Introduction
Welcome back to the weekly newsletter.
New goals fail for boring reasons: no time, no money, no support, bad timing. This week we flip that. We’ll map the limits you’ll face in 2026 and build work-arounds now to make more progress sooner.
A strong plan doesn’t assume smooth roads. It predicts potholes. A Future Constraints Plan names your likely limits up front (time, money, energy, skills, seasonality, policies) and pairs each with a simple counter-move. The objective is simple: when limits arrive, you don’t stall but switch to the prepped path.
Weekly highlight: Identify likely limits and set work-arounds now.
Most people plan the ideal year. Then real life shows up: busy quarters, travel, bills, school breaks, audits. Goals slip, confidence drops, and the plan dies. The fix is simple: design with friction in mind. Assume constraints. Pre-decide responses. That’s how you keep momentum steady all year.
The six usual constraints
Time. Peaks often squeeze your calendar. Decide your “minimum viable week” for those periods: one core workout, one deep-work block, one family slot. Protect the floor of activity, not the ceiling.
Money. Cash instability kill upgrades (courses, gear, travel). Create a micro-budget now. Pre-pick a free/low-cost path (library course, peer group, internal project) so growth doesn’t wait for a payday.
Energy. Some months you’re sharp; others you’re fried. Pair tasks to energy: low-brain admin on low days; creative or heavy lifts on high days. Keep a “low-energy playbook” ready.
Skill. Goals often stall because a sub-skill is missing. List the blocker skill and set a 4-week micro-sprint to acquire the basics. Momentum returns fast when the real block is named.
Policy & People. Rules, approvals, or team bandwidth can slow rollouts. Map decision-makers, approval windows, and blackout dates now. Book meetings early. Align expectations before crunch time.
Seasonality. Holidays, school breaks, fiscal deadlines; all predictable and brutal. Shift volume away from those weeks. Prep in advance. Plan recovery weeks after heavy seasons.
Build your constraint calendar
Take a 12-month view. Mark high-pressure windows (by month/week). Add known events: audits, trips, family commitments, launches. Now layer your goals. Where they clash, resize not cancel: reduce rep count, switch channel, or move the milestone. Keep the thread unbroken.
Design work-arounds by default
For each constraint, write one pre-move:
- Time crunch → “MVP week” template.
- Money dip → free path + delay rule for purchases.
- Energy low → 20-minute alt plan + early night.
- Skill gap → one course, one mentor, one practice block.
- Policy drag → pre-brief + approval buffer.
- Season peak → batch ahead + hold maintenance only.
Protect compounding
The goal is continuity. Even tiny efforts keep identity intact: “I am the person who keeps the promise.” That identity makes the next week easier. A Future Constraints Plan defends that identity. You don’t restart; you reduce and continue.
Example quick sketch
Q1: New role ramp-up → cap goals to maintenance (health 2×/wk, learning 1×/wk).
Q2: Budget tight → free learning month, internal stretch project instead of paid course.
Q3: Family travel → morning 15-min sessions only; batch work before departure.
Q4: Year-end crunch → pause new initiatives; run MVP week; resume build Jan 5.
Design for the year you’ll actually live, not the fantasy one. That’s how plans survive.
Application
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Mark the map: Open a year view; highlight known crunch weeks.
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Set MVP weeks: Write the bare-minimum version of your routines for crunch time.
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Name one blocker skill: Plan a 4-week micro-sprint to learn it.
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Pick a free path: One no-cost option for each goal if money tightens.
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Pre-brief stakeholders: Book alignment chats before heavy seasons.
Summary
Constraints aren’t surprises; they’re schedules. When you plan them in, progress feels calm. Name the limit, load the work-around, keep the streak alive. That’s how long-term plans finish strong.
Till Next Time,
Maciej
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