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"

Ancona limousine airport .. Lockport Chicago limo O’Hare
In The News:

Recent reports show many common passwords can be cracked in literally seconds. Kurt the CyberGuy explains how to strengthen your passwords.
Stay up to date on the latest AI technology advancements and learn about the challenges and opportunities AI presents now and for the future.
Iron, a robot that stands 5 feet, 8 inches tall and weighs 154 pounds, combines advanced artificial intelligence with human-like movement and exceptional vision.
Hertz, the rental car giant, recently confirmed that customer information was exposed through a cyberattack on one of its software vendors.
There are a number of features with AirPods you may or may not know about to take your listening experience to the next level. Kurt the CyberGuy explains.
These 35 Chrome extensions have privacy and security concerns. Tech expert Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson says to delete them now.
Tech expert Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson says 329,000 mph fusion rocket promises to be fast, disruptive and enable deep-space missions.
Stay up to date on the latest AI technology advancements and learn about the challenges and opportunities AI presents now and for the future.
Tech expert Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson says a new autonomous AI is a game changer that also raises privacy risks. Is your data safe?
Tech expert Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson says robots and drones are revolutionizing fruit farming with faster picking and smarter handling.
Landmark Admin revises May 2024 cyberattack scope to show twice as many people were affected. Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson gives tips to help stay safe from an insurance data breach.
Tech expert Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson talks about how Yamaha’s hydrogen outboard motor could revolutionize boating with zero emissions.
Tech expert Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson reveals how to memorialize or remove a deceased loved one’s Facebook account and protect their digital legacy from misuse or scams.
Tech expert Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson says an Apple Watch saved psychiatrist Amanda Faulkner by detecting deadly leukemia early.
Scammers and fraudsters are increasingly targeting the most vulnerable, especially nursing homes and the personal data of their residents. Kurt the CyberGuy has safety tips.
Infected USB flash drives can spread malware among multiple organizations in ways that can easily bypass traditional security systems.
With a fully automated warehouse system and AI-powered robots, Ocado's Hive picks, packs and delivers grocery store orders in just a few minutes.
Stay up to date on the latest AI technology advancements and learn about the challenges and opportunities AI presents now and for the future.
Recycling robots are using artificial intelligence to learn how to sort recyclables by recognizing patterns in colors, textures, shapes and logos.
The Reachy 2 robot is designed to be friendly and approachable, inviting natural interaction and is perfect for research, education and experimenting with embodied AI.
Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson shares several easy ways to keep your credit cards safe from digital thieves while you're traveling this summer.
Arcturus sets up cameras around the edges of baseball stadiums to capture real-time action and generate a 3D digital clone of the game.
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 CyberGuy explains why healthcare organizations are vulnerable to hackers after there have been a half dozen data breaches this year.
Developed at two California universities, the innovative technology combines brain-computer interfaces with advanced AI to decode neural activity into audible speech.

How to Minimize Trips to the Grocery Store

Still awaiting the birth of my baby (I am overdue),... Read More

9 Proven Principles for Increasing Productivity, Profit and Peace of Mind

Do you feel guilty about all the publications you purchase... Read More

Giving Up the Cape

"I find it interesting that the very cape I tried... Read More

Do You Have The Time?

Show me, O Lord, my life's end and the number... Read More

6 Time Management Tips for Moms

Many of you have expressed the challenge of not having... Read More

Perfekt!

Are you obsessed with getting everything just right? Do you... Read More

Making Headway on a Slow Day: 9 Ways to Turn Down-Time into Productivity Time

If you work from home, you know the kind of... Read More

Time Management Tips - How to Have a Filing System That Works

Recently I was working with a new client who had... Read More

5 Tips To Get More Out Of Your Work Day

It's easy to waste time on things that seem urgent... Read More

Controlling Family Chaos - Time Management for the Family

Balancing a family's varying schedules can be near impossible. Soccer,... Read More

Vilfredo Paretos Principle: The 80-20 Rule: 80% of Results are Produced from 20% of Efforts

Vilfredo Pareto's Principle, or The "Pareto Principle," is more commonly... Read More

Time is Money - Dont Waste It

"If you control your time, you control your life" -... Read More

First Things Last

Years ago clients would tell me they could not identify... Read More

Effective Use of Your Online Time

The Internet is increasingly becoming a major time killer for... Read More

Is the Goal to Reach the Goal?

In this fast and crazy world, we want to multi-task... Read More

Doing Things We Dread

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

Effective Time Management Techniques

TIME MANAGEMENTWith the creation of the universe, God gave humankind... Read More

Hows YOUR Productivity?

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

What Would Save You Time?

We all get overwhelmed from time to time, and sometimes... Read More

Time Management

Does it ever feel like there is never enough time... Read More

Time Management: Analysis is the Key to Mastery

If you're like most people, you want to get better... Read More

Schedule Time for Interruption

One of the most challenging situations people face when planning... Read More

Isn?t It Time For You?

Does it seem like there is never enough time in... Read More

Whats Keeping You At The Office (9 Tips To Get Home Quicker)

"Work smarter, not harder" is a clich? that has darted... Read More

Because Its Been Years Since Youve Seen a Blank Calendar

If you have ever missed an appointment, forgotten to pick... Read More

Buffalo Grove cheapest limo ..