You’ve got so many goals, but you can’t seem to achieve them.
The motivation is there. You know you want these things. But you get stuck and forget to follow through, letting your goals drift away into unachievable dreams.
It doesn’t have to be that way. An action plan template can help you transform your goals into reality.
What is an Action Plan Template?
To accomplish any goal, you need an action plan ~ something that describes exactly what you need to do, step by step, to achieve your dream.
That’s where a lot of us stall out. We get stuck because we don’t know where to start. We have a goal, but don’t know what we need to do next to achieve it.
An action plan template can help. It’s essentially a worksheet that prompts you to reframe your major goal, consider the key steps required to achieve it, and break it down into manageable tasks.
But it’s more than a vision board – it also seeks to hold you accountable. A lot of templates have due dates or checkboxes to ensure you’re actually following through with those essential tasks, because you’re more likely to do something if you have it written on paper with a due date.
Why Do I Need an Action Plan Template?
If you can make an action plan on your own, you don’t need an action plan template.
But a lot of us need help.
If you struggle to reframe your dreams into actionable steps, identify your limitations, or hold yourself accountable, an action plan template may be the solution to all of your problems.
It comes pre-filled with the vital questions you need to consider to achieve your goal.
Elements of an Action Plan Template
All action plan templates are a little different, as they’re based on what the person who created them wanted.
However, most will have a mixture of these vital elements:
- Clear Goal: What exactly do you want?
- Motivation: Why do you want this?
- Action Steps: The things you have to do to accomplish it
- Milestones or Due Dates: When will you get this done?
- Resources: What do you need to achieve it? Who can help?
- Obstacles: What might hold you back? How can you overcome it?
- Space to Track Progress or Reflect: Did your action achieve the desired result?
Types of Action Plan Templates
Depending on your goal, you might benefit from a specific style of template. You’ll find some templates specific to:
- Long Term Goals
- Short Term Goals
- Transforming Dreams into SMART Goals
- Step-by-Step Action Plans
- Reflection
But some templates seek to do it all in one.
Where Can I Get an Action Plan Template?
You can find action plan templates all over the internet. Here are the best places to look:
Etsy
Etsy creators offer a variety of action plan templates to meet various needs. You will find Excel templates, downloadable PDF templates, and full business workbooks on the site.
A lot of the products available focus on business goals, but there are a few specific to personal goals. You’ll have to look through each one to see if it’s the right template for you.
Browse Action Plan Templates on Etsy
Internet Search
Of course, you can always search for your perfect template on the broader internet. Unfortunately, it’s hard to cut through the noise of weird sponsored results and images that don’t actually bring you to the site and find a real template you can use.
However, a simple search is the best way to find free action plan templates – if you’re willing to spend the time sleuthing.
Canva Pro
If you have Canva Pro, you have access to thousands of templates made by real people. Search Action Plan Template to find simple worksheets designed to help you achieve your goals.
The upside to using Canva is that you can edit the templates to make them work for you. The downside is that most of them are focused on daily tasks or classroom goals, so you’ll have to put in some effort to make it work.
Get Ours!
Want an easy solution? Get ours!
We created a 15-page action plan template bundle with goal tracking sheets, SMART goal worksheets, long-term planning templates, and a detailed action plan template to provide you with all the templates you need to achieve any goal.
As a bonus, we’re also including a link to Canva, so you can edit these templates however you see fit.
Pitfalls to Avoid When Planning
An action plan template won’t solve all your problems. Before diving in, beware of these common pitfalls that are preventing you from achieving your goals:
Over Planning
Plans are great and all, but at some point, you need to stop planning and start doing. Don’t try to get your template perfect. Don’t use “working on my action plan template” as an excuse to not take any real action.
Fill out your template, and start knocking the tasks off your list. You can always make changes later if you have to.
Too Rigid
The best laid plans of mice and men often go awry. You need to be flexible with your plan because life happens, things change, and you have to roll with it.
One of our templates has space for reflecting on what happened with each action step and determining whether you should try something different instead. Whatever template you use, you need to consider the same.
Ignore Constraints
The “A” in the SMART Goal framework stands for “Attainable.” It’s basically asking whether your goal is realistic or a pipe dream.
When using an action plan template, you have to identify any constraints that make your goal unachievable.
But it’s not to be a downer. You can’t solve a problem unless you know it exists, right? So identifying your major obstacles is a crucial step in finding ways to overcome them.
Templates Make Planning Easier
mentalmind via Shutterstock.com.
At its core, an action plan template is a tool that helps make planning easier. It asks crucial questions about motivation and accountability, outlines essential tasks, and provides space for reflecting on progress.
Yes, you can make an action plan without it, but if you struggle to turn your dreams into actionable goals, a template can help.
It’s worth a try, isn’t it?