How the 12 Week Year Changed My Life, One Three-Hour Block at a Time

If you’ve ever felt like the year was slipping away, you’re not alone. I used to hit September with a racing heart and a to-do list that felt more like a guilt trip than a plan.

Then I discovered The 12 Week Year, and everything shifted. Not because I became perfect at time-blocking, but because I finally learned to protect one thing, the three-hour block. That single change impacted both my business and my family in ways I never expected.

What Is the 12 Week Year?

The 12 Week Year is a performance system that replaces annual goal setting with 12-week sprints. Instead of waiting until December to measure success, you break the year into quarters, each with its own vision, goals, and execution plan.

It builds urgency, focus, and clarity. While the system includes vision planning, lead measures, scorecards, and weekly reflection, the piece that stuck with me most was the idea of the focused work block.

The Three-Hour Block That Changed Everything

It sounds so simple, block three hours a week to work on your business instead of in it.

But for me, it became more than a productivity hack. It became sacred space. A sanctuary. A line in the sand between chaos and clarity.

I started using one three-hour block each week to tackle big projects that always got pushed, content planning, marketing strategy, onboarding systems, podcast prep. When I honored that time, my business moved forward with intention instead of hustle.

I wasn’t putting out fires, I was building something that would last.

The Power of the Block at Home

Then something unexpected happened. I realized that same discipline, the same three-hour block, had a place in my personal life too.

So I started scheduling time just for Leon. Just for Hadlee. Just for fun. No phone. No distractions. Just presence.

And that’s when the real magic kicked in.

Whether it was playing games, going for a walk, or simply sitting on the floor and being fully there, those three-hour blocks gave me something I didn’t even know I was missing, space to be present. Space to let joy rise to the surface. Space to live, not just perform.

Why This Works, Even When You Don’t Feel Like It

There were weeks I didn’t feel like it. Holidays, conferences, exhaustion, distractions.

But every time I protected even a portion of that three-hour block, I felt better. Not because I finished everything, but because I stayed aligned with the life I want to build, for myself, for my clients, and for my family.

That’s the beauty of the 12 Week Year. It gives you a framework, yes. More importantly, it gives you momentum.

Momentum gets easier when you can see it, which is why a simple 12 Week Year Scorecard is so powerful.

And momentum is everything, in business and in life.

Want to Try It With Me?

In January, I’ll be starting a new 12 Week Year cycle, and you’re invited.

If you want a simple starting point, here’s the Legacy Alignment Flow you can follow to map your goals and weekly execution.

If it helps to see what this looks like in real life, here’s my 12 Week Year Focus Plan

Whether you want to improve your real estate business, gain control of your schedule, or simply feel more present in your everyday life, this is a system worth trying. We’re not chasing perfection, we’re building consistency. One three-hour block at a time.

Helpful Links and Resources

• Book a planning call with Jenn: Schedule here

• SMART Goal Worksheet (free resource): Grab it here

• Related read: Your 2026 real estate goals won’t happen by faith alone

• Jenn’s YouTube channel: Watch here

3-2-1 Wrap-Up

3 Things You Learned:

• What the 12 Week Year is and why it works

• How a single three-hour block can impact business and family life

• That momentum matters more than perfection

2 Things to Share:

• A time-blocking strategy that’s helped you stay focused

• Someone you want to invite to do the 12 Week Year with you

1 Thing to Implement:
Block three hours on your calendar this week, for your business, your family, or yourself, and protect it like it matters. Because it does.