I believe the most understated word in the world is planning. We see the real role of planning only after we join corporate. It is then, we learn the use of applying tools while planning and monitoring it at every given step. Before this, we often plan but without applying any proper checks. No wonder, most of us in our mid-twenties often wonder, where life is heading to.
Habits
I am a firm believer and promoter of the importance of planning both in professional as well as personal life.
One of my friend’s in my early twenties inculcated a wonderful habit in me, whenever I used to discuss anything with him, he would ask me to pen it down. This habit stayed with me and helped me immensely. While planning if you note down even the weirdest of your thoughts, it will help in channelizing them and see where exactly you are heading to?
The Importance of Planning
Below I have noted down few points emphasizing the importance of planning, the steps needed to be taken, to ensure that the planning is going in the right direction.
5 Important Steps of Planning
1)Write down everything- As mentioned before, it is important to write down everything. It is like a filtering process, once all the thoughts are spread out in front of us on the paper, things start making sense. Please try to pick up all these main points which will help you in achieving the goal.
2)Active monitoring- Monitoring is a must, it keeps us in sticking on the path without going haywire. This is the toughest part, if proper monitoring is not there, high chances of getting lost during the way. Also, the close scrutiny helps in motivating us or keep our emotions high, as we know we are heading in the right direction.
3)Plan with milestones- Any planning is useless if it does not have milestones. Remember it is very important to celebrate even the smallest of achievements. Life is tough, no one will clap for you, till the time you learn to clap for yourself and open the bottle of champagne. If you want to achieve your plans than learn to celebrate small victories which you achieve during the way.
4)Be flexible – Life throw surprises, understand and respect it. Corona definitely taught us one thing, nothing is in our hands. At times the best-laid plans go waste. Plan but don’t be adamant, you should be able to gauze the changing situations and adapt your plans to those. Don’t get disheartened with the slight detour, at times the way is better and more beautiful, then what it was supposed to be before.
5)Be an honest critic- For any plan to work be your own honest critics. Applaud yourself if you are doing things right and criticize yourself if you are being lazy or taking things for granted.
The steps that I have mentioned above are all tried and tested. I never used to plan before, but since the time I got into the habit of planning, I am definitely spending my days more meaningfully.
Do try it out and let me know if it worked for you in a comment below!
About the Author
Ramya Mishra carries over 14 years of experience in Brand and Product Development. She is today’s leading communication expert especially in the field of travel and hospitality. She has designed a communication strategy for corporate and human brands at the national and international levels. She is an expert in Content Development, Media Management, Crisis Management, Digital PR, Internal Communication, and External Communication.
In her blog, she frequently writes on human interest stories, travel, and the LGBTQ community. She is equally passionate about LGBTQ rights and advocates the legalizing of gay marriage in India.
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