plan
\ˈplan\
: an often customary method of doing something
: a method for achieving an end
: an orderly arrangement of parts of an overall design or objective
: a detailed formulation of a program of action
If you were a fly on the wall in my home during the past two weeks, you would see how ironic this particular post happens to be. With out a plan, I would have sunk! In theory a plan well thought out should yield a goal achieved, right?! Most times, that is the case, however, when real life happens and tasks need to be shifted, you are looking at a whole new plan. If not prepared, it can be disheartening.
Don't let the idea of planning out your day seem legalistic. Rather, see it as making the very most of each minute you have. I realize, there are only so many minutes in a day ... then again, there are so many minutes in a day. Do you see the shift in emphasis?
My most productive and laid back simple days are ones planned out. I will set a few reachable goals, write them down (I am neurotic with list making - ask my family) and then cross them out when finished. There is power in the pen ... ha ha ha!
We all ate well, all the appointments taken care of, but here is my confession, not all my tasks were scratched off my lists in the order I was hoping, so with planning, I have found to embrace the possibility of needing to be flexible. But plan never the less!
Do you have a method that keeps
your days running smoothly?
Will you share it with us?
Good advice! Love the picture of the dental office. :)
ReplyDeleteI read a quote a long time ago...not sure who to give credit for it though.
"Flexible people rarely get bent out of shape."
Quite good advice for me to remember.
I am a list maker too! List makers unite!!! Hee hee!
Hugs,
Shann
What a great post...I'm a list maker too...can't make it without my list. I try to really prioritize my lists...if it must get done today it gets 2 stars...1 star if it's pretty important that it get done that day...and then just a list of "would be wonderful if I got this dones"...my husband always laughs when he looks at my list, I put down some of the most mundane things, but I don't want to forget anything, and I don't have to waste time during the day thinking about what else needs to be done. Only have to think once, write it down...done.
ReplyDeleteWhen I really get in a pinch for time I always revert to a list. Being prepared is a great idea for unexpected things that (will) come up.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great life lesson. Thanks for the reminder!! I'm a list maker as well. There's something so wonderful about crossing items off the list. But I've learned to be flexible. It makes those little bumps in the road a bit smoother. Something I've learned from my current job. Another girl in the group would get so bent out of shape if her plan didn't work out exactly as she wanted-made for a very stressful, unpleasant day. I'm slowly learning to "roll with the punches" but still use my plan & list as a guideline to completing my tasks! :)
ReplyDeleteMy dear we must be twins. I have four lists going now and everyone else is taken care of but only a few of my items were checked off...Dentist for three next week. Reading lots of encouraging faith based books...smiles..Renee
ReplyDeleteI'm a fastidious list-maker too! I like to think I'm a little bit spontaneous, but actually I'm really a planner and I do SO love crossing things off the list too.
ReplyDeletexx
I used to plan a lot, and write lists for everything. Now I have much less usable time I was finding it disheartening that so little was being crossed off the daily (and then weekly) lists and things felt like they just piling up. Every day it seemed like I would achieve one or two listed things and four or five new things would get added!!
ReplyDeleteSo now I list less, just the stuff that absolutely must be done on that day, and then spend a few minutes at the end of the day writing down everything I achieved, whatever that may be. I feel much better about it all, and somedays, it is really amazing what I have done :)