Category: planning

Your One Year Plan

by EvieBurke, posted in planning

A year ago at this time I was working with my coach to decide what my next career step would be.  One of the most useful things she had me do was think about and write down how I wanted my life to look, but it didn’t start with a year from now.  Nope, it started with 10 years from now, then 5 years, then 1 year.

For me, this was backwards of how I normally planned, but her reason made sense.  When you plan for 10 years out you automatically tap into your intuition.  And when you start with one or five years out then your brain can logically determine where you will probably be, but 10 years out is harder for your brain to predict.

Want to try it?  Think about 10 years from now.  What do you want be feeling?  What do you want to be doing? What do you want to have?  What does a normal weekday look and feel like? And weekend? Then repeat for 5 years out and 1 year out.  Each one is a step to the next one.

I did this exercise and I could answer all of the questions except what I wanted to be doing.  However, answering the questions gave me a good feel for the types of jobs that would be a good fit.  I saw myself working from home, setting my own schedule and making a difference in people’s lives in a way that I got to see and not just imagine.  It didn’t tell me exactly what I would be doing, but it gave me a framework to start with.

Perhaps you’re not trying to figure out your next career step, maybe you’re looking for something else.  About five years ago I would have done this exercise and saw myself in a full time job, but there were other things I was searching for: fulfillment, spiritual connections and meaningful friendships.  I bet if I would have done the exercise then I would have placed myself in a future with those things.  Working through this exercise would have given me a framework to work with and goals to plan for.

Try this exercise for yourself and let me know one goal you want to accomplish in the next week as a result.

Time Management Observations

by EvieBurke, posted in planning

The last few days I’ve felt overwhelmed with everything that I feel I should be doing and things I feel I should have already done.  I’ve been putting a lot of pressure on myself to just get one more thing done.

Earlier this week I was looking through the audio library that’s available to me because I’m doing my coach training with iPEC and found one about time management.  My biggest take away was that time management is just another way to say choice management.  I realized that it’s absolutely true.  I choose at every moment what I want to do.

This morning I saw this quote:

Scattering your day means you never fully experience anything you’re doing. Choose what is most important, shut out distractions, and give all your attention to the activity at hand.—Martha Beck, O Magazine – April, 2002

For me this week, this quote is entirely appropriate.  I spent a lot of time the last couple days thinking about what else I need to get done while trying to get something else done.  Guess how effective that strategy is for getting the task at hand done?  Right, it’s not effective at all.  So, I’m noticing when I’m scattering my attention and asking myself what I need to do (or not do) to prevent it.

And this afternoon I saw a blog post over at Productive Flourishing called “Effectiveness Is All About Managing Your Time, Energy, and Attention”. In it Charlie says:

Instead of thinking just about how you’re using your time, think about how you’re using your time, energy, and attention.

Again, completely appropriate for me this week and a reminder to do my best with all three of them.  For example, I know that I need to exercise in the morning, if I don’t I won’t have the energy or attention to do it later.  I need to pay attention to where I can apply this to other parts of my life.

I laughed to myself when I saw the blog post because I realized that time management has been on my mind in one way or another all week.  I felt like the Universe (or God) was hitting me upside the head and saying “Hey! You don’t have to feel overwhelmed if you don’t want to!  Here’s some things to think about! And in case you didn’t get it the first time, I’m sending more messages.”  Thanks Universe!  I’m getting the message and I’m open to any additional input you have!