularly keeping tabs on the progress you’re making plays a huge role in helping you to stay on track with your action plan, because it allows you to see how far you’ve come and to identify any areas where you might need to adjust your approach. You can do this really easily by scheduling in regular check-ins, whether that’s weekly or monthly, to review what you’ve accomplished and what still needs to be done. You’ll also find that keeping a journal or using a tracking tool can be effective ways to monitor your progress as well. OK, next…
Hold yourself accountable — accountability is crucial for sticking to your action plan; when you hold yourself accountable, you’re much more likely to follow through on your commitments because it creates a sense of responsibility and motivates you to stay on track. Remind yourself regularly (even daily) of what you’re doing and why, and share your goals and action plan with a trusted friend or mentor who can provide support and encouragement (and help you to keep yourself on track). Next…
Visualise success — visualising what success looks and feels like can be a powerful motivator as you work through your action plan, because it keeps you inspired and focused on the end result. You can do this by taking a few moments each day to imagine yourself achieving your goal. Picture the details — how it will feel, what it will look like, and the positive impact it will have on your life. This is a simple mental practice that can help you stay motivated and committed (and it’s one that’s used by a lot of elite athletes, so if it’s good enough for them then it’s probably going to be helpful for you as well!). OK, next…
Use visual tools — sticking with the visual theme, visual tools like charts, diagrams, or even simple checklists can make your action plan more tangible and easier to follow because being able to visualise your plan can make it feel a lot more real and give you a clearer overview of your progress. Try creating a visual representation of your plan, like with a timeline or a flowchart, and displaying it somewhere you’ll see it regularly. This keeps your plan top of mind and helps you stay focused. Next…
Keep the bigger picture in mind by reminding yourself of your ‘why’ — so, I’m going to guess there’s a specific reason (or set of reasons) why you’re wanting to make the changes you want to make… and that ‘why’ (your ‘why’) is what’s going to keep you motivated to keep going even when things may be challenging. Your reason for doing what you’re doing is your bigger picture, and when you keep it in mind as you work through your action plan it helps to ensure that every step you take is aligned with your overall goal (plus it keeps you focused on what really matters). Do this by regularly reminding yourself of why you’re working towards your goal and how each task contributes to your long-term success, which will help you stay motivated and committed even when the going gets tough. OK, next…
Seek out support and resources — don’t be afraid to ask for help or additional resources as you work through your action plan, because it ensures that you’re not working in isolation and that you can access help if and when you need it; you don’t need to do everything alone and you’re not going to lose points or lose face for getting help! Reach out to friends, family, mentors, colleagues, or professionals (like a coach) who can offer advice, encouragement, or even practical assistance. Also, consider what resources might help you along the way (like books, courses, online tools, etc.) and incorporate them into your plan. Next…
Regularly review your plan — I mentioned earlier about reviewing your plan after you create it, and really this idea of reviewing things is actually a best practice that extends to before, during and after your work; reviewing things regularly and often helps you to stay on course and make necessary adjustments in a timely manner, which allows you to learn from your experiences and improve your approach over time. You can do this by scheduling periodic reviews where you assess what’s working and what’s not, and then making tweaks to your plan accordingly. Reflection also gives you the opportunity to acknowledge your progress and renew your commitment to your goal. And so that leads to my next tip…
Celebrate your wins — if you’re going to be putting in all of this hard work, then you really need to give yourself permission to stop every now and then to recognise how far you’ve come and to celebrate the progress that you’ve made. Earlier in this episode I encouraged you to identify the major milestones that form part of achieving your goal, so they’re a great place to start in terms of recognising your progress and honouring it… however I’d also encourage you to celebrate small wins along the way as well, because change isn’t easy and showing yourself this kind of encouragement is a great way to stay motivated and keep your spirits high. It helps to reinforce your progress and it reminds you that you’re moving in the right direction, even if the end goal still seems far away. You can do this by recognising and rewarding yourself each time you reach a milestone or complete a significant task. It doesn’t have to be anything big — just even a simple acknowledgment to yourself of your hard work can go a really long way. Next…
Stay positive — maintaining a positive mindset is crucial throughout the action planning process, because having a positive attitude keeps you motivated and resilient even when you’re faced with challenges. A lot of the suggestions I’ve already made are focused on keeping you in a positive frame of mind — doing things like focusing on your progress, celebrating small wins, and reminding yourself why you set the goal in the first place, etc. — and you’ll also find that surrounding yourself with positive influences (whether that’s uplifting music, encouraging quotes, or supportive people) can also make a huge difference. Remember: the only difference between a good day and a bad day is your mindset.
And so then… all that’s left to do now is to put your plan into action… and, really, I’m not going to spend a huge amount of time on that because it basically comes down to either do it or don’t do it. If you do it then you’ll be on your way to changing your life. And if you don’t? Well, then, you won’t! Which would be a real shame after all the work you’ve done to get to this point, don’t you think? Remember: nothing changes if nothing changes. So, if you want to change your life, then you have to change your life… and that means doing the work! Review your schedule and carve out time to do the things on your action plan, and make it a high priority… because if you don’t do it then nobody’s going to do it for you, and your life isn’t going to just magically change itself in the way you want it to without at least some effort from you. I do realise that often we hit obstacles and stumbling blocks along the way, and so next week I’m going to be talking you through how to keep yourself on track in spite of whatever challenges and difficulties are thrown your way.
Summary & Conclusion
So, the main thing I’d like to leave you with today is this:
Creating an action plan is much more than just a series of tasks — it’s your roadmap to success, a step-by-step guide that empowers you to turn your dreams into reality. By approaching your goals with a clear plan in place, combined with clarity, focus, and a touch of creativity, you can set yourself up to make real and meaningful progress, and genuine personal growth. Every small step you take is a victory in and of itself, bringing you closer to the change you desire. Now, go out there and make it happen — you’ve got this!
So, by way of closing out, each week I like to share a quote that’s relevant to the subject; this one about planning is by an unknown author, and it is: “A goal without a plan is just a wish.”
Alright… that’s it for this episode; like I said earlier, next week I’ll be talking about how to tackle challenges and setbacks that you may face along the way. Instead of letting difficulties discourage you, or hold you back, or even stop you entirely, I’m going to be talking about how to use them to fuel you so you can keep on moving forward… so you’re definitely going to want to listen to that!
I hope you’ll join me for that episode; hit ‘follow’ on your preferred podcast platform so that you never miss an episode. I release new episodes on Wednesdays, and as I’ve said previously I’ve committed to 12 episodes for this first season, so next time will be the penultimate episode (I just wanted to say the word ‘penultimate’ because I love it, and it’s better than saying ‘second-last’!) and then I’ll be finishing up this podcast at the end of Episode 12.
If you found this episode helpful, please give it a like so other people can find it and leave me a note to tell me what you thought; if you’re on Spotify scroll down and leave a comment below, or you can let me know over on Instagram or Threads @itsjeremygodwin. Sign up to my mailing list for free at itsjeremygodwin.com to have episode transcripts and audio emailed to you each week, and support me on Patreon for early access to ad-free episodes of all of my podcasts; you’ll find all of those links in the episode description.
Thank you very much for joining me today! Have an absolutely fantastic day, night, whatever it is when you’re listening, and I’ll talk to you next time. Take care!
Change Your Life! is an independent program proudly produced by Reconnaissance Media. For more information, visit reconnaissancemedia.com
Jeremy Godwin 