What’s your 90-day plan?

We are now into our second full week of 2021 and so much has happened! Lockdown, school closures, snow fall, American protestors topped off with Trump being suspended from Twitter and Elon Musk becoming the richest man on the planet. If that, and much more, happened in a week, imagine what could happen in 90 days let alone a full year. Well this is a question you can ask yourself.

In last week’s article, I wrote about everyone saying 2021 is going to be their year, and I do hope it is. But so much can and will happen between now and December 31 so why not break it down into manageable chunks. Breaking your year down into four yearly 90-day blocks can help you turn your yearly, three-year or even five-year goals into achievable targets.

Why 90 days?
To my knowledge there is no scientific reason but it’s a method I and many others have used in the past ending with a successful result. Planning your overall ‘Big’ goal is still something I recommend but it’s hard to look at the end of the road when you haven’t even started your journey. Breaking your yearly goal down into four mini pit-stops and aiming for one at a time can give you greater focus, drive and determination. 

How to plan your 90 day goal?

Give yourself time
If you think you can write down and plan you 90 days while watching season three of Cobra Kai, think again. Both your goal setting and Corba Kai deserve your full attention. It may take you a few hours, a full day or even over three days to write out your goals and plan your first 90 day block. Set time aside to do this.

Pick your ‘big’ goal
Choose your big goal, be it for this year, three or five year’s time, or even your overall life goal. Whatever it is, write it down.  That’s where you are aiming. By the way, if it doesn’t scare you or make you a little bit anxious when you right it down then it’s not big enough. 
The secret with this goal is not to worry at all how you will get there, just write it down, believe in it and it will happen. I would also suggest that you write a personal and professional/business goal.

90-day goal 
Now taking your ‘big’ goal, write down a 90-day goal that you are going to reach that will help you take a step forward towards your overall goal. Aim towards just one personal and professional goal. 
I normally get too excited; thinking that I could do three, four or even five big things in 90 days but that’s not the point. 
Give your full focus on one professional and personal goal for 90 days and on the next block you can consider your other goals. 

Strip it back 
Now you have your 90-day goal, stripe it back to what you are going to achieve by the end of each month, week and then day. 
For example, a personal goal could be to lose two stone in 90 days, that’s about 9lb a month which is just over 2lb a week. 
You then break that down to what you do each day to achieve your goal e.g. sleep, nutrition, hydration, mind-set and exercise. When you break it down from losing two stone in 90 days to drinking an extra glass of water on Monday it seems easier to achieve. 

What beliefs or habits are holding you back?
You have your goals all set out, now think of some habits or limiting beliefs as to why you may not have achieved these goals before or what set you on the wrong path. Focus on one, maximum of two, that you will change in order to reach your goal.

Take action 
The goal is set, you know what you are doing each day, you know what you have to work on, now is the time to take action. Once the plan is set you should have a laser focus on achieving it. Every day, for 90 days.

Review and set your next goal 
Set a date and time, normally a few days before the end of your 90-day block to review and set your next goal. Don’t worry about the outcome of your 90 days just focus on the process. What went well? What didn’t go well? Be honest with yourself, then set your next goal and follow your own process.