As we begin the year 2025, I know a lot of us would have set ourselves goals, in one form or another, and many are times where set goals are major or mini projects to us personally or our families, and these goals would mean we have to have a strategy of how to achieve them as we do in project management. With that, I remembered the concept of triple constraints.

In project management, the Triple Constraints, now they are 6 to consider but for this article lets choose the original 3 —scope, time, and cost—are central to delivering successful projects. These elements are intricately linked, with changes to one impacting the others. As we navigate life, this concept resonates deeply. Life, much like a project, involves managing priorities, balancing limited resources, and making trade-offs. Reflecting on the Triple Constraints can offer profound insights into how we approach our goals, relationships, and aspirations.

Scope: Defining Our Goals
In life, our “scope” represents the goals we set, and clearly defining these helps us focus on what
truly matters without overcommitting or pursuing misaligned objectives.

Cost: Managing Resources Wisely
Life’s “cost” includes money, energy, and emotional investment, and success depends on
making trade-offs that align with long-term fulfilment.

Time: Navigating The Time Afforded to Us
Time is finite, and managing it well requires prioritizing activities that align with our values
while balancing urgency and patience.

Balancing the Constraints
In project management, balancing the triple constraints is essential. If the scope expands,
adjustments must be made to time or cost to keep the project feasible. Similarly, in life, we constantly juggle these elements. For instance, pursuing an ambitious career goal (expanding scope) might mean longer work hours (time) or sacrificing personal leisure (cost). Conversely, if financial constraints arise (cost limitation), we might need to narrow our scope, such as delaying travel plans or reducing discretionary
spending.

Consider another example: building stronger relationships with family or friends. Expanding this scope may
require dedicating more weekends or evenings to quality time (time), which could reduce the resources
available for hobbies or professional networking (cost). Similarly, choosing to improve physical fitness might
mean enrolling in a gym (cost) and dedicating time for workouts, potentially impacting other personal or
professional commitments.
In parenting, the balance is even more pronounced. Providing your children with enriching extracurricular
activities (scope) might require both financial investment (cost) and adjustments to your schedule (time).
Achieving this balance often involves compromise, like cutting back on personal leisure activities or finding
efficient ways to manage other responsibilities.
The art of life lies in recognizing that we can’t maximize all three constraints simultaneously. Trade-offs are
inevitable, and success comes from consciously prioritizing what matters most. Expanding scope doesn’t
always mean doing more—it can also mean doing better, such as choosing meaningful activities or
relationships that align with long-term fulfilment. By carefully adjusting time and resources to support our
priorities, we can find a balance that aligns with our values and goals.