90-Day Goal System: How to Set Your Goals and Achieve Them

Let’s set some goals using my 90-Day goal system!! I’m all about setting great goals, but I also know how easy it is to let those goals fall by the wayside or get sidetracked. Maybe you either set them too high and end up face planting early on, or you set them so low that you could accomplish them while half-asleep? Maybe you tried a New Year’s resolution and lost track of it during the year?

So how do you set achievable goals that help you reach the next level in a reasonable amount of time? Dun du-du duuuuun: the 90-day goal—a magical time frame that strikes the perfect balance between ambition and reality. If you’re wondering why 90 days is the golden ticket, how to break down your goals, and how to actually stick to them without losing your mind, then stay tuned!

Why 90-Day Goals Are Effective

Alright, let’s talk about why 90-day goals are the sweet spot for goal-setting. First off, it’s long enough to make significant progress but short enough to that you don’t feel like you’re looking into a never-ending tunnel with no light on the other side.

1. Manageable Time Frame: Three months feels less intimidating than a year. Who wants to look at a goal that stretches out for 6 or more months? With 90-day goals, you get a clear deadline without the overwhelming pressure of a year-long commitment.
2. Flexibility for Adjustments: Life happens. Septic tank backing up? Unexpected house guest? With 90 days, if something goes awry, you have enough time to pivot without feeling like you’ve completely derailed your plans.
3. Motivation Boost: There’s nothing quite like the thrill of seeing progress in a short amount of time. Each milestone you hit in those 90 days serves as a mini victory, giving you that much-needed motivation to keep going.
4. Focus and Clarity: A 90-day goal forces you to hone in on what truly matters. You can’t chase every shiny object if you want to stay on track. I get it, those shiny objects call out to me as well, but it is soooo much easier to keep focus when you have just enough time to complete your goal but no time to waste!

How to Break Down Your 90-Day Goals

Now that we’ve established why 90-day goals are the way to go, let’s talk about how to actually break them down without feeling overwhelmed.

Important note: One very important thing I would like to mention is that before you start this process, decide how much time you will dedicate to achieving your goal every single day. They will not magically achieve themselves folks; you absolutely will have to spend time almost every day working towards your goals. I have found that 1-2 hours a day is the right amount of time for achieving most of my goals. There have been other goals, this blog for instance that was more time consuming and weight loss goals that were less time consuming. Be realistic about the time you’ll need, and figure out now, where that time fits into your day to day schedule…..and then schedule it!

I like to create systems for my life: cleaning, organizing, decluttering, meal planning and especially goals. And I like to name my systems…because I’m weird like that. My 90-day goal system is titled with the acronym S.T.A.R. (so yes, it’s the STAR System) and here’s what that stands for:

Now, I’m going to lay out how my 90-day STAR System works over and over for me, and more importantly how it will work for you as well. Get ready to accomplish some goals My Friend!

Set Your Goal

Setting goals is a crucial first step in any achievement process, and it involves several key components to ensure that your goals are meaningful and motivating. Here’s a deeper look at the Set phase in the STAR 90-Day Goal System:

Setting a Goal

Identify Your Purpose

Choose only one goal you want to work on. Begin by understanding why you want to set this goal. What drives you? Is it personal growth, career advancement, health improvement, or something else? Connecting your goal to a deeper purpose can help to provide motivation and focus.

Be Specific

Setting a goal involves identifying what you truly want to achieve. Be very specific about your goal; for instance, instead of saying “I want to save money,” you might say “I want to save $1000.” If you’re specific, it’s very very clear to you your end result. If you’re vague, it’ll be way too easy to get off track or even convince yourself you don’t know what you’re working towards.

Visualize Success

Visualize what success looks and feels like, as this can boost your motivation. Don’t skip this step! Take some time to really think about how achieving your goal will change your life. Create a vision board. This board can be as elaborate or as basic as you want, but have some fun with it and invest some time in this step. If your 90-day goal is to declutter and organize your whole house, you could pull some ideas from your favorite websites (hopefully this one!) and use Pinterest to create a vision board.

