When is the Best Time to Plan Your Day?

When is the best time to plan your day? Well, everyone is different. Let's take a quick look at some of the different possible times:

1) Early morning before you go to work.

2) Lunch time

3) Mid-afternoon

4) End of the work day

5) At night just before you go to bed

I have prepared my daily plans during each of these times. Here has been my experience with each:

Morning

I have found the morning to be one of the least effective times to create my plan. Here's why:

1) When I get up in the morning, I want to get my day off to a quick start. If I take the time to plan in the morning, it seems to disrupt my momentum. I would rather review the plans I prepared the previous day instead. It's quick and keeps me focused on what I have chosen to do.

2) If I plan in the morning, I haven't been able to take full advantage of the sleeping hours when my subconscious mind is working on what I need to do the following day.

3) As part of my plan, I like to review the progress I made in the previous 24 hours. I find this is easier to do in the day the activity took place.

Lunch Time

This is my favorite time to plan. I find when I plan at lunch:

1) I already have a number of important tasks I can list as accomplishments.

2) It keeps me on track through the entire day. If I find that I have strayed from my original plans, I have a significant part of the day still remaining so I can take corrective action.

3) It frees up my evening for other things (e.g., family, friends, exercise, reading, relaxing, etc.)

4) My plan is ready to review before I go to bed so that my subconscious mind can start working on what I want to achieve the following day.

I also find that if I use my lunch time to plan, I'm much more consistent in preparing my plan every day. When I choose one of the other times, I find it's much easier to find reasons to skip preparing my plan.

Mid-afternoon

This is my second best choice for many of the same reasons listed for the "Lunch Time" block. I don't like it as much because it can eat into my productive time. But by doing my plan shortly after lunch, at least I still have some time to take corrective action if I need to.

End of the Work Day or Dinner time

By this time, the day is pretty well gone--unless I want to work towards my goals in the evening. I'd rather spend this time with my family and friends or just relax.

Before Bedtime

This is my second least favorite time. For one thing, I put out a lot of energy during the day. By the time I'm ready for bed, I'm ready for bed. I'd rather use this time for quickly reviewing my plan for the next day and just get to sleep so that I will have all the energy I need for the following day.

In order of preference, here are the times again:

1) Lunch time

2) Mid-afternoon

3) End of the work day or dinner time

4) Just before bedtime

5) Early morning before work

Of course, the most important thing is to actually plan out your day regardless of when you choose to do it. Experiment with different times and pick out the one that's best for you.

If you are interested in learning about the planning system that I have developed for myself (what I call my RAP--Results-focused, Action Plan), you can ready about it at http://www.poweraffirmations.com/rap.htm. It's a simple system you can use with any planner of your choice (or even just a notebook). You don't have to attend a seminar to learn how to use it. There's no audio program or thick book to study. The information is laid out on the page above. The information is free.

This is the one system I have used that allows me to stay focused on my desired results, measure my progress daily, and is quick. Once you get the hang of it, you should be able to complete your RAP in 15-30 minutes.

Copyright (c) 2005 Bill Marshall - All rights reserved. Feel free to republish this article provided you include the copyright information and the weblinks where possible.

For practical self-improvement tips, visit http://www.poweraffirmations.com/rap.htm. Get my new free e-book, "Power Affirmations: Power Positive Conditioning for Your Subconscious Mind"

bmw rental chicago Bath .. Lockport Chicago limo O’Hare
In The News:

