February 2026 Planning Tips and Resources
February's Frustrations, Real and Revealing
January was all about vision, imagining what could be. But February is when you feel the enormous gap between where you are and where you want to go. Time keeps progressing, but you’re not seeing progress.
Welcome to the frustration of February.
The good news is that this lack of progress is likely not due to a lack of ability or competency, but rather that you are struggling with one of three commitment issues:
Trap #1: The Endless Options Loop
You haven’t chosen what you’re going to focus on. You have possibilities — things you could do, should do, might do — but you haven’t committed to any of them. You’re maintaining everything else while endlessly weighing which meaningful project deserves your limited remaining time, energy, and attention.
Sometimes the status quo is exactly what’s needed. Maybe the essential is all you can manage right now.*
If that’s true, own it. You don’t need to add another project.
But if you’re frustrated by the lack of progress, ask yourself: which project on your list of possibilities keeps calling for your attention? That frustration is telling you something. Either commit to making it happen or commit to making space for it.
Trap #2: The Overcommitment Scramble
You’ve said yes to too many things. Maybe you took on more than you can realistically handle. Maybe you added “one more thing” without removing anything else. Maybe you thought if you started enough, something would gain traction.
Instead, you’re constantly switching between tasks. Things are falling through the cracks because you’re juggling too many competing priorities.
You need to subtract. Get honest about what’s actually on your plate. What genuinely deserves your focus right now? Give yourself permission to shelve the rest. Not forever, just for now.
Trap #3: The Invisible Progress Problem
Or maybe it’s not that you haven’t committed, or overcommitted, but you’re questioning what you’ve committed to because you’re not seeing any progress yet. You’ve shown up consistently. You’ve done the work but you’re not seeing tangible results.
This is where you need to shift from outputs to inputs. Early-stage progress is almost always invisible. The question isn’t “what have I produced?” but “am I showing up consistently for the work?”
Focus blocks completed. Habits maintained. Steps taken. These inputs are the progress, even when outcomes remain hidden. Determine what timeline makes sense for evaluating this work and what you’ll count as progress.
Where’s Your Frustration Coming From?
February’s frustration is real, but it’s also revealing. Ask yourself:
Is the frustration because you haven’t actually chosen what to focus on, either because maintaining the status quo is all you can handle or because you haven’t given yourself permission to pursue what’s calling for your attention?
Is the frustration because you’ve chosen too many things and can’t build momentum while bouncing between them?
Is the frustration because you simply haven’t given it enough time to see results?
Name the trap you’re in, and you’ll know exactly what needs to shift.
~ Maghan
*A note about this particular February: These frustrations are normal for this time of year. But right now, they’re likely being amplified by what you’re witnessing: atrocities unfolding in real time, things happening in the US and globally that demand our attention and add layers of anger, anxiety, and fear to February’s already-normal frustrations.
Supporting your neighbors and community, taking action, or simply bearing witness to what's happening also takes time, energy, and attention. This matters. It counts. And just because change isn't instantaneous doesn't mean progress isn't being made here too. Keep going.
Resources for Managing February’s Frustrations
When you’re stuck in the endless options loop
When you’re overcommitted
When progress feels invisible
Free subscribers: now might also be a great time for you to give our paid subscription a try. $10 a month will get you all these resources, our two monthly calls, the full digital suite of Momentum Planners, and more. Cancel anytime.
Join Us for Our February Events
Mark your calendars for our February events, open to our paid subscribers:
Leadership Strategy Session (LSS): Wednesday, February 4, 2026, at 11:00 am PST
February’s Focus: Bridging the Vision-Execution Gap for Your TeamYour team has vision. They understand where you’re going. But January revealed something crucial: vision alone doesn’t ensure execution. There’s a gap, and that gap is creating frustration, missed deadlines, or team members who seem to be spinning their wheels. Once you identify the specific gap you’re facing, the solution becomes clear. It’s not about lowering your vision; it’s about addressing the right constraint so your team can execute on it.
Monthly Momentum Call (MMC): Wednesday, February 18, 2026, at 11:00 am PST
February’s Focus: From Vision to Action
January’s vision work felt inspiring. You got clear on where you wanted to go, what mattered most, and how you wanted the year to unfold. The direction felt right. Then you started executing. And the gap between what you envisioned and what you’re actually capable of doing right now became painfully obvious. This call helps you bridge the distance between vision and execution by identifying your real constraints so you can respond strategically instead of reactively.
February Momentum Planners
The Momentum Planners were built to keep your most important work front and center. Download the free version of our February planners to help you determine what projects you want to accomplish in the new year.
Paid subscribers can access the full suite of dated planners below. 👇 If you don’t see them, please make sure you’re logged in to your paid account.
If you don’t have a paid subscription yet, now’s a great time to upgrade.