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