Try this: plan quarterly and work backwards

My plans used to look like to-do lists, that I would constantly add to. I still use to-do lists, but I don’t use them as my plan, I use them to execute my plan. My plan is a separate thing from my to-do lists. It’s a simple mindset shift that brings more clarity to my to-do list.

The sweet spot for me seems to be about a season’s worth of planning. A month can be too short to see results, and a year is too long to give that sense of urgency that helps drive progress. 

Here’s an approach that you could try:

1. Choose your most important or difficult goal (and if you wrote it down as a SMART goal, it makes planning easier).
2. Use a paper or your favourite thinking app and create three columns – one for each of the next three months. 
3. In the third month, write down what you want to have achieved or what you want to be doing. 
4. Work back through the remaining months and write down what you need to do in order to achieve your goal. 
5. Reality check it – do you have the time and resources to execute this plan? Set yourself up for success –  iterate on the plan until it feels realistic but a stretch.    

Clients often feel like they have to have everything in place before hiring some help – but it’s normal to need help in the brainstorming or planning stages. I’m happy to meet you wherever you may be!

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