Plan your challenge
Plan your challenge
Once you’ve chosen your challenge, it helps to make a simple plan.
This doesn’t have to be detailed or perfect, just enough to help you get you started.
Start simple
If you only do one thing, do this:
Write down:
- what you’re going to do
- why you chose it
- I’m curious
- I want to challenge myself
- I want to help others
- I want to try something new
- I don’t fully know yet
- Some other reason
- what “done” looks like
- any first steps
That’s enough detail to start, you can build on it as you go
A simple planning template
If you want to plan a little more, answer these questions
- What am I doing?
- Why does it matter to me?
- What do I want to happen?
- What are my first steps?
- Who might help me?
- When do I roughly want to finish?
Want more structure?
There are lots of ways you can plan your challenge and think about your goals. Here are some common frameworks that you could use to plan your project. Pick one that works for you, or find a different method – the choice is yours.
Perfect if you want really structured goals.
S – Specific
- What’s the actual thing you’re aiming for?
- Not “do something adventurous” – what does that mean for you?
M – Measurable
- How will you know you’ve done it?
- Finished? Built? Completed? Took part in?
A – Achievable
- Is this something you can realistically do with the time, support, and skills you have (or can learn)?
R – Real for you
- Does this matter to you?
- Is it worth the effort?
T – Time bound
- When does this wrap up?
- A rough end point is enough.
Perfect if you’re more emotionally motivated?
- Wish — what you want
- Outcome — what it would feel like
- Obstacle — what your brain will do to get in the way
- Plan — “If obstacle X happens, I will do Y”
Perfect if you think in webs rather than lists.
- Start with the project in the centre
- Branch into themes
- Break each theme into actions
- Circle the “easy wins” to start momentum
If you like experimenting with different ways of thinking, here are some more options
SWOT
- Strengths
- Weaknesses
- Opportunities
- Threats
OKRs (Objectives & Key Results) — simplified
- Objective — direction, not a task
- Key Results — 2–3 measurable signs you’re moving in the right direction
- Initiatives — optional actions you might take
Why it works: it’s flexible, not perfectionistic, and focuses on progress signals rather than rigid tasks.
The HEART Framework (Happiness, Engagement, Achievement, Relationships, Time)
- What will make this project meaningful?
- Which HEART areas does it support?
- What’s the smallest step to move one area forward?
Why it works: it ties goals to emotional drivers.
The “Why–How–Now” Model
- Why — what matters about this
- How — ways you could approach it
- Now — the one step you’ll take today
Why it works: it aligns motivation with action.
Or don’t plan like this at all
You might prefer to:
- sketch your idea
- list steps as you go
- talk it through with someone
- just start and adjust as you go
That still counts as planning.
Remember, Remember
- Your plan can change
- It doesn’t have to be perfect
- You can come back and edit it at any time
What to focus on
- Helping Explorers make a plan that is clear enough to start
- Supporting different planning styles (not just written plans)
- Encouraging flexibility
What to avoid
- Expecting detailed or “perfect” plans
- Requiring specific planning tools (e.g. forcing SMART for everyone)
- Overloading them with structure
How you can support
- Check they can answer:
- What are you doing?
- Why does it matter?
- What’s your first step?
- Offer tools as options, not requirements
- Reinforce that plans can change