By Rob Hatch
Thirty-six weeks.
Part of my process for planning my business for the New Year is to do a little reality check on exactly how much time I have to work with.
What are you talking about, Rob? You have a year.
Technically, that’s true. However, on closer inspection, I only have 36 FULL weeks available.
36 is the new 52
My process is pretty simple. I set up a spreadsheet listing every week in 2025. Right off the bat, you’ll notice that the first whole week begins on January 6th.
Next, I block off the weeks when I know I will be on vacation and spending time with friends and family.
Then, I note each week a holiday or personal event occurs that will limit the time I have available for work.
I noted weeks when my children are on school break, and I want a lighter work schedule.
I look at the seasonal ebbs and flows of our family life, such as when we begin and end the school year.
Taking all that into account, I was left with 36 full weeks.
Thirty-six weeks is a very different number to work with than fifty-two.
Here’s what I found most helpful about this exercise.
1. I am starting my annual planning by prioritizing time with my family. I am deciding ahead of time to set aside significant time for that.
2. Many of the other weeks (holidays, school vacation, weeks of transition) will happen regardless. By planning for them, I can plan around them.
3. As I look at what I want to accomplish next year, I have a clear picture of the time resources available to commit to achieving them.
Thirty-six full weeks.
Your number will likely be different. The point is to figure out your number and plan accordingly.
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Rob Hatch is an author and coach for business owners and executives. He brings a unique blend of knowledge and background in the fields of Human Development and business operations. His weekly newsletter is read by tens of thousands of individuals all over the world. He’s the international best-selling author of “Attention! The power of simple decisions in a distracted world” which was named a 2021 Business Book of the Year Finalist.
