We all know how precious time is when it comes to running a business and for some people 12 week planning can help become more productive.. Wouldn’t it be amazing if you could accomplish more in less time?
With the magic of 12-week planning, you can do just that! Adopting a 12-week planning strategy can supercharge your productivity and help you achieve your goals faster.
What is 12 Week Planning
12 week planning is an idea that became well known in the book THE 12 WEEK YEAR BOOK by Brian Moran and Michael Lennington. They claim that the beauty of the system is that you can start at any point, instead of waiting for the next quarter.
You will practice goal setting and annual planning in 12 week blocks . The 12-week year system is a great way to set goals in terms of a year, but achieve them with weekly goals and daily routines. You stay focused, you are more motivated and so you get more done.
I know I love setting goals at the beginning of the year, but we all know that those new year’s resolutions don’t last very long for most of us. In fact, only 9% of people keep their resolutions. 44% of people quit their resolutions by the end of January. Yet,, I do still make them. One resolution I made at the beginning of this year is still going strong all these months later.
So instead of waiting until New Year’s to make some goals, make a plan to look at your goals each week and re-evaluate the progress. You will know if this is a system that can work for you after the first 12 weeks.
The Power of 12 Week Planning:
Picture this: Instead of feeling overwhelmed by long-term goals or drowning in never-ending to-do lists, you have a clear roadmap for success. That’s the beauty of 12-week planning.
If you are prone to procrastination for any reason, making annual goals just do not work. It’s partly because we think we have all the time in the world to achieve them. After all, a year is a really long time (no, it’s not) and in our minds, we have plenty of time to being working on our goals.
12 Week planning has a sense of urgency to it. Now 12 weeks is nearly a quarter, 1/4 of a year so there is still some time. But when we set a goal for the next few weeks, break it down and work toward it, we do not waste effort but make real progress.
Planning this way allows you to break down your big goals into manageable chunks and create a focused action plan for each 12-week period. This way, you can maintain a sense of momentum and motivation, knowing that you’re steadily progressing towards your goals with enough time to achieve them.
Stay Focused and Motivated:
One of the biggest challenges for anyone working online is staying focused and motivated in the sea of distractions. An important aspect of 12-week planning is that you can achieve the most important thing each week. By setting specific goals for each 12-week period, you give yourself a clear target to aim for.
And even though you have broken down your smart goals into 12 week sections, you have daily actions to help you get there. This clarity helps you cut through the noise and prioritize the tasks that truly matter, eliminating the overwhelm and keeping you on track.
Boost Your Productivity:
12-week planning is a game-changer in this department. By breaking your goals into smaller, actionable tasks, you can make steady progress and accomplish more in a shorter timeframe. You’ll experience a boost in productivity as you work with a sense of purpose and direction. Plus, the satisfaction of ticking off those tasks on your 12-week plan is incredibly motivating!
Achieve Your Goals
What’s better than achieving your goals? Achieving them faster! When you plan in weeks, you’re constantly setting new targets and pushing yourself to accomplish them within a specific timeframe. This sense of urgency propels you forward and helps you avoid the trap of procrastination. Plus, celebrating your successes every 12 weeks keeps you motivated and excited about what’s to come.
Maintain Flexibility and Adaptability:
We know that flexibility is key in an ever-changing digital landscape. The beauty of 12-week planning is that it allows for adaptability. You can reassess your goals, adjust your strategies, and pivot if needed every 12 weeks. This flexibility ensures that you’re staying aligned with your business vision while being responsive to market trends and opportunities.
This is one reason setting goals for the year is counterproductive. Often we set a goal, and abandon the goal because the long-term plans do not work. With this type of planning, you can take the first step and change gears if you need to without losing time.
How to Implement
Define Your Objectives: Start by setting clear and specific goals for the next 12 weeks. Make sure they are challenging yet achievable, and align them with your long-term vision. Use the SMART goals acronym to help you set your goals. The goals need to be Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic and Time Bound.
Break Goals into Actionable Tasks: Once you have established your objectives, break them down into smaller, actionable tasks. This step-by-step approach allows for better planning and provides a roadmap to follow throughout the 12-week period.
Create a Weekly Plan: Allocate time each week to work on your goals. Identify the most critical tasks that will drive progress and schedule them accordingly. Make sure to allocate resources and prioritize your activities based on their impact.
Track Progress Regularly: Keep a close eye on your progress by tracking key metrics and milestones. This enables you to identify areas of improvement, make necessary adjustments, and celebrate achievements along the way.
Maintain Accountability: Find an accountability partner or join a mastermind group to enhance your commitment and stay on track. Regular meetings or check-ins will provide valuable feedback, support, and encouragement to propel you forward.
Looking for more tips on productivity? Here is a previous blog post Using Trello Boards to Increase Productivity and 9 Tips for Increased Productivity.
If you already have a method of planning, whether it is yearly, quarterly or something else, and it is working for you–then stick with it. If you are looking for a system that will help you get more done, then look into the 12 week year.
I would love to know your planning method. Do you use Yearly? Quarterly? A combination of these or something else entirely. I am always looking to learn from others. Drop a comment below or email me at hello@creativeplr.com.