What is the HB90 method and my experience using it

The HB90 method is a quarterly planning and goal-setting system primarily for writers, although everyone who feels stressed, overwhelmed or lost can follow this method to set up quarterly goals, projects and tasks. 

The HB90 method is created by contemporary fantasy author Sara Cannon who shows how she uses this method to set up her quarterly goals and projects in her YouTube channel called Heart Breathings. 

The HB90 method can help you set and achieve goals, projects and tasks for 90 days. Once your projects and tasks are ready, you can assign the projects and tasks that you wish to complete each month.

​This method helps you keep track of the projects and tasks you complete each quarter and estimate how much time you need to allocate to complete each project. 
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This blog article explains:
The HB90 method planner
The HB90 Bootcamp
My experience with the HB90 method
Conclusion

The HB90 method planner
Sara has an HB90 method planner in printable and digital versions. The planner includes over 50 goal-setting pages with instructions on how to:

• prioritise 3 goals for the quarter
• realistically estimate how much time you can devote to your goals 
• figure out how much available time you have each month and week
•  brainstorm the projects and the tasks that you need to assign to each goal
•  figure out how much time you need to complete each project

Once you figure out your goals, projects and tasks, you can move on to the first month of the planner where you can note important dates or notes and plan each week by assigning your projects and tasks.

The HB90 planner also includes weekly spreads and daily pages to help you keep track of your progress and note down appointments and notes.

The planner has weekly, monthly and quarterly reviews to help you reflect on the previous week/month/ quarter, keep track of your progress and help you plan for the next quarter.

HB90 Bootcamp
Sara offers the HB90 Bootcamp, a 7-day course that is designed to teach you to be more productive, feel less stressed and take control of your professional and personal life.

The HB90 Bootcamp is for everyone (not just writers) who wants to:

• be more productive, feel less stressed and be in control over their life and their schedule
• struggling to find the energy to complete their goals or follow their dreams
• feel like working too hard but never manage to finish their projects

The course opens for enrollment every March, June, September and December to prepare for the next quarter.  All the recording videos and exercises are available to watch at any time. Students have lifetime access to the course and they can join a private Facebook group for course alumni.

Disclaimer: I haven’t taken the course and therefore I can’t recommend it. However, people who have taken the course highly recommend it because it helped them plan and organise their goals and projects, take control of their lives and be more productive. Do your own research and see if the HB90 Bootcamp suits your needs.

My experience with the HB90 method 
“The good”
December 2022. I quit my first job as an English Language teacher and decided to become a freelance fiction editor. There were so many projects and tasks I needed to do to prepare for my fiction editing business and I knew I had to find a way to organise everything and stay on top of my schedule.

I ultimately found Heartbreathings on YouTube and watched (a lot of ) YouTube videos about the HB90 method. I wanted to get organised as soon as possible so I purchased the undated printable planner and started using the HB90 method in December.

My initial goal was to use this planner from December until March and then buy the dated planner for the next quarter. I started setting up my goals, projects and tasks and then filled my weekly tasks week after week.

The planner was great. It gave me the organisation, clarity, and control I needed. I could track my progress and see myself finishing tasks and making progress on my goals.

“The bad”
The system was great for me and it was working. The planner wasn’t though and I stopped using it at the end of February. Why? Because the printable aspect of the planner wasn’t for me. Although I liked the physical aspect of the planner, it was taking me too much time to move, add, and delete projects and tasks as needed.

That’s when I discovered that I needed a digital method or software to plan and organise my goals and projects. I went online and found Todoist, a do-list task manager where you can plan your projects and tasks. I bought a yearly subscription to the Pro plan in April 2023. I added all my goals and tasks in Todoist and I started using it. 

I used Todoist for a couple of months and I realised I was back where I was in December of 2022. I had a list of my projects and tasks without a clear plan on how to prioritise them, no clear deadlines and no efficient way to track the progress of my projects. Todoist was great but it wasn’t enough.

The aha moment
December 2023. That’s when it happened. The big realisation. I needed the HB90 method in combination with Todoist.

I bought the yearly HB90 method goal planner. The planner includes only the goal-setting pages, the monthly pages and the tasks pages with no weekly spreads or daily pages.

​I also bought the 2024 Digital Doodle planner by  AmandaRachLee and I use the weekly, the habit and the mood tracker pages. Also, I use Todoist as my Kanbard board and calendar. 

​The combination of the two digital planners and Todoist is great for me. It is exactly what I need. I use the HB90 method with the 2 planners and Todoist. I can efficiently plan my goals, track my projects and complete my tasks. I stay organised and in control of my life.

Conclusion
Learning from the planning and organising mistakes of 2024, I already have in mind some adjustments I want to make while using the HB90 method planner for the next year. 

I am thinking of using the digital (landscape) undated HB90 method quarterly planner and Todoist. This planner includes goal-setting pages, monthly spreads, weekly spreads and daily pages and it seems perfect for my planning needs. I will continue using Todoist as a Kanbard board and calendar. 

I plan to take some time off during the Christmas holidays to brainstorm 2024, think about potential goals for 2025 and plan for the first quarter of 2025. I am not planning on buying the HB90 Bootcamp course.

What about you? What kind of planning and organising system are you using? Have you tried the HB90 method or would you like to try it for 2025?
Leave a comment below and tell me what you think about the HB90 method!

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Further reading
3 types of writer goals you can set in 2025
How to create a consistent writing routine and finish your book 
How Sara plans her week using the HB90 method (YouTube)
The HB90 method planners on Etsy
The HB90 Bootcamp
AmandaRachLee’s products (planners, notebooks, bags, stickers and washi tapes)
Todoist

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About the author

​Maria Georgiou is a professional developmental editor for romance authors. She specialises in editing contemporary romance, YA romance, romantic suspense, paranormal romance and romantasy. She is a member of the EFA and ClubEdFreelancers. 
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