Retreat guide and life coach Letitia (Tish) Suk loves to help women get a fresh start on their goals. In this Goals and Priorities UPGRADE, she suggests a unique way to move into September with a goal-oriented perspective.
Letitia says, “Ready for the REAL New Year? Create a winning plan for the next 90 Days.”
I (Dawn) have to admit, I thought: REAL New Year? What could she mean? But then I read her unique approach. You don’t have to wait until January!
Letitia continues . . .
Beach towels are stashed, picnic baskets stored away, and flip-flops relegated to the back of the closet. The dramatic page-turn from August to September has occurred and the empty calendar spaces from now until Christmas are rapidly filling up.
Most of us are ready for a fresh start this time of year.
In fact, The JEWISH NEW YEAR comes around every fall and the rest of us would do well to observe a similar time of renewal.
In between stocking up on Halloween Candy and starting on those home-made Christmas gifts, try taking a chunk of time and planning for what could be possible in the next 90 days.
I love the blessing in Psalm 20:4:
“May he give you the desire of your heart and make all your plans succeed.”
Without some intentional reflection time, we may never be clear on what the desires of our heart or our plans are.
Ready to make some plans?
Life Coaches like myself and others offer an exercise to shape this process called “10 Goals in 90 Days.” This plan is always my go-to when a new season comes around, especially in the fall when my energy level seems at its highest.
Before the flurry of fall hits, here are ten practical way to bring some measurable change to your day to day life in the next three months.
10 Goals in 90 Days!
1. Set aside a chunk of time like at least an hour when you won’t be interrupted. Ideally, this is a place away from your home like a coffee shop, a park, or better yet, a personal retreat! Check out my book Getaway with God: The Everywoman’s Guide to Personal Retreat for some ideas.
2. Write down all the ideas that come to mind for what you could accomplish in the next 90 days. Once you get going, it is hard to stop.
This is the fun part, just imagining what might be possible.
3. Pick out a few that are easy and might take just a short time.
We all have these—like cleaning out your junk drawer, scheduling that medical appointment you have been putting off, answering five emails you have been ignoring.
The immediate gratification of crossing those off will feel great!
4. Add some one-time items you have been putting off or waiting for fall.
Invite your neighbors over, visit a friend you’ve been missing, take a class or attend a day-long event for training of some sort. Pick apples before they are all on the ground.
5. Tack on a couple more that are do-able but will take longer, even the full 90 days.
Redo your resume, start a short -term Bible study, write the first chapter of your book, get your finances in order.
6. List these 10 (or less) goals and pull out your calendar. Set aside time for each.
7. Make sure they are very specific goals (i.e. S.M.A.R.T.).
- Specific
- Measurable
- Attainable
- Realistic
- Time-bound
“Walk More and Eat Less” do not qualify as specific!
8. Decide which form of accountability will be the most effective for you.
If the list stays on your desk pile or in your purse nothing will happen.
9. Enlist a friend, your small group or a Life Coach to check-in with on how you’re doing. Review your list often.
10. Pray over your list each day and get ready to see progress!
90 days from tomorrow is December 13. By the time you get through the holidays, you will be ready to repeat the process!
How Can You Start Today?
Letitia (Tish) Suk invites women to create an intentional life centered in Jesus. She is a blogger (hopeforthebest.org) and author of Getaway with
God: The Everywoman’s Guide to Personal Retreat) and Rhythms of Renewal. She is a speaker, personal retreat guide and life coach in the Chicago area. Visit her website.
Graphic adapted, courtesty of moritz320 at Pixabay.com and free-printable-calendar.com.