It is said that most people spend more time planning a two-week vacation than they do their lives. There’s evidence that many are additionally challenged with managing the “plan”, even if having established one. Does any of this resonate with you? If so, you’re not alone. And remember this…it’s never too late to start being (or enhancing) the person you want to be, the person God is calling you to be.
We started this series by talking about your life’s experiences (lifeline), which led to your “why”. Both play an important role in your life plan (last week’s blog), which would hopefully include God’s purpose for your life. Here we talk about how to incorporate your life plan into day-to-day life.
In knowing my material, it won’t surprise you that I suggest taking the planning process to prayer. Just prior to your planning for the month, week, and day, you could say something like,
“Dear Lord, please be with me as I move through my life. Help me to recognize, prioritize, and accomplish all that you want for me and from me. Help me to continue to understand that it is not me, but You working through me in all things. Therefore, help me to do my best, then surrendering all over to You”.
Monthly Planning
To do your Monthly Plan, you’ll want to reference your Life Plan, as well as your previous monthly plans. Asking God to put the right things on your mind, record on one of the pages in your Planner your personal goals, projects, and To Do’s. All the above things apply for your professional life too.
Note – although not everyone has a job outside his/her home, there are typically things that fall into the “personal” category and others that could be referred to as “work” or “professional”. The point is that this system can be used by everyone.
Weekly Planning
For the weekly plan, I’d suggest identifying:
- Phone calls to be made
- Emails to be sent
- To Do’s
- Projects
- Goals
- To Do’s
- “Waiting On”
Daily Planning
What I do first thing in the morning or the evening before, is to identify those things from the Weekly Plan that I want to get done that particular day.
Execution of Your Plan
As I am moving through my day, achieving the things I’ve identified, I mark them down, with a “+” if I’m waiting on something or a double checkmark when completed in total.
Prayer, Planning, and Solitude – to be done at the end of your day, week, and month.
- Daily
- Review what you’ve accomplished, making sure all notes and tasks are updated.
- Set your priorities for the next day, identifying them as described above
- Weekly
- Construct your weekly calendar, moving forward whatever you didn’t achieve from the last week.
- Anything that you are waiting on will go to the “Waiting On” list.
- Monthly – referencing your Life Plan and last month’s Plan, you assess what you’ve accomplished or not and what you want to keep on the plan or not. You of course can be adding things. It will help to reference your weekly plans as well.
I hope all this was helpful. As my dear old Dad used to say, “plan your work and work your plan”. It’s worked for me. I’m confident it can work for you.
God made you for Greatness. Hopefully these last four weeks, starting with:
- Your lifeline
- Then moving to your “why”
- Followed by how to do your life plan
- And now how to plan and execute
…help you to find and maximize the Greatness God wants for you.
If you’d like more detailed documents on these processes, please email be at the address below and we’ll send them to you.
As always, please feel free to contact me at [email protected] with questions, comments, concerns, challenges, or prayer requests.
God Bless you on your Path to Peace, Joy, and Fulfillment!!!
God made you for GREATNESS!!!
Mark Joseph