Well... SO HAVE I! :) Planning... is not the easiest thing. Balancing your daily schedule with the flexibility needed to survive is immensely challenging. Sometimes it seems easier to avoid making a clear plan of the day to avoid 'failing'. While you can't miss without an explicit target, you can't hit it either. However, planning out your days (weeks, months, etc) in advance isn't for the sole purpose of accomplishing the tasks. Even the best planners don't get everything done. The point of setting daily intentions isn't to hit all of them; it is to grow as a person in the process.
Instead of beginning with a long-term plan, it is best to start small. How can you expect to plan your life if you can't manage to consistently plan and follow through on a day or week first? :) My choice daily planning system was shown to me by my mentor J Brad Britton (same person as Gratitude). This simple and effective tool is called the "List of Six."
The simplicity of the "List of Six" is truly hard to come by. Before going to bed, write out the 6 things you will do tomorrow. THAT'S IT! :) However, If you REALLY want to make a change in your life by planning (somewhat) and following through, I have a few implementation suggestions:
#1: Start with REALLY EASY tasks. Beginning with really easy things -- like brush teeth, cook dinner, arrive on time to class, express evening gratitude, make a "List of Six" before bed, etc -- makes it easy to use the "List of Six." Experiencing early success is critical when developing a new habit. When I progressed too soon making more challenging ones, I often only completed half of them. I got discouraged and quit all-together. That is what you'll avoid by starting easy.
#2: Only put SIX things down. No matter what how well you do, don't put more on your list of six. This rule isn't in place to stifle your growth, but to allow you to flourish. FOCUS your efforts on higher quality with a smaller quantity. Focusing on six things is around the happy medium of having enough mini-focuses/tasks to strive to accomplish them, while simultaneously not being overwhelming. When I have made a list of more than six, I almost always accomplish less and end up more stressed. Take my word for it, stay at six! :)
#3: REVIEW it nightly. Simply going over what you intended to do and planning your intentions for the next day will produce staggering results. In one of the all-time greatest personal development books How To Win Friends and Influence People, Dale Carnegie describes reviewing as an activity that "did more for me than any other one thing I attempted... I cannot recommend it too highly."
Comment Below! Are you going to try the list of six? Do you have a system of daily planning/scheduling that works for you? Do you have have more advice to add? If you've tried it, how has the "List of Six" worked for you?
I love my life! :)
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I practiced this List of Six during the past week. Before making it up, I thought it was going to be SO hard to narrow it down to 6 things. But when I sat down to write it, I had so much trouble finding 6 things that I KNEW I was going to be able to improve. In fact, I only came up with 4 before I was overwhelmed with the commitment. They were:
ReplyDelete1) eat at least three meals a day (and healthy!)
2) get 7.5-8 hrs sleep each night
3) start and end each day with prayers
4) study (this one's a little vague...)
Having these things as written goals has improved my week. I hope that they become habit and then I can move on to expanding my list!
Haha. I can totally relate. I've been struggling with my list of 6 recently. I just had a semi-break through. Although I exactly wrote it in the blog post, but it is so hard to stick to choosing easy things! For today, I put "tell 5 people thank you for something." Maybe 5 is too much. I'm not sure. I wrote out a list and figured out 10 people/groups I should thank for something. So 50% of the list seems doable! We'll just have to see...
ReplyDeleteI'm glad this is helping you! :)