As we’re coming up to halfway through the year, it’s a good time to take stock of the last six months and plan for the next six months.

When goal-setting or planning ahead, it’s good to think in terms of six months, 90 days or as some people prefer, ‘terms’. It’s less daunting than planning for a whole year and makes it more manageable.

Especially if you’re a working parent, planning around term times can be helpful in creating targets and milestones.

If you work in an ever changing environment, don’t know what’s around the corner, or you’re not used to planning ahead, 90 days is also a more realistic, manageable timeframe.

Reflect on the year so far

Start by taking stock of any significant achievements, milestones or challenges you’ve faced in the year so far.

• Evaluate the progress you’ve made towards achieving your professional or personal goals, however small.
• Progress is progress even when it’s baby-steps rather than giant leaps.
• Identify the key lessons learned and any areas for improvement over the next six months.
  There are no failures, just lessons to be learned.

Decide on your priorities and objectives

• Determine the main areas you need to focus on for the next 90 days to six months based on the above review.
• Create clear, measurable priorities and objectives that align with your overall goals, values and aspirations.
• Prioritise your objectives based on their importance, significance and potential impact on your available time and resources.

Create an action plan for the next 90 days

• Break your objectives down into actionable steps with an associated timeline, month by month.
• Consider the time, skills and resources you’ll need to achieve each to make sure they’re realistic.
• Identify any potential obstacles that might come up to stop you or get in your way and consider how and what you might need to overcome them.

Over the next few days, side aside time to reflect on the past few months.

Sit down with a notebook and pen. Relax in the sunshine and work through the reflection and review steps, so you can plan ahead for the next few weeks and months.

To help you with the review and planning process, book a Laser Focus session.

More on the 90 Day action steps next week.

Get in touch if you're looking for added accountability and support.