Map annual capacity month by month — distribute…
Create annual capacity maps rating each month 1-5 based on historical data, then distribute annual commitments proportionally to predicted monthly capacity rather than dividing by twelve uniformly.
Why This Is a Rule
Annual capacity is not evenly distributed across months. January (post-holiday, fresh energy) has different capacity than December (holidays, year-end obligations). August (vacations, summer distractions) differs from October (settled routines, good weather transition). Historical patterns repeat predictably: tax season, school schedules, industry cycles, personal energy rhythms.
Dividing annual commitments by twelve ignores this variation. "I'll write 12 articles this year = 1 per month" sets the same target for high-capacity months (when you could produce 2) and low-capacity months (when 1 is impossible). The result: chronic under-delivery during low months, guilt, and abandoned annual plans.
Proportional distribution allocates more commitments to high-capacity months and fewer to low-capacity months. The annual total stays the same, but the monthly targets match reality. A 1-5 capacity rating per month, based on historical data, provides the distribution key.
When This Fires
- During annual planning or goal-setting
- When distributing a large project across the year
- After failing to maintain uniform monthly output targets
- Any planning that spans 6+ months and needs realistic monthly allocation
Common Failure Mode
Rating all months as 3-4 because you want to believe your capacity is consistent. Use historical data, not aspirations: look at last year's actual output by month. The months that produced less weren't failures — they had genuinely lower capacity. Plan for the actual pattern rather than a wished-for flat line.
The Protocol
(1) Rate each month 1-5 based on historical capacity data (last year's output, known schedule constraints, predictable personal patterns). (2) Sum the ratings to get a total annual capacity score. (3) Distribute annual commitments proportionally: a month rated 5 gets (5/total) × annual commitment; a month rated 2 gets (2/total) × annual commitment. (4) The total is the same; the distribution matches your real capacity curve. December's target is lighter; January's is heavier. The annual plan becomes achievable because it's shaped around reality.