Today, July 1, 2024, we get to experience one of those magical days when the stars are aligned and the first day of Quarter 3 of the year falls on a Monday.

Viewing The Year In Quarters

I learned the approach of dividing the year into 90-day or 3-month segments from Sarra Cannon from Heart Breathings, and this strategy has been monumental in tricking my brain into getting excited about goal setting in the middle of the year, rather than waiting until January 1 rolls around.

That being said: Welcome to Q3 of 2024!

It feels much more natural to embrace the rejuvenating energy of a fresh quarter on a Monday than any other day of the week, so why not take it a step further and engage in a mid-year reset?

I’m diving into this opportunity to revisit my 2024 goals and make a plan for how I can optimize the last 6 months of the year, and you can too!

Tips For Creating Momentum Toward Your Goals:

1. Declutter Your Space

Everyone works better in a clear space, but often the idea of taking our home from chaotic to organized is too overwhelming to get started. For this reason, choosing just one drawer, shelf, or corner to tackle today can motivate you to continue decluttering one manageable area at a time.

2. Create A “To Clean” List

There are likely dozens of areas in your living space that you’d like to clean, declutter, or decorate, and by creating a list of these areas by location, you can have an idea of where to start when you have a few extra minutes to tidy up.

3. Envision Your Future On An Unplugged Walk

Leaving your phone behind and going for a long stroll can be a great way to loosen up your body while also reconnecting with the self and settling into the present moment. This is an excellent opportunity to ponder where you are in the different areas of your life and imagine your dream future if your goals had no boundaries.

4. Create A Vision Board

Pinterest is an excellent tool to make a digital vision board as a visual representation of your goals. Out of sight means out of mind, so keep your dreams in the spotlight by making a vision board and setting it as your wallpaper for constant inspiration.

5. Brain Dump Journal Session

After envisioning your ideal future, it’s time to put all of your thoughts to paper and imagine the projects you could embark upon to get closer to that ideal version of yourself. What does your ideal future self do? What has your ideal future self achieved?

6. Create Task-Centric To-Do Lists

To-do lists are for tangible tasks that can be completed in one work session, so if a project seems too large to tackle in one sitting, break it down further. Putting “Write Novel” on my to-do list will likely just cause me more stress, but “Draft 1,000 Words” is a task I can achieve that helps me work toward a larger goal.

7. Schedule Workouts In Your Calendar

Physical movement is one of the best strategies to achieve mental clarity, and by placing workouts in your schedule in advance, it is easier to treat the activity as a non-negotiable. If you need further accountability, invite a friend and make it a date!

8. Wear An Outfit You Love

Putting on an outfit in the morning that makes you feel comfortable, confident, and aligned with the ideal version of yourself is one of the best ways to step into character and embrace the lifestyle of a productive, motivated individual. Even if you work from home, this tip is psychologically one of the most effective in sparking motivation.

9. Do What You Are Putting Off

Almost all of us are procrastinating on some task at any given time, whether that is writing a thank you card, scheduling a dentist appointment, or returning an item to the store. Most of the time, these tasks take much less time to complete than we expect, so bite the bullet today and finally put those easy-to-handle nuisances behind you.

Embracing these techniques will hopefully ignite a spark of inspiration within you and provide a strategy to maintain that momentum so you can make significant progress on your goals over the next three to six months.

My Quarter 3 Goals

Now seems as sweet a time as ever to share a vague overview of my own goals for Q3.

This quarter (just like any other quarter…), I hope to focus on:

Writing and posting regular blogs (blog 1, check!)
Drafting my novel
Decluttering and decorating my home
Creating content for my business
Wedding planning

I hope you feel inspired to use the synchronous alignment of July 1 falling on the first day of the week, quarter, and second half of the year as an opportunity to reflect upon your alignment and make a plan of action to turn your dreams into a reality.

Tangible Advice For Creating Productive Momentum In Q3