Q3’26 Quarterly Planning: Building a Healthier, Stronger Me

It’s another quarter packed with big changes! Before unfolding them, feel free to read my past entries here since April 2023. Here’s the quarterly planning template I use; you may adapt it however suits your season of life:

1. Review your top 3 aspirations for the past 3 months. Did you achieve them? If not, why?
2. What were the top 3 big wins of the past 3 months and why?
3. What were the 3 biggest challenges, and what did you learn from them?
4. What are the top 3 aspirations for the coming 3 months? And what’s the biggest risk they might not happen? And what are you going to do to mitigate that risk?

You don’t always have to list three things; you can change the number yourself as your life experiences differ.

To help achieve my goals, I used a 13-week year Google Sheets template (based on the 12-week year method) to set up my goals, track progress, and reflect. (I created the template, and you can purchase it here) So far, it has improved my focus and results drastically. Here’s my snapshot for this quarter.

Q2 2026 Reflections

1. Vipassana 5x per week. (✅5/10)
   With the new job and new schedule, it’s more difficult for me to commit 20 mins every day. Since my mental health has been better and stable, I’m gonna lower the frequency next quarter. I did my Vipassana in Malaysia, you can read my experience here.
2. Passed my probation. (✅10/10)
   I have been focusing on my new job and it paid off! It feels good to have sense of belonging again with the right company culture.
3. Launched and earned my first $100 from an iOS app. (✅5/10)
   I successfully launched my first zero-based budgeting app, Cashgaroo. You can know more about my experience building it here. Unfortunately it doesn’t have traction – I’m using it frequently.
4. Workout 3x a week in the gym, with 1x cardio each week. (✅7/10) 
   New job required me to work from office throughout probation so it is difficult to go gym regularly. It should improve next quarter as I could WFH 2 times a week and I gained one more cardio option – swimming which is more convenient!

Top Wins in Last Quarter and Why

1. Moving into new home with partner
   One of my biggest wins this quarter was moving into our new home.
   
   There are still a batch of furnitures on the way, but I’m very proud of the result! I spent a lot of time researching the best pieces to achieve a Mid-Century Modern vibe while staying within budget.
   
   Also, I’m very grateful to have a partner who is very supportive of my renovation ideas in general.
   
2. Be calm and confident – most people don’t know shit
   Another big win was learning to stay calm and confident in difficult work situations.
   
   Some people at work can be demanding and pushy. In the past, I would feel pressured or panicked when being questioned. Now, I’ve learned to take my time to respond.
   
   I’ve realized that confidence matters. Not everyone knows more than you, so it’s important not to let others control the conversation.

Top Biggest Challenges & Lessons Learned

1. Be at peace with what you purchase.
   I’m still learning to be at peace with my purchases.
   
   Whenever I realize I paid more than necessary or missed a better deal, I feel upset. My budgeting app, Cashgaroo helps reduce my anxiety by giving me clarity on what I can afford. Still, knowing I could have saved more sometimes bothers me.
   
   This has happened more often lately with all the purchases for my new house. I’m learning to not check the price again after I have made purchases.
   
2. Communicating in difficult conversations.
   Another challenge is handling conversations when the other person is not cooperative.
   
   I often understand the issue clearly in my head, but struggle to explain it in a convincing way. This taught me that communication is not just about knowing what to say, but also saying it in a way others can understand.

My Aspirations for Q3 2026

1. Vipassana 3x per week and do one thing that makes me happy 1x per week
2. Have 100 users using my iOS apps.
3. Workout 3x a week in the gym, with 2x cardio each week. 
4. Reduce arm size from 30cm to 27cm.

My Favorite Tool for Quarterly Planning

Inspired by 12 Week Year book, I made a 12-week goal planner Google Sheets template to help with my own time management, reflection, and motivation—and it’s been a game changer! It even comes with a 13-week version for extra flexibility. If you’re into planning and staying organized, you can check it out here or on Etsy! 😊

💌 Your Turn: Quarterly Planning

If you’re craving clarity, give this quarterly planning method a try!

Like this quarterly planning? Share it on Pinterest – thank you!