Planning in Quarters for 2024 Goals
As we approach the new year is a perfect time to slow down and reflect. The purpose of this longer post is to reflect on the year that passed and plan for the year coming with intention.
The Foundation of Planning
I’ve always admired the principles from the books 12-week year and Atomic Habits. The concept of the 12-week year is to do more in 12 weeks than one can do in a year by setting large goals aligned with your life’s vision. Each goal should tie into a larger picture with tangible milestones and checkpoints. In Atomic Habits, James Clear suggests that small habitual changes will make an impactful difference in your life. In an interview he explains, “Every action is a vote towards the type of person you want to become”. It’s a great reminder every day we have the opportunity to work toward our best selves.
Earlier this week in preparation, I listened to Andrew Huberman’s podcast episode about goal setting. I was interested in how science validated (or did not validate) common goal-setting tactics. To my surprise based on his research, the ideal time frame to focus on a goal is 12 weeks. Additionally, it is really important to have a clear and specific plan for how your goals will be accomplished. We can only focus on a few things at a time, so prioritization is key.
Also writing things down allows us to commit to memory. I would recommend using both digital and physical methods for this.
Lastly, remember we can plan all we want, but ultimately God is in control. In general, we must remain flexible and open to change. The purpose of this planning exercise is not to have every detail accounted for, but to find focus and discipline in what we do.
Before starting your planning process
If you haven’t already, I highly recommend doing a series of reflections before setting goals. Reflecting informs our vision and aspirations which will inform our planning. At the bare minimum, ask yourself the following questions:
In the past year, what elements of my life thrived and what did not?
What do you identify with and what do you want to work towards?
What is your north star and your why?
How do you want to feel a year from today?
From the questions above, what emerges as a theme or items you want to work towards? Create a list of general things you want to do and goals you want to accomplish, small and large.
Here are a few things from my list as an example
run a marathon
feel confident
become consistent in my habits
read at least 12 books
grow this newsletter and podcast
become a gym girly
Create a cozy apartment
well balanced
I also have a general theme of self-discovery surfacing in my reflection. I also encourage you to take the time to think outside of the box for the things you want to accomplish and include things that don’t feel tangible.
Move your list into quarters
From your expansive list figure out the general timing of when these things can/should happen by quarter. It’s important to remember that all of this can change, so have fun and don’t feel tied down to a quarter. The beauty of planning by quarter is that there is always a set time at the end to readjust based on your current needs. If something will take more than 12 weeks, break it down into an actionable smaller goal for the quarter.
I grouped some of my items into general themes. Since I just moved, it makes sense for me to prioritize organizing my home in the first quarter. When I lived in my old apartment I never fully decorated and just said “I’ll do it later” or I’ll just wait until I move. I also want to start the year focused on habits, so I can build the foundation for the rest of the year.'
Prioritize and Strategize
Narrow down the items in Q1 to just 3 things max! If you want to combine a few, do that but we only want 1 - 3 goals. For example, being consistent in my habits includes going to the gym so that doesn’t need a separate goal. However, I could do the opposite and say I just want to focus on creating a workout habit instead. For each priority, what is the goal? What do you need to do to accomplish the goal? Get specific. This will be your strategy and tactics.
For Q1 my single goal is to have my home in order mentally and physically. That breaks down into two priorities: sustaining better habits and making my apartment feel homey. Yet, there are many ways to build consistency in my habits. One option is the popular 75 hard/medium/ soft challenge where you build a streak of specific daily tasks. There are rules based on how strict you want your challenge which creates the difference between hard, medium, and soft. My general strategy for this goal is deciding on which habits are my nonnegotiable and commuting them to a schedule. Time blocking these every week will create a structure for success with this goal.
For my second priority, to make my apartment a home, I will need to nail down my wants and needs in the apartment. I will also need to figure out generally how to decorate. Luckily, there are tons of resources for this. My tactics will be assessing my apartment with a professional, creating a wish list, and actually purchasing the items.
If you want to go a step further, you can create tasks or checkpoints for each week in the quarter. This ensures the focus of priority for the entire quarter. We want lasting goals, not just ones we set and forget.
Measure
Lastly, how are you going to measure the success of these goals? What does progress look like to you? How are you going to keep track of your tasks? For me, it’s as simple as a habit tracker for the first priority. To make my apartment home, I will create milestones for the process and maybe even set a date to host at my apartment.`
Last but not least
Give yourself grace and happy planning! :)