08 May Mastering the Art of Planning and Strategizing: Taking Control of Your Future
This IS Part of the 'Control The Controllables' series
Welcome to Part 5/5
In the previous four parts of this series on “Control the Controllables”, we’ve discussed the importance of personal responsibility, adaptability, self-motivation, mental energy, and intentional attention. Now, in this final part, we’ll focus on planning and strategising for a controllable future.
Planning for Controlling Your Attention
As David Allen, author of “Getting Things Done,” (GTD) says, “If you don’t pay appropriate attention to what has your attention, it will take more of your attention than it deserves.” This is where planning comes in. By planning, we can take control of what has our attention and avoid being controlled by it.
Getting Things Done
David Allen’s methodology, famously known as “Getting Things Done,” is a practical system for improving productivity and managing time effectively. It is designed to reduce stress and increase focus on the present moment. The method involves capturing all of your to-dos, ideas, and tasks in a trusted system and then breaking them down into manageable actions. By doing so, you are able to clear your mind of clutter and free up mental energy to focus on the task at hand.
Capturing and Organizing Tasks with GTD
To implement the Getting Things Done methodology, start by setting up a system to capture and organize all of your to-dos and ideas. This can be a digital tool like Todoist, or a physical tool like a notebook or planner. Next, break down your tasks into specific, actionable steps. This is where the famous “next action” principle comes into play – ask yourself, “What is the next physical action I can take to move this task forward?”
Categories & Context In GTD
After breaking down your tasks, organise them into categories based on context or project. For example, you might have a category for work-related tasks, home-related tasks, and errands. This helps you to focus on the tasks that are relevant to your current context and prioritise your work accordingly.
Update Your System for Maximum Efficiency
Finally, regularly review and update your system to ensure that it remains relevant and up-to-date. This means reviewing your tasks and projects weekly, and making sure that everything is organised and actionable. By implementing this system, you’ll be able to stay on top of your tasks, reduce stress, and free up mental energy to focus on the things that matter most.
More Productivity Tools
In addition to David Allen’s methodology, there are other productivity tools and techniques that can help you plan and strategise for the future. Brian Tracy’s “Eat That Frog” method encourages you to tackle your most challenging tasks first thing in the morning, while the “Productivity Planner” helps you to prioritise your work and stay focused throughout the day. Remember, what doesn’t get planned doesn’t get done, so make sure to schedule your tasks and projects in your calendar. If it’s not in your calendar, you won’t do it.
By implementing these tools and techniques into your life, you’ll be able to take control of your future and achieve your goals. Don’t wait for things to happen – make them happen by taking action today!
Eat That Frog Method
In his book “Eat That Frog,” Brian Tracy emphasises the importance of tackling the most difficult and important tasks first thing in the morning. He compares the concept to eating a live frog – it’s unpleasant, but it’s necessary to do it first before moving on to other tasks. By completing your most important tasks early in the day, you’ll feel a sense of accomplishment that will propel you forward throughout the rest of your day.
To implement the “eat that frog” method, start by making a list of all the tasks you need to accomplish. Then, prioritise them based on their importance and urgency. Next, identify the task that is the most important and difficult, and make a plan to tackle it first thing in the morning. Once you’ve completed this task, move on to the next one on your list.
Breaking Large Tasks into Smaller Steps
Another key component of the “eat that frog” method is to break large tasks into smaller, more manageable steps. This can help to alleviate feelings of overwhelm and make it easier to get started on daunting tasks. By breaking large tasks into smaller steps, you can also track your progress more easily and feel a sense of accomplishment as you complete each step.
Overall, Brian Tracy’s “eat that frog” method is a powerful tool for increasing productivity and achieving your goals. By prioritising your most important tasks and tackling them first thing in the morning, you’ll set yourself up for success and feel a sense of accomplishment throughout the rest of your day.
Productivity Planner and Calendar
But how do we go about planning and prioritising our tasks effectively? One useful tool is the Productivity Planner, which helps us identify our most important tasks and break them down into actionable steps. Another tool is a calendar, which allows us to schedule our tasks and appointments, ensuring that we have time for what matters most. I recommend Google Calendar or anything which can be a one-stop calendar that is convenient for you.
As the saying goes, “What doesn’t get planned doesn’t get done.” If we want to take control of our lives and achieve our goals, we must plan and prioritise our tasks. And as another saying goes, “If it’s not on your calendar, you won’t do it.” So let’s take control of our calendars and make sure we schedule time for what matters most.
Planning Beyond Tasks and Appointments
But planning isn’t just about scheduling tasks and appointments. It’s also about thinking ahead and strategising for the future. We can ask ourselves questions such as:
- What do I want to achieve in the next year, five years, or ten years?
- What steps do I need to take to achieve those goals?
- What resources do I need to acquire?
- What obstacles might I face, and how can I overcome them?
By thinking ahead and strategising for the future, we can take control of our lives and create the future we want. You need to make time for doing this. Don’t put it on the long finger. Put a time in your calendar for this week to begin this whole process if you don’t have this mapped out yet. Better yet, book a call with me below and I will help you and hold you accountable for doing it.
So, planning and strategising are crucial components of controlling the controllables. By using tools like the Productivity Planner and a calendar, and by thinking ahead and strategising for the future, we can take control of our lives and achieve our goals. So let’s take action now and start planning for a more controllable future.
Remember, controlling the controllables is something you can start to work on now. Check out the previous parts of this series to understand which areas of your life you can start to improve upon TODAY!
Control The Controllables Intro (Linked Here)
Learn to control your response to situations! Part 1 (Linked Here)
Take control of your motivations! Part 2 (Linked Here)
Learn to control your diet and overall well-being! Part 3 (Linked Here)
Take control of your attention and focus! Part 4 (Linked Here)
I am a Freedom Coach and Mentor – I mostly help freedom-loving people create a Successful Mindset. If you would like to explore some of these themes and move towards achieving more freedom this year, let’s connect and set up a call
Other Articles in This 'Control The Controllables' Series
Learn to control your response to situations!
Learn to control your motivations!
Learn to control your diet and overall well-being!
Learn to control your attention and focus!
