Planning Without Boundaries Is Just Dreaming

I’m a sucker for New Year’s resolutions. A fresh era awaits, full of potential transformation. It’s my favorite time to start a new project or habit — as long as I also get clear on what I’ll STOP doing.

Two things are likely to get in the way of your New Year’s ambitions:

1. SOMETHING ELSE. Whatever new idea you’re pursuing, that time has to come from somewhere. Until now, you were doing something else with that time — even if it was just scrolling or puttering. If you’re going to reclaim your attention, that routine, project, or habit has got to stop, at least temporarily.

2. EVERYTHING ELSE. Getting started is one thing. Now you have to defend your commitment against all pressures, interruptions, and temptations. What are your policies for protecting it? What’s not allowed to hijack your time?

So here’s my three-step exercise for using boundaries to turn dreams into plans.

Important caveat: Don’t think about forever.

Just consider this coming year, or better yet this semester or quarter.

To get some ideas about what merits your “NO” in the coming season, answer each of these questions with the very first thing that comes to mind.

• What are you ready to say no to in 2026?

• Last year, was there anything you wished you’d declined?

• Pretend you could put up a force field that would prevent just one specific type of request. No one could ask you to do that thing. No could even imagine you doing that thing. How would you program that force field?

• What could you put on hold for just a little while?

• What has been getting too much of your attention?

If you get several different answers, pick just one to focus on.

Now we make it official. Use a page of your journal to craft a breakup letter. I recommend making it maximally campy: “Late-night email, we are through!”

This could be “Goodbye, forever” or “I need some space.” Either way, I suggest being over-the-top with it. Exaggerate and be petty. What has this thing been costing you?

You’ve figured out the “something else.” Now it’s time for “everything else.”

What policies will you put in place to protect your commitment?

Will you…

• Turn off your phone while you’re working on that goal?

• Close all tabs and notifications?

• Set a timer and stay focused for 10 minutes?

• Put the task on your calendar and refuse conflicting appointments?

• Use a notepad to list out any to-do items that pop up in your mind during the activity, rather than letting your own thoughts interrupt you?

Over 20 years of trial and error, I’ve set up four “Saying NO” policies for my research leadership consulting business that have made a huge difference for my follow-through.

1. No commitments on the spot. Any request gets “Let me think on it and get back to you,” no matter how much I want to say yes.

2. No explanations outside my inner circle. For personal and volunteer requests, unless someone is actively engaged in my emotional life, I don’t explain why I’m saying no. It’s just, “I have a conflict” or “I’m not available.”

3. No meetings on stalled projects. As a freelance consultant, this is a big one. Unless progress has been made since the last meeting, there’s nothing to discuss.

4. Writing time is sacred. For journalers, Substack writers, and academics (my client base), writing time is the most important commitment. Nothing is allowed to displace that practice.

So, what’s going to get your NO in 2026? What are you putting in place to protect it?

For a structured approach to starting a journaling practice, check out my on-ramp.