The Secret to Successful Planning and Why I HATE It!
March 31, 2017
Urg!!! If there is one thing about planning that I don't like, it's reviewing, bleck!! But, to move forward into the second quarter of 2017, it's so important that I review how it's been going so far. I know it's important, so I do it. I teach it in my classes, but that doesn't mean that I have to like it!
Alright, let me go grab a nice strong cuppa and some chocolate and let's attack this thing.
I think the reason I don't like to review is that I'm a starter'.
I love the blank page, and new idea and all the potential for a new month. A fresh Monday morning gets me jazzed up and energised for the week. However, my motivation wains, I get bored and I move on to start another new and exciting project!
I find 'finishing' very difficult. And reviewing has that feeling of finishing that I seem to be allergic to. It's so much more fun to move onto the next month/project or random fun thing that crosses my path.
goodies from my March Hip Kits
Here's what I've learned about reviewing over the years:
- Reviewing allows me to improve upon what I've done with past projects so that the future ones are easier and better executed.
- Reviewing mid-project, or after each yearly quarter, helps me adjust my path if I seem to be getting off track or falling behind on my 'deadlines'
- Reviewing allows me to see where I'm slacking off on a long term project and where I need to step up my game
- Reviewing also lets me see what is no longer working and what I need to stop.
- Most importantly, reviewing lets me see my WINS! It shows me all that I have actually accomplished, and it usually surprises me.
A lot of us tend to concentrate on the things we haven't done, or haven't finished. That certain craft that turned into a mess, the exercise programme we completely abandoned and all the various balls we've dropped. Reviewing opens our eyes to how awesome we really are.
One year I set set myself to read 24 books, I love reading, but had let other things get in the way in recent years and I wanted to carve out more time for it. Come December I was on book 20 and with Christmas preps I knew I would never achieve my goal. I was upset with myself until I realised that I had read TWENTY books! That was about 12 or 13 more than I had read the year before! I think my goal of reading more often was definitely achieved.
goodies from my March Hip Kits
If you are nervous to review your progress, start with listing the accomplishments. That'll give you the confidence-boost you need to peel back that layers of why you dropped the balls you did.
Here are 5 guidelines to reviewing your progress.
- Check what you wanted to have accomplished at this point
- List what you did finish, noting especially what you really rocked at
- Decide what is still left to finish
- What happened? Why did you drop the ball?
- What projects will you continue with and what will you leave by the wayside?
Here are some of my main goals for the year:
read 25 books
Juliet's first Communion
52 Baking days
teach live somewhere this year
teach 3 online classes this year
1-2 date nights a month
knit and scrapbook more
What do I need to get done in April through June to be able to achieve them by the end of 2017?
After reviewing I found that I'm on track for most things, so far, except the scrapbooking and knitting. But I can totally see why, there's no plan! What does 'scrapbook and knit more' even mean? So I need to address this for Q2. I also have to get moving a little faster on the plans for my daughter's First Communion. I have about 45 people coming to my home for a sit down formal dinner party! Eep!
Ok, now it's your turn. Let me know in the comments what you could be reviewing. If you are having trouble with reviewing, this lesson from my class Plan Your Dreams is a great place to start: Lesson 6: The Adjustment Bureau