Whoosh to launch a new urban transit system in 2026, offering a unique blend of on-demand service, direct routing and privacy that sets it apart from traditional public transportation.
Spambots, data thieves, and other bad actors run rampant online — more so now than ever before. Here's what to do if one gets ahold of you.
Tech expert Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson says the Super Bowl's huge audience makes it a prime target for many types of cybersecurity scams.
It's not just about freeing up space on your computer, Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson says. It's about protecting your digital memories and important documents.
From proofreading and research to brainstorming and data analysis, you can use generative AI as a sidekick for just about any task you can dream of.
Tech expert Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson says Super Bowl 2025 ads promise star power and laughs, featuring Beckham's twin reveal.
First driverless semi delivers 100 loads in Texas, transforming logistics with AI. Tech expert Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson gives his takeaways.
A new scam using Elon Musk's name is making the rounds, promoting "energy-saving" devices and falsely linking the Tesla and SpaceX leader to the products.
China recently unveiled a new bullet train prototype with a test speed of 280 mph that is poised to break records and set new standards.
Hackers sometimes find ways to exploit iPhones, and Apple recently discovered a vulnerability in iOS that may have been exploited for over a year.
Stay up to date on the latest AI technology advancements and learn about the challenges and opportunities AI presents now and for the future.
Lynx the robot dog from China is pushing boundaries of what autonomous mobile robots can achieve with a groundbreaking design and unique mobility.
A startup claims to have developed the world's first entirely artificial intelligence-designed and 3D-printed shoe, the brainchild of a 25-year-old.
Creating an email alias can help clean up your inbox by organizing emails based on purpose, like creating different aliases for shopping, newsletters and work.
A multipurpose robotic system promises to transform how items are stacked onto pallets, aiming to maximize space utilization and reduce shipping costs.
Stay up to date on the latest AI technology advancements and learn about the challenges and opportunities AI presents now and for the future.
The number of people affected by a UnitedHealth data breach in February 2024 was actually higher than previously reported and was the largest medical data breach in U.S. history.
A phishing campaign uses Google Calendar to schedule fake meeting invitations that appear legitimate, redirecting targets to phishing sites.
Toll road text scam: Fake messages claim unpaid fees, seek payment via fraudulent links. Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson says this scam is becoming increasingly sophisticated and widespread.
Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson says these steps ensure that your friends and family get to the exact moment you want them to see. Try it out and streamline your sharing experience.
Tech expert Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson offers tips on how to protect your identity: Be vigilant, monitor accounts, use smart security, know theft response.
Tech expert Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson says cybercriminals are exploiting iMessage phishing protection, tricking users to reactivate links.
It's hard to imagine life without in-flight Wi-Fi these days – but sky-high web surfing comes with its own set of privacy concerns. Here's how to protect yourself.
Over 400,000 cases of credit card fraud were reported in 2024 to the Federal Trade Commission. The CyberGuy explains how to protect against becoming another victim.
A nondescript metal box transforms into a fully functional electric motorcycle that blurs the line between vehicle and urban infrastructure.

The Power of Limited Time

The most powerful resource that we have is time. Everything... Read More

Peace Of Mind At The Workplace

Work brings together people of different characters and behavior, and... Read More

Priorities: Dont Dry Your Dishes

Do your dishes really need to be dried, or could... Read More

Find The Time -- Before Its Too Late!

People always seem to be in such a hurry, everywhere... Read More

Fitting An Education Into A Busy Lifestyle

Fitting an education into a busy lifestyleMany people have aspirations... Read More

Time Management is Cause Control

Recently I've experienced a barrage of time wasters. Everything you... Read More

If Only Your Brain Was the Size Of That Of an Ant You Could Easily Implement Habits

A year and a half ago I was introduced to... Read More

Save Your Time - Delegate!

Frustration is when an obstacle blocks your ability to achieve... Read More

Hows YOUR Productivity?

Microsoft wanted to know how individuals around the world were... Read More

Time is Money?

Not 1 in 10 people can tell you where money... Read More

Mercury Retrograde and Time Management

The concept of Mercury Retrograde is very well known even... Read More

Are You Watching Too Much TV?

Many folks tell me that they just don't have time... Read More

Oh, My Goodness! Where Has the Time Gone?

It's 6:00 a.m. I'm awake. I'm pumped! I'm ready to... Read More

Setting Time Aside For Studying And Homework

When trying to achieve a quality education, everybody knows that... Read More

Top Ten Motivators

Setting goals is the easy part -- but sticking with... Read More

7 ways To Win The Time Crunch

Are you working a "day job" while building your home-based... Read More

Six Foundational Reasons for Managing Your Time

Most of us know how to manage our time. It... Read More

Time Management Tips for Busy Moms

If you are like most moms I know you think... Read More

Time Management -- Urgent vs. Important

"It's just been one of those days?I can't seem to... Read More

Time Management - Working Smarter at Work

Let's look at your time management skills. Most of us... Read More

Work Smarter Not Harder

To work smarter all you need is the consciousness of... Read More

Prioritize Your Life for Success

Today, it is hard to open an e-mail newsletter, a... Read More

Doing Things We Dread

As I sit here in front of the computer... Read More

Boost Your Productivity with Sixty Minutes A Day

How you spend the first sixty minutes of your day... Read More

Save Yourself Hours of Time in One Easy Step

If you have spent any time at all working at... Read More

limousine service Ava ..