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I am a productivity junkie! I'm always trying to figure out how the hell I can work smarter, not harder. I devour books on the subject, listen to podcasts, and watch videos about it—all in the hopes of getting my entire life together.
A few years ago, I was listening to the Being Boss podcast, and the hosts mentioned The 12 Week Year. I stopped dead in my tracks because what the hell were they talking about? What in the world is a 12-week year?
I didn’t even give the hosts a chance to explain it because I already had the book in my cart. A few days later, I read the book cover to cover and immediately put the principles to the test. Once those 12 weeks are up, you take a week off to recalibrate, reconnect with your goals, celebrate your wins, and start the next set of 12 weeks. And that's legit it. Mind blown, right? I gave it a try and haven't looked back since. And guess what? That was damn near five years ago. I've been using the 12-Week Year method ever since. As you can see, I'm a huge fan!
Why Just 12 Weeks?
Ready for a mic drop moment? Look at this bad boy—"Work expands to fill the time available for its completion." That's Parkinson's Law right there! And basically, all it means is that if you say things like, "I want to lose weight this year" or "start my business this year," guess what? It'll usually take a year to make your goals happen. Or worse, you won't even achieve them because, after a few weeks, you lose motivation, thinking, "I've got a whole year." So, that's why the focus for this method is just 12 weeks. It's enough time to give you the urgency to dream big and take even bigger action!
How Does It Work?
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Connect with Your Goals: Figure out what's important to you. Use the 24 questions at the beginning of our planner to clarify your values, dreams, and priorities. This will help you set meaningful and motivating goals.
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Set Specific Goals: Instead of setting annual goals, focus on what you want to achieve in the next 12 weeks. Make these goals SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound).
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Create a Plan: Break down your 12-week goals into weekly and daily tasks. Our planner includes 12 weekly agenda spreads and 90 undated daily sheets to help you stay organized.
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Execute Weekly: Every week counts as a “month,” so prioritize tasks that will move you closer to your goals. Use the weekly reviews in the planner to assess your progress and make necessary adjustments.
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Measure Your Progress: Regularly review your progress with the planner’s built-in progress reports. Celebrate small wins and stay motivated.
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Stay Accountable: Utilize the action and accountability plans at the top of the planner to keep track of your commitments and hold yourself responsible for completing them.
Why It Works:
- Focused Effort: Shorter deadlines create a sense of urgency, helping you stay focused and avoid procrastination.
- Increased Flexibility: By reviewing and adjusting your plans every 12 weeks, you can stay adaptable and respond to changes quickly.
- Boosted Productivity: The concentrated time frame encourages higher productivity and better time management.
Watch Our Video:
For a deeper dive into how to use the 12-Week Planner effectively, check out our video here.
The 12-Week Year can transform how you approach your goals, making you more productive and focused. Try using this method with our planner, and watch how much you can achieve in just 12 weeks. Happy planning!