Planning for Q1 2026: Setting Goals and Priorities
If Q4 felt like a blur, you're not alone. But as the year winds down, there’s still a window to set a solid plan for Q1—without scrambling through January just to catch up.
Here’s how to cut through the noise and walk into 2026 with clarity around your goals and priorities.
Make Space Before You Make Plans
Before you even touch a goal-setting template or planning doc, take stock of your capacity. What’s actually possible in Q1 based on your energy, team, and available time?
This isn’t about being overly cautious—it’s about setting goals that can actually be implemented.
Ask:
What’s already locked in (projects, events, holidays)?
What do I need to stop doing to make room for growth?
Where is my time best spent in Q1?
Anchor Your Goals to Priorities—Not Trends
There’s always pressure to launch something new in January. But a smart Q1 plan is built around your business priorities, not what's trending online.
Examples of strong Q1 priorities:
Increase retention by improving onboarding
Delegate 30% of admin tasks to free up strategic time
Build visibility around a flagship offer
Refine systems to prep for a mid-year launch
Once you know the priority, the goal becomes clearer.
Choose Goals That Create Momentum
Set 1–3 goals that drive your business forward—not sideways. Look for goals that:
Solve real bottlenecks
Are easy to measure
Will create flow into Q2
You’re not trying to do it all. You’re trying to create movement where it counts.
Map Your Goals to Projects
Once you’ve locked in your Q1 goals, break them into projects or milestones. This step turns ideas into action—and stops your goals from sitting in a notebook collecting dust.
Your ClickUp, Ivorey workflows, or even a Google Doc can help here. The simpler the structure, the more likely it is to get used.
Build In Time for Review
Progress doesn’t happen by accident—it happens with review points. Plan monthly check-ins (even just 15 minutes) to see:
What’s working
What’s off track
What needs adjusting
Your Q1 plan shouldn’t be rigid—it should be responsive.
Ready to Get Clear?
If you’re still trying to untangle all your ideas or don’t know where to start, you don’t have to map it out alone.
Book a Breathe & Discover Call and let’s talk through what matters most, where your capacity really is, and what kind of support you’ll need to see traction in Q1.