Screw the 5-Year Plan: How to Thrive When Life Doesn’t Go According to Plan
Look, we’ve all heard it: you need a 5-year plan. We’re told it’s the roadmap for success, the golden rule for achieving your goals. But here’s a bold truth: it’s 2024, and the world is moving FASTER THAN EVER. Sticking rigidly to a 5-year plan might just be holding you back. So, instead of obsessing over some future you think you need to plan for, let’s get real about how to thrive when life (inevitably) throws you a few curveballs.
Welcome to the 90-Day Plan, where we set clear, actionable goals, keep things flexible, and actually enjoy the journey.
1. The Problem with the 5-Year Plan: Too Rigid, Too Predictable
The 5-year plan has one big flaw: it assumes life, work, and your personal growth will all unfold as predicted. Spoiler alert … they won’t. Long-term plans can be great, but when they’re too rigid, they end up creating unnecessary pressure. You might feel compelled to follow the “plan” even when you’ve changed or the world around you has shifted entirely.
90-day planning, on the other hand, keeps you anchored to the present while allowing for flexibility. It’s a short enough timeframe to see results, yet long enough to make serious progress.
2. Why 90-Day Increments Work: Focused, Fun, and Flexible
Think about it: in three months, you can accomplish so much without the overwhelm of big, undefined goals. Whether you’re eyeing a professional milestone, a personal project, or even a lifestyle shift, the 90-day plan gives you something tangible to work toward, with the flexibility to adjust as you go.
Benefits of 90-Day Goals:
They’re easier to focus on because the finish line is in sight.
You can measure progress quickly, so you don’t lose momentum.
You’re more likely to stay engaged and motivated since the timeline is short enough to keep things fresh.
Fun Twist: Treat each quarter like a mini “season” of your life. What theme, skill, or goal do you want to embrace this season? Make it fun and align it with what excites you right now.
3. Embrace the “Adapt as You Go” Mindset
With a 90-day plan, you get to see progress without the pressure of knowing exactly where you’re headed years down the line. Let’s say you’re focusing on leadership skills for the next quarter. By the end, you may discover new strengths, goals, or even passions that shift your direction. And that’s the beauty of it—your goals are nimble, and you get to be the architect, adjusting your plans as you grow.
This approach is a game-changer for professionals who juggle complex roles or those of us with evolving priorities. By focusing on 90-day goals, you’re practicing adaptability and staying open to whatever opportunities may come your way.
4. How to Create Your 90-Day Plan: Simple Steps to Set You Up
Ready to ditch the long game for a powerful 90-day approach? Here’s how to create a 90-day plan that works for you:
Define a Theme for the Quarter: Are you focusing on skill-building, launching a project, or improving personal well-being? Pick one area to center your energy.
Set 1-3 Goals: Keep it simple. Set one to three measurable, realistic goals for the next 90 days. The key is to be specific: What exactly do you want to achieve, and how will you know you’ve done it?
Break It Down into Weekly Milestones: Every week, identify what needs to happen to stay on track. These mini-goals create a sense of momentum and keep you from getting bogged down.
Reflect and Adjust: At the end of each month, do a quick check-in. Is your goal still serving you? Are there new priorities you need to fold in? Give yourself the freedom to pivot without guilt.
Pro Tip: Use tools like a Trello board, calendar, or plain old sticky notes to visualize each week’s goals. Seeing your goals broken down makes it easier to stay on course—and it’s way more satisfying to check things off.
5. Ditch the Perfectionism: Celebrate Your Wins, Big and Small
A huge perk of 90-day planning? It’s forgiving. You can stumble, learn, pivot, and still come out on top. This method is about progress, not perfection. And when you’re reviewing at the end of each quarter, don’t just focus on what you didn’t achieve—celebrate what you did.
Maybe you nailed that presentation, finally started that side project, or made a shift in how you manage your time. These wins add up and propel you forward, quarter by quarter.
Forget the 5-Year Plan: It’s Time to Thrive in Real-Time
By focusing on 90-day goals, you’re not just freeing yourself from the stress of sticking to an unrealistic roadmap. You’re setting yourself up to thrive, no matter what comes your way. The best part? You get to adapt, grow, and make room for what excites you right now, not some version of you that you “hope” to be years down the line.
So here’s the plan: screw the 5-year plan. Let’s make the next 90 days count, and then the next, and then the next. Let’s thrive right now, one season at a time.
••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Hi I'm Elina. I share practical resources for individuals, teams, and organizations around transitions and how to adapt to change. Hit the 🔔 on my profile if you don't want to miss my future posts.
#PersonalTransitions #Clarity #Growth #LifeAtTheCrossroads #Alignment #intheworx #lifeisalwaysintheworx
What transition are you going through in your personal or professional life, or within your organization?
