Why 30 Day Plans Work

From Intention to Action: 30 Day Planning Workshops to Create Real Change

In the first blog post, The Accountability Collective: The New Chapter, I shared why this work matters to me and why I believe so strongly in the power of accountability, clarity and community.

This blog builds on that thinking and introduces one of the simplest yet most effective tools for creating meaningful progress: 30 day planning.

Not because it is clever or complicated, but because it works.

Goal setting is often spoken about as if it should be easy. Decide what you want, plan and take action. Yet for many people, the reality feels very different. Goals are set with enthusiasm, often at the start of a year, a new season or a fresh chapter, only to be quietly abandoned weeks later. I know because I have been there too.

This does not happen because we lack motivation or commitment. More often, it happens because goals are set without taking real life into account. They are too broad, too ambitious or too disconnected from the time, energy and responsibilities we already carry. Life happens, priorities shift and suddenly the goal that once felt exciting begins to feel heavy.

Over time, this can lead to frustration, self-doubt and even self-sabotage. We start to question whether goal setting works at all, or whether it is something that works for everyone else but not for us. The truth is, goal setting does work, but only when the approach supports the way we actually live.

This is where 30 day planning offers a refreshing alternative.

At the heart of The Accountability Collective is the belief that progress does not come from trying to change everything at once. It comes from clarity, focus and consistency. It comes from breaking things down into manageable chunks and choosing what matters most right now.

A 30 day goal is not about shrinking your ambition or thinking small. It is about giving your ambition something solid to stand on. By narrowing your focus to one clear, achievable goal over a shorter period of time, you remove much of the overwhelm that stops people getting started in the first place. Intention becomes action and ideas begin to take shape.

Working with 30 day plans brings clarity very quickly. You begin to see where progress is being made and where it is not. You gain a better understanding of what is realistic alongside everyday life and where adjustments may be needed. This is not about judgement or failure. It is about developing informed insights that help you move forward with greater awareness.

When progress does happen, even in small ways, it builds confidence. You can see evidence of your effort and that sense of momentum makes it easier to keep going. When progress stalls, it provides valuable information rather than another reason to be hard on yourself. That awareness is incredibly powerful.

Perhaps most importantly, working in 30 day cycles helps create sustainable habits.

When this process is repeated month after month, you are not simply ticking off individual goals. You are practising focus, follow through and consistency. These are the skills that support long term change. Big goals are rarely achieved in one dramatic moment. They are built through repeated, often unglamorous actions taken over time.

By focusing on one goal at a time, you give yourself the space to embed new ways of working without pressure. You begin to trust yourself again and planning starts to feel supportive rather than overwhelming.

With this in mind, I am introducing a free monthly 30 Day Goal Setting Workshop as a practical entry point into this way of working.

Each workshop is designed to provide a calm, supportive space to pause, reflect and plan. During the session, participants are guided to choose one meaningful goal for the next 30 days and create a realistic plan that fits around existing commitments, busy periods and personal time. This is not about squeezing more into already full lives. It is about working intentionally with the time and energy you have.

You might use the workshop to focus on something new, something you have been meaning to start for a while or to align your actions with bigger goals you hold for the year ahead. The power of the 30 day approach is its flexibility. It meets you where you are.

A key part of these workshops is the group environment. Planning alongside others creates a sense of shared intention and accountability that is difficult to replicate on your own. Simply knowing that you will return after 30 days to review progress can be a powerful motivator.

Being part of a group also offers perspective. Hearing about other people’s goals, successes and challenges often sparks insight and reassurance. You realise you are not alone in feeling stuck at times, and you gain ideas and encouragement from the experiences of others. Wins can be celebrated and obstacles explored in a supportive, non-judgemental space.

This gentle accountability is not about pressure or performance. It is about being witnessed, supported and encouraged to keep showing up for yourself.

If goal setting has ever left you feeling stuck, frustrated or disappointed, it is time to try a different approach. One that values clarity over intensity, consistency over perfection and progress over pressure.

If you would like to join the next 30 Day Planning Workshop, head over to the website at www.ingridvanderweide.com/30-day-plans for details and to register.

One goal. One month. Realistic progress.