Try This 3-3-3 Rule for Monthly Goal Clarity

Photo credits: Pinterest

Ever sat down to set your goals, only to spiral into a to-do list that looks more like a punishment than a plan?

Yep. Same.

Here enters the 3-3-3 Rule. A productivuty–based goal-setting method that filters out the noise and gives you instant clarity on what to focus on this month.

Whether you’re a founder, a freelancer, or just someone who’s ovewhelmed withe her goals, this goal setting hack is for you.

What Is The 3-3-3 Rule?

Let’s break it down: the 3-3-3 Rule is a monthly ritual that helps you reconnect with your purpose, sort your priorities, and finally stop overcommitting.

Step 1: Choose Your 3 Monthly Focus Areas

Ask yourself: What areas of my life or business do I want to focus on this month? These are broad categories like “wellness,” “marketing,” or “relationships.”

Here’s a sample list to spark ideas:

• Physical Health

• Mental Wellness

• Relationships

• Creativity

• Business

• Spirituality

• Home

• Learning

Choosing just 3 helps you stop scattering your energy. It’s not about doing everything, it’s about doing the right things with intention.

Step 2: Use SMART Goal Setting Worksheets To Define 3 Specific Goals

Set one SMART goal for each of your 3 focus areas. And yes, we’ve included downloadable smart goal setting worksheets to make this part Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound.

Here’s what that might look like:

• Focus Area: Creativity

  → SMART Goal: Write and publish 2 blog posts by July 31.

• Focus Area: Physical Health

  → SMART Goal: Walk 5,000 steps daily for 21 days.

• Focus Area: Business

  → SMART Goal: Launch Pinterest ad test with $50 budget by July 15.

Step 3: Break Each Goal Into 3 Micro Actions

Finally, you’ll choose 3 micro actions (aka mini tasks that take <30 minutes) that move you toward each goal. That’s 9 intentional, doable actions max for the month.

That’s it. You now have 9 micro actions for the entire month. This kind of goal mapping brings a new level of peace and clarity.

And if you need help planning your tasks visually, download our goals setting worksheet.

Who This Works For

The 3-3-3 Rule is perfect for:

• Side hustlers juggling multiple roles

• Entrepreneurs managing mental load + team chaos

• Wellness lovers craving structure without rigidity

• Anyone burnt out by to-do lists that never end

How To Make This Your Monthly Ritual

1. Set a recurring “reset date” on your calendar (first Sunday of the month works great)

2. Print your smart goal setting worksheets.

3. Light a candle, put on your favorite playlist, and block off 45 minutes of “me-time”

4. Fill out your 3-3-3 map and keep it somewhere visible (mirror, fridge, Notion, etc.)

Want to make this more fun? Grab an accountability partner and do it together on Zoom with wine, tea, or matcha in hand.

Real Talk: You Don’t Need More Goals

You need clarity.

You need something that honors your current bandwidth, not your fantasy self.

The 3-3-3 Rule is not about becoming a productivity machine. It’s about creating a practice of self trust, self leadership, and self discovery.

You’re not lazy. You’re just tired of goals that were never designed for real life.

Final Words

If you take one thing away from this blog, let it be this: you’re allowed to make goal setting feel good.

You’re allowed to stop performing productivity and start practicing presence.

The 3-3-3 Rule doesn’t just help you hit your goals, it helps you remember who you are while doing it.

So go ahead. Try this rule next month. And watch how everything starts to click.