September Planning Tips: Sustainably Ramp Up Your Productivity

It’s that time of year where we dust off projects that got left for the summer in lieu of OOO and PTO.

But what if we… *wait for it* continued to balance our personal lives with the important work we do professionally, as we move into the final months of the year? 📆

If you’re starting to feel the resistance and overwhelm of these increasingly busy autumn days, staying organized is the number one way you can keep your relaxed summer state of mind throughout the year.

That’s what Momentum was built for. 💪 

The September Shift

School is back in session and work projects have picked up speed in the dash to the end of the year. (Where did this year go?!?! 😮‍💨)

Suddenly your schedule is filled with more meetings and deadlines than barbeques and vacations. 

Time may be marching forward but you seem to be stuck in neutral. Use Momentum to help you manage energy shifts, and refocus your attention.

Make Momentum Part of Your Monthly Plan

Planning is a habit — one that’s easy to fall out of during the slow summer months. Why not use September to ease back in? 🪂

Set aside a focus block (aka 90-120 minutes for high-level work that requires focus) to do your Monthly planning:

• What events and deadlines do you have coming up this month? Make sure these are captured in your head, and in the app. ✅ 
• What are your goals and priorities for the quarter? These can help inform the monthly projects that will help you meet those objectives.
• How can you break your September projects into week-sized chunks? If you get stuck at this stage you might want to switch perspectives. Try bottom-up planning—reference any specific tasks you know need to get done (those events and deadlines will come in handy here!) and build up from there.

And most of all, remember: try not to overcommit yourself! 

There’s a reason that the Five Project Rule includes personal projects as well as professional projects.

Use one of those projects to allocate time to rest and self-care. Whether it’s an hour spent reading on the couch or five minutes to breathe in the backyard, it’s important to pencil in time for yourself. 🌎

And if you’re wanting to get clarity on your goals and build some real momentum, join us for the next Momentum Day virtual workshop. We help you design what the next 3 months will look like for you, and how you’ll use that time to find balance between work and life.

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.