(1 minute read)
“While some may protest that planning restricts us in ‘going-with-the-flow’, it is worth acknowledging that we don’t control the actual flow!”
Kirby
Planning facilitates effective control. Effective control is a function of comparing actual results with planned goals and taking corrective action in response.
Planning ensures that you know exactly what needs to be accomplished and what steps are necessary to achieve it.
If you’re not already a fan of making plans, we want to share 5 benefits of planning in your professional and personal life.
- Prevent Brain-Drain: Committing your thoughts, ideas, and plans to paper (or electronic device) alleviates the demand on our already overworked grey matter.
- De-stress your Week: Actively planning – instead of passively reacting – is proven to reduce stress and can lead to more fulfilling, and intentional living.
- Improve Goal Attainment: Planning aligns with most goal-setting strategies. If it’s not written down, have you really committed to it? Can you track it? Can you amend it?
- Save Time: Dale Carnegie famously quoted, “An hour of planning can save you 10 hours of doing.”
- Improve Productivity – Setting intentions via your planner provides greater focus toward tasks and goals you wish to achieve.
In closing, remember that those who fail to plan, usually fall into someone else’s plan – and they don’t have you as their number 1 priority.
Amen to that!