How to tell if I'm on track?

I'm a mid 700's player. I got excited when I first started playing and did no study at all. I just played 10 minute games, developing my obsession. I now realize (and have LEARNED) that this is just a good way to develop bad habits. Which I did. 

So I've been slowly and deliberately going through the lessons, analyzing all my games (well, not ALL of them...) and trying to retrain my instincts to good chess habits. How long, through daily tactics training and going through the lessons would it take a typical student to get to 1000? A year? More?

I know the temptation is to answer "it depends," but I just want a realistic timeline to measure the effectiveness of my study, manipulate it if I need to, or stay the course if I'm doing the right thing. All the books are way too advanced for me, and I'm feeling kind of stuck doing what I'm doing. Outside of hiring a real chess coach, can I hope to reach  a solid 1000 by this time next year?

With correct study I think anyone can reach 1000 chess.com wise in a few months. 

I personally started at 900-1000 blitz but Im a youngster and spent a lot of time watching youtube videos before playing (around a month watching Youtube videos before starting online chess) and altough they are not the best way to study they certainly helped.

A coach would severely help everyone, and I would recommend it if you can afford it.

If you cant afford a coach you should practice tactics a lot, I will take the risk to say that to reach 1000 chess.com rating wise you should mainly focus on tactics and melting a check list into your brain which will turn on automatically whenever you need it and tell you possible checks/captures/hanging pieces/and how many times a piece is defended.

Going from 700 to 1000 in a year is an incredible increase.  Some would say impossible. That's a 300 point increase. Just imagine Carlsen going from 2800 to 3100 in a year. People here will tell you that it won't happen, but I believe with handwork, commitment, and passion that you could do it. Keep believing!

I have to disagree with Vladimir.

Where you are starting from is important. 

Improving in chess gets harder as you improve, going from 700 to 1000 is not as hard as going from 2800 to 3100.

how about going from 0 to 300 ?

same as Carlsen going from 2800 to 3100 ?

Yes, its the same amount. 

thought you'd say that. have a nice life.

You might be on to something. 

If 700 rated player is willing to study then reaching 1000 is no big deal. Even learning basic endgame technics and practicing tactics can take there in some time.

I forgot to mention one more thing play slower games. You can't make meaningful progress by playing only 10 min games. Play at least 30 minutes games where you have time to figure out best possible move.

Although reading books is good but I don't think that's necessary at 700 rating. You can learn faster by videos,  books can be read later after you reach certain level. Active learning is important , so practice endgame with computer too.

my blitz rating changed between 750 and 800 when i first joined this site about six months ago. I got over 1000 this month. So it's not that impressive of a change. I just did what you said in your post. ı played 10 minute games in my free time, did the 5 free tactics a day, watched a few youtube videos. but when i really improved my game was when i read Silman's articles on here. ı was struggling to stay over 900 at the end of december but after i read silman's articles, i smoothly got over 100 in a week or two. I STORNGLY recommend reading the articles on this site and especially Silman's.

i started with an 800 tactics rating. i solved 5 tactics every day here, it is now 1450~