You are going to need a plan if you are facing a problem, trying to sort out your life, or just want to structure your day.Making a plan can seem daunting but with some diligence, the right tools, and a little creativity, you will be able to lay out your plan and start achieving your goals.
Step 1: Place a piece of paper over your head.
Whatever works best for you, this can be in a journal, spiral notebook, or a blank document on your computer.Make a list of what you need to get done that day.Do you have any goals for the day?Do you want to work out or relax?What assignments do you have to finish?
Step 2: For yourself, create a timetable.
What time should you finish your first assignment, project or activity today?Work your way through the hours of the day by starting with the earliest activity.Make sure you work around your appointments.Everyone has different days, so each person has a different plan.A basic plan would be as follows: 9:00 to 10:00am: get to the office, check email, send out responses, meet George and Sue at 11:30 to 12:30pm, and eat healthy!1:45 to 2:30pm: Review project #1, meet with Sam and start project #2, then leave the office and head to the gym.
Step 3: You should focus on yourself every hour or so.
It is important to take a moment after each allotted amount of time to review how productive you were.Did you complete everything you were supposed to?Give yourself a minute to shut your eyes and relax.You can effectively transition into the next activity by doing this.Sometimes you have to leave a project and come back later.Make a note of where you left off.It will be easier to return to the project later on.
Step 4: Take a quick look at your day.
Take a moment to review how successful you were in sticking to your plan when you have finished the majority of your day.Did you finish everything you wanted to?Where did you go wrong?What worked and what didn't?How can you keep it away from you in the future?It is okay that some projects will take multiple days or weeks to complete.Think about what you accomplished in small steps rather than as a whole.If you have to, plan your week in order to get your project done on time.
Step 5: Determine which roles you play in the present.
We perform different roles on a daily basis.Think about the roles that you are currently playing in your daily life.The roles could include traveler, student, daughter, writer, drawer, employee, glass-blower, hiker, grandchild, thinker, etc.
Step 6: Do you want to play a role in your future?
Many of these future roles are similar to the ones you are currently in.You would want to describe yourself at the end of your life with these roles.Take a look at the roles you are playing.Are any of them stressing you out?That role may not need to continue through your life if that is the case.The roles should be prioritized from least important to most important.What is most important to you will be determined by this exercise.You are constantly changing, so keep in mind that this list is completely changeable.Your list might look like this: mother, daughter, wife, traveler, glass-blower, mentor, volunteer, hiker, etc.
Step 7: Determine the reason behind the roles you want to play.
A role is a great way to define yourself, but the reason you want to play it is more important.Maybe you would like to be a volunteer because you want to fix the world.Maybe you want to be a father so you can give your children a perfect childhood.It is possible to help define your role by imagining your own funeral.Who would be in attendance?What do you want them to say about you?How would you like to be remembered?
Step 8: You want to achieve broad goals in your life.
How do you want to progress?What do you want to be when you grow up?Think of this as your bucket list, the things you want to do before you die.These are the goals you want to achieve, not the ones you think you should have.It is possible to create categories for your goals so that you can better visualize them.Career/vocation, Travel, Social, Health, Finances, Knowledge/Intellect, and Spirituality are some of the categories you could use.
Step 9: Specific dates can be used to achieve some of the goals.
If you have vague goals that you want to achieve in your life, set them out.Give yourself a date to complete these goals.The examples listed in the previous step are a bit more defined.Send book manuscript by June.Travel to South America and Asia in 2020.By January, weigh 120 lbs.
Step 10: Do you know where you are right now?
Being honest with yourself and taking a look at your life is what this means.Think about where you are in relation to the goals you have listed.Your goal is to publish a book and have the manuscript sent to publishers by November.You are not sure if you like the first half of the manuscript.
Step 11: Determine how you will reach your goals.
How are you going to get to your goal?Write down the steps you need to go through.Re-read the first half of your book.B.Write your book.You don't like certain aspects of the book.D is for editing.Get your friends to read your book and give you feedback.Do you know if your book would be considered for publication?Send your manuscript.You should consider which steps are more difficult after you have written them down.Some of your steps may need to be broken down more.
Step 12: All of your goals can be achieved by writing out the steps.
You can do this in a variety of formats, be it handwritten, on the computer, or in paint.You have written your life plan.
Step 13: You can adjust your plan.
Your life and goals will change as well.When you are 22 or 42, what was important to you when you were 12 might not be as important.It is healthy to change your life plan because it shows that you are aware of the changes happening in you life.
Step 14: The problem that you are facing needs to be recognized.
It can be difficult to form a plan to solve a problem if you don't know what the problem is.The problem we are facing can cause more problems for us.The true problem that you need to solve is the root of the matter.You want to go to your friend's mountain cabin in four weeks, but your mom won't let you.The root of the problem is what you need to determine.Your mom doesn't want you spending the weekend skiing because you are getting a C- in your class.The problem is that you aren't doing well in math class.The problem you need to focus on is this.
Step 15: The results of fixing your problem are what you want.
What is your goal when you solve your problem?Your main goal may have more hopes attached to it.The other results will come when you focus on attaining your goal.Your goal is to get a B in your math class.You are hoping that by raising your grade, your mom will allow you to go to your friend's cabin.
Step 16: Determine what is affecting the problem.
Do you have any habits that are causing this problem?Look at your interactions with the problem.You are getting a C- in math.Look at what you are doing that is affecting this problem: you talk to your friend in that class a lot, and you haven't been doing your homework every night because you recently joined a soccer team and after practice on Tuesdays and Thursdays, all you want to do is eat dinner and
Step 17: There are barriers that might affect your problem.
A lot of your problem may be caused by your actions, but there may also be outside forces working against you.Think about what these might be.You are getting a C- in math.A barrier to your success might be that you don't understand the concepts being taught in the class, not just because you are talking in class.You don't know where to get help.
Step 18: There are some possible solutions to your problem.
You can either make a mind map or list these solutions on a piece of paper.You should consider solutions to both the way you personally are affecting the problem and the barriers that you might be facing that are not of your own making.There are solutions for talking to your friend in class.You should sit on the opposite side of the class from your friend.B.You need to tell your friend that you're getting a really bad grade in the class.If you have a seating assignment, ask your teacher to move you so you can focus more.There are ways to not do your homework because of soccer.You don't have as much time to do at night if you do some homework at lunch or during your free period.B.After practice, you will eat dinner and do homework.After your homework is done, reward yourself with an hour of TV.There are solutions for not understanding math.A.Enlist the help of a classmate that can explain the concepts to you, but only if you don't get distracted while going over the problems.B.If you have questions about the homework, approach your teacher after class and ask if you could have a meeting with her.You can join a study group or get a tutor.
Step 19: Place your plan in writing.
Pick the solutions you think will work best and write down a plan for yourself after figuring out what the problem is.Writing down your plan will help you see it.When you're getting ready for the day, hang your plan on your mirror so you can see it often.You don't need to use all of the solutions listed, but you should keep some of them as backups.If you want to raise your grade in math, you should plan to do it in four weeks.If she keeps talking to me, change seats because I don't have much to do when I get home.
Step 20: After a week, evaluate the success of the plan.
Did you do everything you were supposed to do during that first week?Where did you slip up?You will be able to stick to your plan the next week if you recognize what you need to work on.
Step 21: You should keep yourself motivated.
If you stay motivated, you will be successful.If you are motivated, you can create a reward for yourself.Don't let yourself do it again if you deviate from the plan.Just because you feel like you are close to your goal doesn't mean you should lighten up on your plan.You should modify your plan if you find that something is not working.If you came up with a different solution than the one you used in your plan, swap it out.