Traditional New Year’s Resolutions fail because they are built on a 12-month timeline. Twelve months is a psychological "no-man's land." It’s too long for the human brain to maintain intense focus. When a deadline is 365 days away, your brain tells you there is always "plenty of time" to start tomorrow. This is why we feel a burst of energy in January, a total collapse in February, and panic come November. Today, we are shortening the horizon. We aren't planning a year; we are planning a series of 90-day sprints.
90 days is the "sweet spot" of human productivity. It's long enough to achieve something significant, like writing a draft of a book, launching a website, or establishing a fitness baseline, but it's short enough that you can feel the "deadline pressure" from the very first week. When you plan in seasons, you stop trying to do everything at once. You allow yourself to be a different person in different months. You can have a season of "Productivity" and a season of "Rest." This prevents burnout and ensures that you are always working toward a base camp that you can actually see.
Now that you have your "Vital Few" from yesterday’s 80/20 Edit, I want you to look at the year as four distinct buckets.
Quarter 1 (Winter): Internal Foundation & Setup.
Quarter 2 (Spring): Action, Growth & Visibility.
Quarter 3 (Summer): Sustainability & Restoration.
Quarter 4 (Autumn): The Final Sprint & Harvest.
Which of your "Vital Few" goals belongs in which bucket? Don't try to win the whole game in Q1. Spread your energy so you can finish strong.
BONUS | The 10-Minute Reset: Pick your "Super Quarter." Looking at your 2026 design, which 90-day period is the most critical for your success? Mark that quarter in your planner with a highlighter. By identifying your high-stakes season now, you can plan "buffer seasons" around it to ensure you have the energy to perform when it matters most.
