I’ve used the 12 Goals approach I’ve been writing about recently (although I usually don’t limit myself to 12 anymore) to take three broad areas and then break down into specific goals.

I’ve found that the broad areas are most useful when I’m frustrated about where and how to focus on things in the “micro” sense. Meaning: how I’m going to spend a Saturday afternoon vs. the “macro” sense of setting up a goal structure. I always ask myself how important the current activity is in relation to my three main focus areas. It helps me say no to things more often than I otherwise would.

I set broad focuses, similar to your goal of “Self-Development”, and then within that goal I manage to place preposterous numbers of sub-projects, justifying their addition by conceptual fit. Ultimately I find my attention diluted despite efforts to focus.

Lesson learned? Don’t just define 3 focuses. Define 3 narrow focuses and agree with yourself the shape and confines of these focuses beforehand.