Consider the Challenges

Acknowledge potential obstacles you might face on your journey. By anticipating challenges, you can prepare strategies to overcome them. This proactive mindset can help you stay resilient when difficulties arise.

Write It Down

There’s something magical about writing down a goal. I kid you not, I have written down vague goals, during brain dump sessions, that I forgot about within 5 minutes of writing them down. Then when I revisited that list a year later realized I “accidentally” accomplished most of my written goals without even making or following a plan! The simple act of writing those goals down made them real enough to my brain (that clearly I’m not even in touch with sometimes!) that I subconsciously worked on them.

Document your goal in a way that resonates with you. This could be in a journal, on a vision board, or digitally. Writing down your goal not only solidifies your commitment but also serves as a reminder of what you are working towards.

Create an Action Plan

Outline the steps you need to take to reach your goal. This could include daily habits, weekly tasks, or specific projects. I like to use an outline format, exactly like my middle school English teacher taught me. The outline is titled with my goal and then I break that down into the 3-5 mini goals that I must complete in order to achieve my larger goal. I also break those mini goals down into several even smaller steps so that I have a very clear outline of what I need to be working on each day to make my smaller steps count. This clear outline will set you up for success.

Track Progress

The Track phase of the STAR, 90-Day Goal System is essential for monitoring your progress and ensuring that you stay on course toward achieving your goal. Here’s a more detailed look at how to effectively track your progress:

Establish How You Will Measure and Log Your Progress

Determine how you will measure your progress. For example, if your goal is to start a new blog and monetize it, you can start by creating a detailed checklist of each phase and check off completed items as you go. Plan to keep a planner, digital app or notebook where you can not only plot your course of action but record your achievements and keep notes on your journey. If you want to lose 20 pounds, you might want to keep a food log and weigh in once a week. If you’re training for your first 5K, you may want to use charts and graphs showing your progress. Perhaps you like the idea of writing things down and using more visual charts and graphs? You do you, just pick what you think will resonate with you best.

Schedule Regular Check-Ins

Set aside specific times each week to review your progress. During these check-ins, assess what you have accomplished and if you are where you need to be and making progress as outlined. This dedicated time allows you to celebrate small wins and identify areas where you may need to adjust your approach.

Celebrate Milestones

This is a big deal people! You’re achieving your goal, so acknowledge and celebrate your achievements along the way. Whether it’s reaching a specific milestone or simply sticking to your plan for a week, taking time to celebrate your progress can boost your motivation and reinforce positive behavior. This also helps you remember that in life, it’s not always the end goal that counts, it’s also the journey. Here’s an important point to keep in mind- Our lives are mostly made up of the journey portion of life. As we celebrate our small victories and the smaller goals that lead to achieving the bigger goals, we’re celebrating life in general! Enjoy this time as you work towards important goals and don’t become so focused that you forget to live the life you have today!

By effectively tracking your progress, you create a feedback loop that helps you stay engaged and committed to your goal. This phase not only keeps you accountable but also allows you to make informed decisions about how to move forward, ensuring that you remain focused and motivated throughout the 90-day journey.

Adjust

The Adjust phase of the STAR 90-Day Goal System is about being flexible and responsive to the insights you gain while tracking your progress. This phase is crucial for overcoming obstacles and refining your approach to ensure you stay on track toward your goal. Check out these tips to effectively adjust as needed:

Adjust as Necessary

Evaluate Your Progress

Begin by reviewing the data you’ve collected during the tracking phase. Look at your progress log, checklists, and any visual tools you’ve created. Assess what is working well and what isn’t. This evaluation will help you identify patterns, successes, and areas that need improvement.

