I am planner. I schedule everything; from client sessions to business meetings to dentist appointments and pedicures. Yep, I even plan time to plan.
I receive so much guff from my family and friends about my tendency to plan everything.
So much so, that when I found out that I was pregnant with twins, over 8 years ago, my family roared with laughter! They could not believe that I, of all people – the planner in the family – would be pregnant with twins! They got a kick out of something that happened that was not in my plan.
No, that was NOT part of my plan!
In fact, it rocked my world on SO many levels.
With all the pressure and harassment that I got, and an effort to make sense of my new life, I began to wonder if I should loosen up and be less scheduled.
I tried it and it worked – for about 2 hours!
Planning everything works for me. My world flows so much better and with much less stress.
Others may feel restricted by a schedule and be stressed out to have to stick to a plan, but I find it creates freedom.
- Freedom from my failing memory – Let’s face it, I’m not getting any younger and my memory is not getting better. When I am going through my day, talking on the phone, or reading my email and I come across something that needs to be taken care of, I jot it down immediately. That way I don’t have to taxi those precious brain cells of mine. I don’t have to stress that something will fall through the cracks. The details are handled.
- Freedom in the moment – How many time have you been with your family or your kids and you were distracted by all the things that are left “undone” at the office? Being present is the best gift you can give yourself. Since I know that I have handled what needed to be done for my business, I can be fully present and enjoy some quality time when I’m with the people I love. The same goes for when I am in my office. I can be focused and rest easy knowing that my family priorities are taken care of.
- Freedom from time guzzlers – One of my most popular strategies that have my clients raving is the introduction to a Priority Hour. You can read my article, My Priority Plan, where I go into more details on how to set your Priority Hour. When I consistently keep my Priority Hour (no, I don’t always), I am able to accomplish more in a day than in a normal week without it! I choose ahead of time what I want to accomplish and eliminate all distractions until that hour is complete.
- Freedom to be me – Yes, my family and friends still give me “guff” about my planning craze, but it works for me. I don’t know if what works for me will work for you. What I do know is that as I embraced the planning fool I am – just being who I am designed to be - the more successful, fulfilled and joyous I have become. That, my friend, is no laughing matter!
If you have your own planning crazed success story, I would love to hear your comments.
In the meantime, plan to have a fabulous day!
Warmly,
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