As we start Q4, a lot of us are reviewing our planning systems and thinking about our 2022 setups. I have recently made some tweaks to my planning goals and routines. I thought I would share some tips with you that might be helpful as you get ready for 2022.
Goals Based Planning System
I have been using a goals based planning system for years. In this system, my goals guide all my planning throughout the year and are integrated into my daily life, which makes my planning more productive and effective.
This week I’m going to show you how I set up my planner and my planning routines with this system. In the coming weeks, I’ll share what it looks like in my monthly, weekly, and daily planning.
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Planning Organization
To begin with, I set up my planning sections according to my goals based system. My tabs aren’t labeled, but the sections are first yearly, then monthly, then weekly, then daily. The intention is for my goals and routines to flow from yearly planning all the way through to my daily planning.
There are also sections in my planner that help track progress towards my goals. I’ll share my tracking sections in a future post.
Setting Goals
My system starts with setting goals. This is something that I do every year, usually in December. My goals are always based on my top three priorities, which are wellness, family and the business. I determine my top goals in those categories that I want to reach for the year.
Of course I have other goals I would like to accomplish, but I always choose three top goals to as my main focus.
Breaking Down Goals
After I set my goals, I break them down into daily, weekly and monthly steps. Doing this ensures that they are part of my everyday life. So, every day and every week and every month I’m always making small steps towards accomplishing my goals.
For example: to lose 25 lbs, my smaller steps are monthly health habits, weekly meal planning, and daily food tracking.
Planning Goals and Routines
After setting my goals and breaking them down into smaller steps, I then integrate them into my planning routines. I do this on my Goals + Tasks inserts, which guide my monthly, weekly and daily planning. I list the smaller steps at the top of each of my Goals + Tasks inserts
For instance, at the top of my Monthly Goals + Tasks, I list the monthly steps for each of my top goals:
1 – health habit (for wellness)
2 – house research (for family)
3 – batch content (for the biz).
Below my monthly goals, I list my monthly planning routine – things to do when planning my month. On the right side, I have a monthly overview with all the recurring tasks I do every single month. Some of these recurring tasks are steps from my top goals.
I have the same layout for Weekly Goals + Tasks and Daily Goals + Tasks.
A System for Productivity and Consistency
I keep all of these inserts at the front of my planner to guide all my planning. Integrating my goals into each part of my planning not only helps me accomplish them, but helps me be more intentional and productive. Following routines help me be more consistent.
Goals System In Action
So that is my goals based planning system in a nutshell! In the coming weeks I’m going to show this system in action in my monthly, weekly and daily planning. Check back next week or make sure you’re following us over on Instagram to be notified of new content.
Lastly, if you would like to try this system, our goal planning bundle is available over on our Etsy shop.
Lisa H. says
I loved the YT video you made and this is exactly what I needed! Thank you for sharing!!
sam says
Thank you so much, Lisa! 🖤
Leslie Thompson says
Where or how do you organize tasks or project that need to be done but aren’t part of your Top 3 Goals? I love this, I’m a case worker so I have to return calls, and do other tasks that aren’t always part of my big goals. How can I still organize those tasks along with this system?
Thanks
sam says
Hi Leslie, this is a great question. Probably easier to show you in a video. I’ll add it to my list to film soon!
Onerva Kari says
Such an amazing and detailed plan, thank you so much for this, I will be applying this for my blog in the upcoming year!
sam says
Thank you!