How often should I do a weekly review?

A weekly review, or reset, should ideally be done once a week. Even a short 10-20 minute session is beneficial for reviewing the past week, celebrating wins, and setting priorities for the upcoming week.

What is the morning manifesto?

The morning manifesto is a 1-2 minute journaling practice done each morning. It involves reminding yourself of your weekly priorities and identifying the single most important task or 'adventure' for that day.

How can I improve my focus on important tasks?

Creating a focus log is a powerful technique. By tracking the number of minutes you spend in fully focused time on a task, you gain awareness of your productivity and are motivated to increase that number.

How can I maintain social connections as an adult?

Schedule 'standing order' social events, which are recurring gatherings at the same time and place each week or bi-weekly. This removes the friction of coordinating schedules and ensures regular connection.

What is multimodality multitasking?

Multimodality multitasking involves doing two different types of tasks simultaneously, such as listening to an audiobook while doing chores. This creates extra time for learning or planning without compromising focused work.

Are there apps that can help with multimodality multitasking?

Yes, apps like Voice Pal can help by allowing you to speak your ideas while engaged in other activities, which are then converted into a draft. Alternatively, you can use speech-to-text software and AI tools like ChatGPT to process your thoughts.

Key Moments

6 Habits to Make 2026 Your Best Year Yet

Ali Abdaal

Education3 min read22 min video

Dec 12, 2024|1,167,374 views|35,511|724

Ali Abdaal goal setting best year ever new year goals how to design your life how to achieve your goals self improvement personal development personal growth self improvement tips self improvement podcast self improvement books

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Key Moments

TL;DR

Six habits for a better year: quarterly quests, weekly reviews, morning manifesto journal, focus log, standing social events, and multimodal multitasking.

Key Insights

Replace annual goals with quarterly quests (90-day goals) for greater focus and accomplishment.

Implement a weekly review to track progress on quarterly quests and set weekly priorities.

Start each workday with a morning manifesto (2-minute journal) to reaffirm weekly goals and identify daily priorities.

Utilize a focus log to track focused work minutes on important tasks, significantly improving productivity.

Schedule regular, recurring social events (standing order social events) to maintain friendships and combat loneliness.

Employ multimodal multitasking (e.g., listening to audiobooks while doing chores) to create time for pursuing personal dreams alongside other commitments.

TRANSFORMING GOALS WITH QUARTERLY QUESTS

The first habit emphasizes shifting from vague annual goals to focused 90-day 'quarterly quests.' This approach, supported by concepts in books like 'The 12 Week Year,' makes goals more tangible and manageable. By breaking down aspirations into three-month increments, individuals can better visualize progress and adapt to changing circumstances, thereby avoiding the common pitfall of annual goals being forgotten or becoming irrelevant over time. This method encourages setting three to four significant goals per quarter, divided between work and personal life, making them actionable milestones.

THE POWER OF THE WEEKLY REVIEW

To counteract the tendency to forget quarterly goals, the second habit introduces the 'weekly review' or 'weekly reset.' This practice, popularized by David Allen's 'Getting Things Done,' involves a short, 15-20 minute weekly session to reflect on the past week's accomplishments, celebrate wins, and most importantly, review progress on quarterly quests. Crucially, it involves setting clear priorities for the upcoming week. This consistent checkpoint ensures that chosen goals remain top-of-mind and that weekly actions align with the broader quarterly objectives, preventing drift and fostering consistent progress.

STARTING THE DAY WITH A MORNING MANIFESTO

Building on the weekly review, the third habit is the 'morning manifesto,' a brief two-minute journaling exercise done at the start of each workday. This practice prompts reflection on the weekly priorities, assessing current progress, and identifying the single most important task or 'adventure' for the day. This daily intention-setting is vital because true productivity stems from working on the *right* things, not just working efficiently. The morning manifesto serves as a daily anchor, ensuring focus remains on meaningful tasks and preventing a drift into an 'unintentional, unexamined life' filled with busywork.

IMPROVING FOCUS WITH A FOCUS LOG

The fourth habit, the 'focus log,' addresses the common struggle with maintaining concentration. Inspired by a personal anecdote about writing a book, this practice involves simply tracking the number of minutes spent in deeply focused work on a specific task each day. This awareness itself is a powerful motivator, leading to increased focused time. Whether done manually or with apps, the act of logging provides valuable insight into one's productivity and encourages greater dedication to important, often non-urgent, projects. This habit is presented as a key tool for anyone looking to dedicate more time to their personal or professional aspirations.

MAINTAINING SOCIAL CONNECTIONS WITH STANDING ORDERS

Shifting focus from work to personal well-being, the fifth habit is establishing 'standing order social events.' These are pre-scheduled, recurring social gatherings, such as a weekly brunch or a bi-weekly dinner, that happen at the same time and place without fail. This strategy combats the social isolation that can occur after university by removing the friction of constant coordination. By consistently carving out time for social interaction, individuals can strengthen friendships and build a robust support network. Even two weekly date nights with a partner are cited as a prime example of how these regular events contribute to relationship health.

CREATING TIME THROUGH MULTIMODALITY MULTITASKING

The final habit, 'multimodality multitasking,' provides a strategy for individuals juggling demanding jobs with personal dreams. It involves engaging in two different types of activities simultaneously, such as listening to an audiobook while doing laundry or commuting. This is distinct from task-switching within the same modality, which reduces efficiency. By leveraging 'dead time' like commutes or chores for learning or planning, individuals can effectively create more time for their aspirations. Tools like AI-powered voice apps are highlighted as facilitators for capturing ideas during these multi-tasking periods, turning otherwise passive moments into productive opportunities.

Mentioned in This Episode

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Six Habits for Your Best Year Yet

Practical takeaways from this episode

Do This

Set quarterly quests: Focus on 3-4 big goals for the next 90 days, separated into work and life categories.

Conduct a weekly review: Spend 10-20 minutes reviewing the past week and setting priorities for the next.

Create a morning manifesto: Dedicate 1-2 minutes to journaling about weekly priorities and the most important task for the day.

Use a focus log: Track the number of minutes spent in focused time on important tasks.

Schedule standing order social events: Set recurring weekly or bi-weekly social engagements (e.g., date nights, brunches).

Practice multimodality multitasking: Combine learning or planning with other non-focused activities (e.g., listening to audiobooks while doing laundry).

Avoid This

Rely solely on annual goals; they can be too broad and lead to procrastination.

Skip your weekly review; it's crucial for staying on track with quarterly quests.

Start your workday without setting intentions; this can lead to unintentional actions.

Neglect tracking your focused work time; lack of awareness can hinder progress.

Avoid scheduling regular social interactions; this can lead to loneliness.

Attempt to focus on multiple demanding tasks simultaneously; this reduces efficiency and quality.

Common Questions

Quarterly quests, or 90-day goals, are more manageable and easier to visualize than annual goals. They provide a shorter timeframe, which increases the likelihood of making consistent progress and allows for adjustments based on new data.