What If You Planned Your Life Like You Plan Your Career?
Most of us are familiar with intentional professional development.
Schools have curricula. Careers require training. Businesses have strategic plans.
Personal development, however, is often relegated to “someday.”
A Personal Curriculum™ offers another approach.
Rather than turning your personal life into another productivity project, a personal curriculum asks:
What do I intentionally want to learn, practice, experience, and explore during this season of my life?
Check it out here: https://youtu.be/pbNQuLPFtBA
Goals vs. Curriculum
Traditional goals typically emphasize outcomes.
Goal: Save $2,000.
A curriculum emphasizes development.
Curriculum: Learn how my household finances work, understand investing, read about personal finance, and establish a regular money-review practice.
Neither is inherently better.
They serve different purposes.
Why 90 Days?
A 90-day period provides enough time to meaningfully engage with something without requiring you to predict what will remain interesting or relevant for an entire year.
For an ADHD brain particularly drawn to curiosity and novelty, thinking in seasons can also provide permission for interests to evolve.
The GROW Curriculum™
G — Get Curious
Ask:
What have I been naturally interested in?
What do I keep saying I'd like to learn?
What skill would make my life easier?
What sounds enjoyable?
What am I drawn toward when I have freedom to choose?
Don't evaluate yet.
Capture.
R — Reflect
Now consider your actual season.
What's happening in my life?
What's my capacity?
What resources are available?
What needs attention?
Which interests fit now?
Something can be interesting without needing to become a current priority.
O — Orient
Choose no more than three curriculum areas.
For each, consider opportunities to:
Learn: Books, courses, podcasts, research.
Practice: Skills or behaviors to repeat.
Experiment: Something to try without requiring success.
Experience: Something to actually do.
Reflect: Questions that help integrate what you're discovering.
W — Weave
Rather than automatically adding more commitments, look for ways to connect your curriculum with existing anchors.
Your commute could hold an audiobook.
Your Sunday coffee could become reading time.
A monthly date could become an experience.
An evening walk could include a podcast.
The goal is integration—not cramming more productivity into an already full life.
Create a “Not This Quarter” List
Curiosity doesn't have to become commitment.
Keep two lists:
This Quarter: What you're intentionally exploring now.
Not This Quarter: Interesting ideas you're preserving without pursuing yet.
This allows you to capture novelty without allowing every new idea to derail your current direction.
Your Curriculum Can Include Restoration
Personal growth doesn't always mean adding skills.
A season might focus on learning how to rest, reconnect with creativity, establish boundaries, understand relationships, or discover what actually restores your energy.
Development isn't synonymous with productivity.
Your 90-Day Personal Curriculum
Consider five prompts:
LEARN: What do I want to understand?
PRACTICE: What do I want to strengthen?
EXPERIENCE: What do I want to do?
EXPLORE: What am I curious about?
REFLECT: What question am I currently living with?
Choose up to three areas and determine how each can realistically exist in your current life.
Review Without Grading Yourself
At the end of 90 days, ask:
What did I learn?
What surprised me?
What did I enjoy?
What changed my thinking?
What do I want to continue?
What no longer interests me?
What curiosity is emerging next?
A personal curriculum isn't successful because you completed everything.
The learning is the outcome.
https://linktr.ee/mindfulchatting
👉 Try Brain.fm for focus and calm.
Try it here: https://www.brain.fm/mcs
👉Try Headway to manage your claims/billing so you can focus on being the provider you want to be.
Get started here: https://share.findheadway.com/3dnhk
👉TherapyNotes makes managing your EHR seamless and protected.
Check it out: https://www.therapynotes.com/r/ref/tnuna3sb
👉Want to try Monarch? Save 50% off your first year! https://monarch.com/referral/ojzxue82l3?r_source=share
👉Explore Lively! This app guides you daily, offering personalized insights into nutrition, activity, and self-care. Embrace your cycle's flow, and bring out the best in you! https://livelycycle.com/
📲 Follow for More:
📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mindfulchatting
🎙️ Blog Website: https://www.mindfulsupervision.com/letsbrainstormtogether
📝 Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/MindfulChatting
📸 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mindfulchatter
📝 Work, Life, Balance Facebook Group - https://www.facebook.com/worklifebalancepage/
What's YOUR ADHD Struggle? Take the Quiz: www.mindfulsupervision.com/adhdquiz
ADHD Crash Course: www.mindfulsupervision.com/adhdcrashcourse
ADHD Planning Stack Course: www.mindfulsupervision.com/adhdplanning
EF - Activation Course: www.mindfulsupervision.com/executivefunctions
EF - Focus Course: www.mindfulsupervision.com/executivefunctions
This episode/post is for educational and entertainment purposes only and is not therapy or treatment. This episode may contain affiliate links. If you click on these links and make a purchase, I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. I only share products and services I personally use and believe will add value to you. Thank you for supporting us!
