Whether it is your daily activities or your long-term goals, planning is a crucial skill. Planning can seem like a tedious and complicated task, especially if you are a procrastinator by nature, which slows you down and complicates things, and for very simple short-term tasks this is often the case. Regardless of whether you are a procrastinator or any other personality type, following some of these tips can help you.
Why is planning important ? The truth is that planning saves you time in the long run. I personally realized how important good planning is, I started to achieve concrete goals all the time. It enables you to prepare for obstacles and unexpected changes you may encounter and to prioritize correctly. In short, learning is a key component of time management.
Planning also reduces stress as it should allow you to come up with a realistic view of what you can achieve in a certain time frame and thus avoid overloading yourself or making commitments that you will struggle to keep.
Not everyone has the same view of planning, and that’s fine, but when it comes to time management at work, it is critical to make sure you are working as effectively and efficiently as possible and in a way that devotes some time to planning.
Plan before starting the day
Use a notepad or journal software to write them down so that they are all in one place, allowing you to see them and visualize your ability to complete them. Before you start planning, you probably have an idea of what you hope to accomplish. Planning helps you refine the goal and determine whether or not it is realistic. For example, you may want to increase your job sales to a specific number. After spending time planning, you realize that the number was a little too high based on factors beyond your control. You can adjust your goal based on this new information.
Planning breaks down a problem or goal into smaller pieces
Many problems or goals in your life will be complicated. Often there are more than just two simple paths you could take, so it’s not just a matter of flipping a coin. It can be very overwhelming. The planner helps break the problem down into smaller pieces and distribute activities when applicable. Even if you are the only one facing the dilemma, planning turns a bigger and more abstract thing into smaller activities. It is like paving a road brick by brick to a resolution in the distance.
Planning increases certainty and confidence
Uncertainty is part of any new project or problem-solving effort. This creates fear. When you take the time to plan well, you will see an increase in your confidence and an increase in certainty. No one can predict the future and there will always be surprises, but planning gives you a much clearer idea of what lies ahead.
Planning increases efficiency
Planning our goals allows us to overcome larger and larger goals in small steps. This increases greater efficiency in what we do, reducing time and procrastinating less. Planning removes much of the uncertainty from the future and increases your confidence, reducing the stress and anxieties of uncertainty and not knowing where to start.
Take the time to collect your ideas and organize your goals and I am sure you will feel lighter and mentally freer.
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