How You Plan is More Important Than Your Plans
By the time you’re reading this, you’ve likely wrapped up your New Year’s resolutions—or you’ve spent a good amount of time telling others you don’t make them.
Whichever camp you fall into, chances are you’ll be planning for something at some point in 2025.
My goal with this piece is to help you plan effectively—not just for the year ahead but well beyond it.
When I think about the tools I rely on daily, this one stands out as the most valuable. It keeps me accountable, consistent, and productive—without the added stress.
For the record, I do plan for the New Year, but it’s just a starting point. I focus on one or two measurable goals that I can assess at year’s end.
Beyond that, the year ahead and even the months feel invisible to me. I put on blinders and zero in on days and weeks instead.
While I keep the overarching goal in sight, my primary focus is on what I’m achieving by the end of each week.
This is the core concept: by breaking goals into smaller, manageable pieces, you reduce anxiety, make steady progress, and—best of all—you don’t have to wait 12 months to celebrate a “win.”
Here’s how you can implement this system into your life.
1. Start with the Foundation
Your planning system begins with creating specific sections where your goals and tasks will live. These sections allow you to categorize tasks based on when you’ll tackle them. The key is to give each task a proper "home," reducing anxiety by making priorities clear. Here's a simple structure:
Do This Week: The key priorities for the current week.
Do Today: Specific tasks for the day, planned the night before.
Do This Weekend: Tasks that don’t require immediate attention but can be handled over the weekend.
Do Next Week: Items you know you won’t address until later.
Do Sometime Later: Low-priority or long-term tasks that don’t need your immediate focus.
Having these categories is liberating because it’s not about avoiding tasks—it’s about prioritizing. Moving a task to "Next Week" acknowledges that it’s important, just not urgent right now.
2. Prioritize the Order
Focus your attention on the “Do This Week” section first. Tasks for “Next Week” or “Sometime Later” shouldn’t even cross your mind until the end of the week when it’s time to reassess.
To ensure your week stays focused and cohesive, try adding a theme to the week—this can act as a guiding principle to keep your detailed tasks aligned.
3. Break It Down
Once your sections are set, add specific tasks line by line. Clarity is key here: write down exactly what needs to get done.
Plan Today’s Tasks the Night Before: By planning ahead, you can start your day executing instead of figuring out what to do.
Use the Weekend Wisely: Save the “Do This Weekend” section for tasks that aren’t urgent but still need to get done. It’s also a great time to tackle any procrastination leftovers from Friday.
4. Weekly Review and Migration
At the end of the week (Sunday night or Monday morning), revisit your “Next Week” section. Migrate relevant tasks into “Do This Week” and assess whether any items are still necessary or have been completed without you realizing it.
This weekly review keeps your system dynamic and ensures you’re always working on the most important tasks.
5. Choose Your Tools
The beauty of this system is its flexibility. You can use a task management app like Asana, a simple spreadsheet, or even a pen and notebook. The tool doesn’t matter as much as your consistency in using it.
By categorizing tasks and regularly reviewing them, you’ll feel more in control and less stressed—ready to tackle each day with purpose.
