Frequently Asked Questions About Monthly Planning
What if my job is purely reactive, like customer support?
Even in a reactive role, you have more control than you think. Your monthly “Big Rocks” might be focused on career development or process improvement. For example, “Complete a professional certification” or “Document a new workflow for common issues.” You can then block out 30-60 minutes each day, perhaps at the very beginning or end, to work on these proactive goals. The rest of your day can remain flexible to handle incoming requests.
How strict should my time blocks be?
Think of them as strong suggestions, not a rigid prison. The goal of a time block is to eliminate decision-making in the moment. If you get into a state of flow and want to continue working on a task past its scheduled end time, that’s often a great idea! The structure is there to serve you, not the other way around. The key is to be intentional. If you extend one block, make a quick decision about what other, lower-priority block you will shorten or reschedule to compensate.
Should I use a digital calendar or a physical planner?
This is purely personal preference. Digital calendars (like Google Calendar) are great for collaboration, setting reminders, and easily moving blocks around. Physical planners can be better for focus, as they don’t come with the built-in distractions of a computer or phone. Many people find success with a hybrid approach: using a digital calendar for appointments and a physical notebook for daily task planning and reflection.
What if I get sick or have a bad week and my whole plan gets derailed?
This is where the monthly perspective is so powerful. A bad week feels like a total failure when your only focus is daily planning. With a monthly plan, it’s just a setback. When you’re ready to get back on track, you simply look at your monthly goals, assess what’s still achievable, and adjust the themes for the remaining weeks. You haven’t failed; you’re just redrawing the map based on new information.
How is this different from just setting New Year’s resolutions?
Resolutions often fail because they are vague wishes without a system for execution. A monthly plan is a concrete system. It breaks a large goal into weekly themes and daily, scheduled actions. It also includes a regular review process to keep you on track and allow you to adjust. It’s the difference between saying “I want to go to California” and having a detailed, turn-by-turn itinerary to get you there.
