In a recent program I delivered for a women’s group, we had a lively discussion about setting goals and creating plans to achieve those goals.

A common theme we identified during our discussion was that although we start with good intentions, it’s easy to get derailed because we’re too busy and there aren’t enough hours in the day!

Can you relate?

If you REALLY want to achieve your goals, you need to have a plan and integrate that plan into your daily life.  Otherwise, you’ll continue to say, “I want this, but I’m too busy.”

We ran out of time during that program I referenced, but a few of the participants emailed me and asked if I could share some additional planning tips in an upcoming “Amy’s Insights.”

So, here you go!

Tip #1 Pause to Prioritize

When I’m feeling overwhelmed, that’s a sign that it’s time for me to hit pause and prioritize.  I step back and look at things from a broader perspective.  It’s like assembling a jigsaw puzzle where you first start with the corners and borders (your goals) and then figure out where to put all of the pieces (your actions).  I usually find many more pieces than what will fit into my puzzle, so I select the most important pieces and schedule time to work on those first.

Tip #2 Plan to Plan

What? Yes, you read that right.  My calendar includes blocks of time dedicated to creating and updating my plans.  It reminds me to pause and prioritize before I get overwhelmed and sets aside dedicated time to look ahead at the next month, quarter, and year to keep me on track with achieving my goals.  I encourage you to create a planning schedule for yourself at whatever cadence works best for you.

Tip #3 Take Massive Imperfect Action

I overcome procrastination and perfectionism by getting into Massive Imperfect Action.  As I build my plan, I create a list of “easy actions.” These are the quick wins that don’t require much time or energy to complete.  I keep this list handy, and when I have 15 minutes of spare time, I finish one of the actions.  One of my coaching clients has made a game out of this by writing her easy actions on colored notes and putting them in a jar.  Every day she pulls a note out of the jar and does the action.  It’s incredible how much progress you can make towards your goals when you chip away at it daily!  Not every action can be done in 15 minutes, so I also build out a schedule on my calendar with bigger blocks of time to complete the more involved actions.

 Tip #4 Change Your Environment

Getting out of the typical office environment can stimulate more energy and creativity with planning.  Take a break from the daily routine by going to a coffee shop, bookstore, library, or another venue away from your home or office to work on your planning.  During the warm weather months, I enjoy taking my pontoon boat out, anchoring it in a shady cove, and spending a few hours floating and listening to the birds while drafting my plan on a notepad.  I planned my group coaching program for women while walking around my neighborhood and using the voice recorder on my phone to capture ideas as they occurred to me.

 Tip #5 Use a Variety of Tools and Formats

I have some fantastic spreadsheets and a color-coded calendar that I use for planning, but I also like to use different tools to build my plans.  Sometimes my dining room is covered with flipcharts and post-it notes as I map out the year, and I simply take a picture of it when I’m done, and that picture is my plan.  Or I might use an online tool, such as Trello, to create a dashboard.  I use the AnyList app on my phone to plan out my holiday gift shopping and to make my weekly meal plans and grocery list.  You get the idea!

This quote by Edwin Louis Cole sums it up for me:

“There are dreamers, and there are planners; the planners make their dreams come true.”

So, start making your dreams come true, and let me know how I can support you!

Wishing you the best!