Identify Challenges

Reflect on any obstacles you encountered while pursuing your goal. Consider both external factors (such as time constraints or resources) and internal factors (like motivation or mindset). Understanding these challenges will help you develop strategies to address them.

Brainstorm Solutions

Once you’ve identified challenges, brainstorm potential solutions or alternative approaches. For example, if you’re struggling to find time for workouts, consider adjusting your schedule to gain an hour every morning or exploring shorter, more intense workout options. Be creative in finding ways to overcome barriers.

Stay Flexible

Embrace the idea that adjustments are a natural part of the goal-setting process (and life in general for that matter!). No one likes it when your well thought out plans don’t work out, but don’t let this derail you! Be open to change and willing to change directions when needed. This flexibility allows you to adapt to unforeseen circumstances and maintain momentum, rather than feeling discouraged by setbacks. I’m convinced that a main difference between people who succeed in their goals and people who give up comes down to learning to be flexible. Make no mistake, learning to be flexible is a skill and it is something you have to practice, but as you learn to be flexible you are also learning to be more resilient.

Seek Support

If you’re feeling stuck or unsure about how to adjust your approach, don’t hesitate to seek advice from trusted friends, mentors, professionals, or coaches. They can offer valuable perspectives and help you brainstorm solutions based on their experiences. You may even need to find professionals along the way. For instance, if you’re creating a new blog and the tech stuff is beyond your ability to do it well, you might want to ask around and find a professional to hire to do that part for you while you move onto writing and creating content for your new site.

By learning how to adjust and respond during this phase of the STAR System, you create skills and habits that will help you move the needle towards achieving those goals. This adaptability is key to navigating challenges and ensuring that you remain aligned with your ultimate objectives. Rather than viewing obstacles as failures, you can approach them as opportunities for growth and learning, ultimately enhancing your chances of success in achieving your 90-day goal.

Reflect

The Reflect phase of the STAR 90-Day Goal System is a vital component that allows you to take a step back and evaluate your journey. Generally, I do this throughout the 90 days, and especially when my 90 days are up. There are a lot of great reasons to not skip this phase and one of them is, by taking the time to reflect upon completion of a 90-day goal, you can help cement this system into your brain to make this success a repeatable process. You should continuously look for ways to tweak this 90-day goal system to work with your personality! This phase is about assessing your accomplishments, understanding your learning experiences, and planning for the future.

Reflect on Your Achievement

Review Your Achievements

Start by looking back at your initial goal and the progress you made over the 90 days. Celebrate your successes, no matter how big or small. Acknowledge the milestones you reached and the efforts you put in. This review helps reinforce a positive mindset and motivates you to continue pursuing your aspirations.

Analyze What Worked

Identify the strategies and actions that contributed to your success. Consider which specific practices, habits, or tools were most effective in helping you achieve your goal. Understanding what worked well can inform your approach in future goal-setting endeavors.

Reflect on Challenges

Take time to think about the obstacles you faced during the 90 days. What challenges did you encounter, and how did you respond to them? Reflecting on these difficulties can provide valuable insights into your resilience and problem-solving abilities. It also allows you to identify areas for personal growth.

Set New Goals

Use this information to set and achieve another 90-day goal! Based on what you’ve learned, consider what you want to achieve next. This could involve building on your recent accomplishments, addressing areas for improvement, or exploring entirely new aspirations. Setting new goals with a deeper understanding of yourself can lead to more meaningful and achievable objectives.

Take Action With the 90-Day Goal System

In a world where distractions are aplenty and goals can feel overwhelming, 90-day goals serve as the perfect solution. They’re manageable, flexible, and provide a clear path to success without the stress of a year-long commitment. So, whether you want to get fit, learn a new skill, or finally tackle that home improvement project, set your sights on the next 90 days. Break it down, stay accountable, and watch as you turn those dreams into reality—one small step at a time.

Now, go out there and crush those goals! And remember, if you stumble along the way, realize it happens to literally everyone and keep moving forward.