New Year's Resolutions and Other Goals

This year during Three Weeks for Dreamwidth, I'm writing about goal-setting frameworks for goals_on_dw. Read Part 1: Introduction to Goal-Setting Frameworks, Part 2: The 1-3-5 Rule, Part 3: The 12-week Year, Part 4: ABCS (Achievable, Believable, Committed, Specific).


Part 3: The 12-week Year

Planning for the long term can make it difficult to build up a sense of urgency to get things done. Planning for the short term can make it hard to accomplish anything substantial. So some goal-setting frameworks focus on the medium term.

The 12-week Year is a plan that focuses on three months at a time. You can start at any time. You must budget your time wisely to make the most of it, because you don't have very much. Once you finish your first 12-week Year, then you can start a new one. Follow the steps to plan your goal.




* First, consider your vision. This should be a large goal or dream. You will break this down into smaller parts that you can accomplish in a few months.

* Second, choose 1-3 goals that will move you toward your vision. These should be things that are feasible to do or acquire in the medium term. For learning how to cook, you might aim to read 1 cookbook, memorize 2 recipes, and learn 3 fundamental cooking skills.

* Third, decide on your tactics. These are things you will do on a daily or weekly basis to pursue your chosen goals.

* Fourth, schedule your days. Use different blocks of time to allow for both smaller tasks and deeper concentration. Make every minute count. Remember to include some breaks too.

* Fifth, pay attention to your progress. You will improve what you measure.

* Finally, review your results at the end of the plan. Use that information in making your next plan.

Structure your days with care. Fill each day with specific tasks that advance toward your goal. They should be clear enough that you can tell whether you have accomplished them. Suppose you want to learn cooking. You might devote an hour to reading a cookbook, an hour to practicing a fundamental skill such as dicing vegetables, two hours to preparing a recipe, and so on.

Keep a sharp eye on your progress. At the beginning of each day, spend a few minutes reviewing what you have already accomplished and the next steps you will take that day. At the beginning of each week, spend half an hour or so tracking your progress in more depth, before you make your daily schedule for the week. Pay attention to where you are making good progress, where you are falling behind, and what works best for you. Adjust plans accordingly until you achieve your goals.