As I was chatting with a new friend the other day, she
asked me what I did for a living. When I told her I
helped others get organized, she said, 'Oh, I don't have
time for that planning stuff...it's just not fun. I'm a
spontaneous person.' She then spent the remainder of the
conversation telling me how she can't get anything done,
that her house looks like a tornado went through it and
that she's always exhausted from running around to and
fro.In her mind, she feels that planning is not fun. So, she doesn't plan. In the meantime, she chronically complains at the problems that could be resolved--if only for a little bit of planning.
Did you know that planning can actually help to make your life more fun and enjoyable? I can't imagine I'd have as much 'play time' as I do, without planning out my schedule.
When I plan my schedule for the week, I actually schedule in time for fun. No, I don't plan exactly what fun thing I'm going to be doing every single time. However, when I land on a 'play time hour' on my schedule, I can pick and choose whether I lounge in the backyard reading a book, go to the park and run around with my daughter or work on my latest scrapbook or sewing project.
By planning my cleaning and organizing schedule ahead of time, I spend no time doing things I don't like to do, such as searching for a lost bill, duplicating work or picking up laundry strewn about.
When I plan, I'm also anticipating possible problems. For instance, instead of expecting my daughter to not follow her chore schedule, I think ahead and reward her even better for remembering to follow her chore schedule on her own. This works out to my benefit, as most of the time, she does her chores without being asked. And I'm not always caught up in a struggle to get her to do it.
When my husband and I plan vacations, we make dinner reservations ahead of time, so we're not wasting time standing in line. We check restaurants, event locations, hotels, etc. before we go, so we're not there at the busiest time, when something is closing or caught without something we might need at that particular place. This ensures less sidetrips to Walgreens for forgotten toiletries and less 'I don't like anything on the menu' proclamations because we didn't bother to spend a few minutes checking out a restaurant's web site.
Planning allows for spontaneity. Even though I have a schedule that I abide by 95% of the time, I do allow for flexibility. I may not do a project or two at the time I originally scheduled if something comes up unexpectedly. Of course, I then re-schedule that project--and I can easily do so because I planned ahead to ensure my schedule wasn't jam-packed and that there was time for this sort of flexibility in the first place.
It's because of planning, that I've been able to reach my goals. It's because of planning, that I'm able to strive for new goals that I know I will accomplish. For me, planning is a way of life--and I wouldn't want it any other way. For me, planning IS fun.
Something I personally like to keep in mind is that there is a difference between preparation and planning.
I am not much of a planner, per se, but am a fairly organized person, and am becoming more so, because I see the wisdom of preparation.
Example: I live in Colorado, where the weather can change without warning, and I'm an outdoor enthusiast.
It's very difficult here to plan for the weather, but I can be prepared. I can dress in layers, take my cell phone, etc., when outdoors.
The practice of being prepared enables me to be spontaneous while still seizing opportunities.
Posted by: Ruth | June 27, 2009 at 03:25 PM
I look at planning as "making my decisions ahead of time." I can always change my mind if something else comes up. Instead of dropping a planned task or event when this happens, I move it to another place in my schedule. That way things still get done.
Posted by: Debbie Wright | June 28, 2009 at 08:18 AM
I have only one thing to say! I have lost my mojo as far as trying to plan. I became ill and then I never got my mojo back into the swing of things in making lists of getting things done. It is so depressing! I have tried several times and something is wrong, because I cannot get it back!
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Carol, Illness happens, but that doesn't mean it has to take over our lives forever. Take back your life. Try setting up mini rewards for making lists and checking off a certain number of items on your list (like 3 or 5). Enjoy each mini reward with each goal set. Commit to this, without giving up, for at least 21 days. By then, a habit should be set, and you should start getting things done. We'll be cheering for you!
Posted by: Carol Radcliffe | July 01, 2009 at 03:49 AM
Doesn't sound as if "not planning" is fun either for your friend. If planning must be designated as such, I would rather not be having fun in the privacy of my own planning sessions than not having fun in the midst of ill laid plans for that misery to spill over to eveyone else. The success and efficiency of an event should be reward enough to make one want to plan. Why is that a four letter word?
Posted by: Debbie Pendell | July 04, 2009 at 08:21 AM