October Planning Tips: Quarterly Planning and the Art of Constraint

And just like that, it’s October 2022! You may not have realized it before, but October is really the last full month of the year - November and December bring on some much needed downtime and days off, and gaining momentum on your plans can be tricky as a result. 

Here are some unique ways you can use Momentum this month:

Round Out Your Q4 Goals 

October is the start of the home stretch for business and personal initiatives, and Momentum’s quarterly planning view makes it easy to help you see how far you’ve come. It also allows you to look forward to finishing off another great year. 

Quarterly horizon planning is enough time to take on a significant project, but a short enough time to keep your destination in sight, and to create a little urgency (this is a good thing, trust us). 

Holidays = Project

Halloween, Thanksgiving, and winter festivities on the brain? Think about some of those seasonal projects you’re looking forward to as the celebrations start. We recommend chunking things out on a weekly timescale as these tend to pop up quicker than we realize. 

Momentum can help you prep now for whatever cooking, baking, shopping, or travel time you might have later, which will ensure there’s still enough time for what matters most.

Constraints Constructively Frustrate 

Still thinking about the fact that October is your last full month of the year? Us too. But remember that doesn’t mean you need to pack a full quarter’s worth of projects into just one month! 

Seeing reality for what it is means we can be realistic about our plans. And it turns out constraints can be really good for us; natural limits help eliminate options and prevent decision fatigue. 

You Don’t Have to “Plan It All” 

If you find yourself adding on “just one more project” to your list in October, so that you can finish all of your responsibilities and have more free time in November and December, it may backfire on you. 

The energy involved in managing even one new project could affect the momentum on your existing projects. Think about it! Using the five project rule in Momentum is a perfect solution for keeping your projects and tasks on track, while also avoiding burnout. 

If you’re looking for a place to lay all of your plans out for the rest of 2022 with the unparalleled education and community to support you, then we’re here to help you get the most out of the Momentum app. Get organized this October by putting all of your personal and professional plans in one place, because those holiday gifts aren’t going to shop for themselves.

P.S. Don’t forget, if you have a question about Momentum or the Momentum Planning Method you are always welcome to join us on our free Monthly Momentum Calls (MMC). These coaching-style calls take place on the second Monday of each month.