When is the Best Time to Plan Your Day?

When is the best time to plan your day? Well,Time" block. I don't like it as much because it can eat
everyone is different. Let's take a quick look at someinto my productive time. But by doing my plan shortly
of the different possible times:1) Early morning beforeafter lunch, at least I still have some time to take
you go to work.2) Lunch time3) Mid-afternoon4) Endcorrective action if I need to.End of the Work Day or
of the work day5) At night just before you go to bedIDinner timeBy this time, the day is pretty well
have prepared my daily plans during each of thesegone--unless I want to work towards my goals in the
times. Here has been my experience withevening. I'd rather spend this time with my family and
each:MorningI have found the morning to be one of thefriends or just relax.Before BedtimeThis is my second
least effective times to create my plan. Here's why:1)least favorite time. For one thing, I put out a lot of
When I get up in the morning, I want to get my day offenergy during the day. By the time I'm ready for bed,
to a quick start. If I take the time to plan in the morning,I'm ready for bed. I'd rather use this time for quickly
it seems to disrupt my momentum. I would ratherreviewing my plan for the next day and just get to
review the plans I prepared the previous day instead.sleep so that I will have all the energy I need for the
It's quick and keeps me focused on what I havefollowing day.In order of preference, here are the times
chosen to do.2) If I plan in the morning, I haven't beenagain:1) Lunch time2) Mid-afternoon3) End of the work
able to take full advantage of the sleeping hours whenday or dinner time4) Just before bedtime5) Early
my subconscious mind is working on what I need to domorning before workOf course, the most important
the following day.3) As part of my plan, I like to reviewthing is to actually plan out your day regardless of
the progress I made in the previous 24 hours. I find thiswhen you choose to do it. Experiment with different
is easier to do in the day the activity took place.Lunchtimes and pick out the one that's best for you.If you
TimeThis is my favorite time to plan. I find when I planare interested in learning about the planning system
at lunch:1) I already have a number of important tasks Ithat I have developed for myself (what I call my
can list as accomplishments.2) It keeps me on trackRAP--Results-focused, Action Plan), you can ready
through the entire day. If I find that I have strayed fromabout it at It's a simple system you can use with any
my original plans, I have a significant part of the day stillplanner of your choice (or even just a notebook). You
remaining so I can take corrective action.3) It frees updon't have to attend a seminar to learn how to use it.
my evening for other things (e.g., family, friends,There's no audio program or thick book to study. The
exercise, reading, relaxing, etc.)4) My plan is ready toinformation is laid out on the page above. The
review before I go to bed so that my subconsciousinformation is free.This is the one system I have used
mind can start working on what I want to achieve thethat allows me to stay focused on my desired results,
following day.I also find that if I use my lunch time tomeasure my progress daily, and is quick. Once you get
plan, I'm much more consistent in preparing my planthe hang of it, you should be able to complete your
every day. When I choose one of the other times, IRAP in 15-30 minutes.Copyright (c) 2005 Bill Marshall -
find it's much easier to find reasons to skip preparingAll rights reserved. Feel free to republish this article
my plan.Mid-afternoonThis is my second best choiceprovided you include the copyright information and the
for many of the same reasons listed for the "Lunchweblinks where possible.