Planning for Success: Why Taking Time Out Matters
I’ve recently returned home after a fabulous week in Melbourne.
A week where I did a lot of walking, had inspiring, funny and beautiful conversations, ate a ridiculous amount of excellent food, and, most importantly, mapped out what I want the rest of this year and most of next year to look like.
As you may know, I love a good plan, and I especially love a 90-day plan.
Taking the time to step away from the day-to-day to reflect and plan might seem like a luxury, but it’s really a necessity, and something we all should be prioritising.
Taking the time to plan has so many benefits:
It gives us time to clarify our objectives and set clear goals, which means we are more likely to focus on what really matters to us.
It leads to better decision making as we take the time to consider various scenarios and their potential outcomes.
It leads to more effective allocation of money, time and other resources.
Having a plan provides structure which means you are more likely to use your time more efficiently.
It helps you reflect on the past and recharge and reset to be ready for what’s next.
There are three key activities that will make your planning session successful:
Work out when you have time and schedule the time in your calendar – find a time when you are less likely to be distracted by other commitments such as meetings or project deadlines and lock it in.
Find the best place for your planning session – it probably won’t be your office. I like to go away when creating a long-term plan, however if I’m doing weekly planning or shorter term planning, I’ll often go somewhere in my house that isn’t my office, such as the back deck or the dining table. I like to have space to spread out, and that is close to a whiteboard and lots of sticky notes. My home office has a large, mostly unused, ensuite, where I keep a massive whiteboard on wheels – so quite often my planning space is the bathroom.
Once you have worked out your plan, pop key dates in your calendar, take the necessary action and reap the benefits.
If you’re not sure where to start, download my free self-guided workbook, which will give you a framework to help you reflect, recharge and reset over the next 90 days.
I’d love to know how you go!
