How to Write a Mandalart: 5 Steps to a Complete 9x9 Goal Chart
Writing a Mandalart is not hard, but filling cells in random order is the fastest way to get stuck. This guide breaks the process into 5 steps, with the most common mistakes and fixes at each stage. You can follow along on paper or directly in our free online planner.
Before you start: what makes a good center goal
Half the quality of your Mandalart is decided by the goal you write in the center cell. A good center goal (1) has a deadline, (2) can be judged done or not done, and (3) is something you genuinely want. Instead of "be happier", write "earn my first $1,000 online in 2026" or "finish a half marathon this year".
If the goal feels too big, narrow the timeframe to a year or less. Mandalarts work best for annual or quarterly goals.
The 5 steps
Fill in the chart in this order and you will not get stuck.
- Step 1 — Write your center goal — Put your final goal in the very center cell as a single sentence, ideally with a deadline and a measurable outcome.
- Step 2 — Fill the 8 cells around it with key areas — Write 8 sub-themes your goal depends on. Pull from different angles: skills, habits, health, people, money, environment, mindset. Stalling at 5 or 6 is normal — squeezing out the last 2 or 3 is where blind spots surface.
- Step 3 — Copy the 8 areas to the outer blocks — Each area you wrote becomes the center cell of one of the 8 outer blocks. An online tool does this copying automatically.
- Step 4 — Write 8 actions for each area — Fill the remaining 8 cells of each block with concrete actions. The key: use action verbs. Not "fitness" but "run 30 minutes, 3x a week". Not "reading" but "read 20 minutes before bed". Make each item concrete enough to put on a calendar.
- Step 5 — Review and prioritize — Scan the 64 items: mark the 3 you will start this week, and rewrite anything unmeasurable or outside your control into action language. Export the finished chart as an image and keep it somewhere you look every day.
4 common mistakes
First, writing actions as nouns. "Nutrition" and "routine" are not actions. Every outer cell should be a verb phrase.
Second, trying to fill all 64 cells in one sitting. Fill 70-80%, live with it for a week, then complete the rest — the result is far more realistic.
Third, never looking at it again. A Mandalart is a dashboard, not wall art. Review it weekly, or monthly at minimum.
Fourth, copying someone else's chart. Ohtani's chart is a reference, not a template for your life. Derive your own 8 areas from your own situation.
FAQ
How long does it take to write a Mandalart?
About 30-60 minutes of focused work. We recommend filling 70-80% first, then refining over a few days rather than forcing completion in one sitting.
Is there a tool so I don't need Excel or paper?
Yes — our free online Mandalart planner works in the browser with no sign-up, auto-copies your 8 areas to the outer blocks, and exports your chart as an image or shareable link.
I can't come up with 8 actions per area.
That's normal. Run through a checklist — time, money, people, environment, habits, knowledge, health, mindset — or start from a template and adapt the examples to your situation.