Listen to the Audio Overview podcast file above and/or read the blog below to learn how to make the Cascade Planning Method work for you this year.
The new year has started and hopefully you’ve already thought through some things you’d like to accomplish this year – both personal and professional goals. Many folks make a list of their goals only to find that they have no system to support the tracking and progress of their goals. Thus two days in January are recognized as part of giving up on these goals; Quitter’s Day is the second Friday in January (January 10th of this year) while January 17th is known as Ditch New Year’s Resolution Day. But, fortunately for you, neither of these days needs to be recognized because I have two solutions that may help you realize your goals for 2025. The first part is creating a Cascade Planner while the second part is spacing out your goals. Let’s take a look at each. We’ll combine these to make a winning Cascade Planning Method combination for you.
What is the Cascade Planning Method?
The Cascade Planning Method is a unique goal-setting and planning system designed to help you break down big, long-term objectives into manageable chunks. It addresses the common challenges of traditional New Year’s resolutions, which often feel overwhelming, lack a clear action plan, and get abandoned within weeks. A Cascade Planner provides a structured framework for setting meaningful goals and working towards them consistently throughout the year.
The power of the Cascade Planner lies in its top-down approach. You start by identifying your big goals – the overarching achievements you want to work towards. These could be professional objectives like implementing a new curriculum or improving student outcomes, or personal goals like finding better work-life balance. Then, you break these big goals down into monthly themes or focus areas. Each month centers on a specific target that supports your larger objectives, making them feel more achievable. For example, if your goal is to implement a new STEM curriculum, your monthly focuses might include researching best practices, developing unit plans, and piloting lessons. Finally, you translate these monthly goals into weekly targets and daily action steps. By tackling a little bit each day and week, you make steady progress without burning out. The Cascade Planner helps you align your daily efforts with your big-picture vision, ensuring that every small step is moving you in the right direction.
If you are considering creating a Cascade Planner for your professional life, consider using the My Cascade Planner Template which shares three simple goals and then cascades them throughout the year. Thought the template outlines the goals, you could definitely tweak it to make it more detailed and meaningful based on your needs. And, you don’t have to have a goal for every month nor does a goal have to be accomplished within just one month. If you find that you would prefer some assistance in developing your Cascade Planner, just go to https://bit.ly/CascadePlannerGPT to try out Cascade Planner GPT. Just tell it your goals and it will go to work developing your planner. Though you do need to log in to Chat GPT to use the custom GPT, you do not need a paid subscription.
How is a Cascade Planner Different than Other Planner Systems
While there are many planning and productivity systems out there, Cascade Planners offer a unique approach that sets them apart. Traditional planners and to-do lists often focus on daily or weekly tasks without connecting them to larger goals. They can help you stay organized in the short-term but may lack the big-picture perspective needed for long-term progress. Cascade Planners, on the other hand, start with your main objectives and break them down into monthly, weekly, and daily action steps. This top-down approach ensures that your day-to-day efforts are always aligned with your bigger goals.
Another key difference is that Cascade Planners typically emphasize focusing on one main goal or theme each month. This allows you to give each objective the attention it deserves and helps prevent being overwhelmed. Other planning systems often encourage multitasking or tackling multiple goals simultaneously, which can lead to burnout and lack of progress. With a Cascade Planner, you concentrate your energy on one priority at a time, building momentum and seeing real results. Over the course of the year, as you complete each monthly focus, you make significant strides towards your larger goals in a sustainable, step-by-step way.
How and Why to Space out Goals
One of the key principles of the Cascade Planner is spacing out your goals throughout the year. Instead of trying to tackle everything at once, this method has you focus on one main objective each month. This approach has several benefits for educators. First, it allows you to give each goal the time and attention it deserves. Whether you’re working on a new curriculum, improving your classroom management, or developing a self-care routine, dedicating a full month to each priority ensures that you make meaningful progress. Second, spacing out your goals helps prevent being overwhelmed and experiencing burnout. By focusing on one thing at a time, you avoid spreading yourself too thin and can maintain a healthy work-life balance.
To space out your goals effectively in a Cascade Planner, start by assigning each of your yearly objectives to a specific month. Consider factors like the school calendar, your personal schedule, and any external deadlines or milestones. For example, you might choose to work on curriculum development during the summer months when you have more planning time, and focus on parent communication during the back-to-school season. Be strategic about the order of your goals, too. If some objectives build on others, make sure to sequence them appropriately. And don’t forget to leave some breathing room in your plan – it’s okay to have a lighter month or take a break when needed. The key is to create a balanced, achievable plan that supports your long-term success.
An Example of the Cascade Planning Method
Maybe it would help to have a more detailed, though personal, example for you to consider. My new year’s resolutions for this year include: build a farmhouse dining room table (I already have most of the lumber), write a children’s book (I have 5 loose storylines to choose from), lose 15 pounds, make 4 quilts, and do 100 sit-ups in a row. In the past, I would have been trying to start each of those goals this month and juggle them until they are each completed. But, that hasn’t proven to be a good system for me. I can only juggle so many things at once and do them well. So, if I use the Cascade Planner method, it might look something like the outline below…with some of the bullet points actually having things listed under them to break them down into smaller weekly targets (but that makes it too cluttered for this blog post).
January-February: Build Farmhouse Table
- Confirm I have the lumber needed and gather supplies as listed in the plans
- Cut and join wood pieces
- Sand and stain the table
- Apply protective finish
March-April: Write Children’s Book
- Choose one book idea and create an outline
- Write the first draft
- Revise and edit the manuscript
- Research illustrators or illustration options
May-July: Lose 15 Pounds
- Focus on intermittent fasting consistently
- Walk for 30 minutes, 5 days a week
- Go to the gym at least 3 days a week
- Start with 3 sets of 10 sit-ups daily and increase weekly
- Track progress and adjust plan as needed
- Celebrate milestones along the way (preferably with pancakes)
August-October: Make Quilts
- Choose patterns and fabrics for each quilt
- Cut and piece the quilt tops
- Layer and baste the quilts
- Quilt and bind each project
November-December: Improve Sit-Up Endurance
- Continue daily sit-ups in one set (instead of several sets a day)
- Gradually increase sit-ups each week
- Aim for 100 consecutive sit-ups by the end of December
It’s not too late to rethink your approach and shift your goals into a Cascade Planner to ensure success this year. Whether your objectives are professional, personal, or a mix of both, you are worth the effort. Take the time today to create your Cascade Planner, map out your goals, and start taking small, consistent steps. Imagine how amazing it will feel next December to look back and celebrate all you’ve accomplished! Start now—you’ve got this!