Even in the midst of one of the coldest, “snowiest” (lol) and most challenging winters in recent memory, I see runners out there doing their thing. Know what the most challenging part of running in wind chill factor temperatures or on icy sidewalks? That first step out the door!
A similar dynamic applies to planning. One of the most challenging aspects of setting goals and documenting how you plan to achieve them is taking a first step!
A first step is to decide which of your goals for 2014 need a plan.
Not all goals need a written or recorded plan. Our focus is on goals related to your education and training or the start of your career that require some time to accomplish or multiple steps or tasks. For example, you may need a plan for earning money for Spring Break or finding an internship for this summer or finding a major by this fall.
A next step is to find a tool for keeping track of your goals and plans, especially if you are pursuing multiple goals at once…and who isn’t J.
In the, “why recreate the wheel? category for $400,” here are links to apps and other tools that may help you keep track of your goals and plans and/or help you think them through.
- Goal planning template for personal and organizational aims
- 5 great online goal tracking and planning tools
- Creating Your Personal Life Plan
- Goal setting and life planning
- Personal Goal Setting: Planning to Live Your Life Your Way
- Add your recommendations in the comments or on Facebook or Twitter
In the “keep it simple stupid” category, I use Microsoft Word tables for my plans and timetables, the Notes pad on my Apple operating system to keep track of “To Do” lists, and my calendar to keep track of due dates.
In sum, find the combination of tools that works best for you.
Planning Tip: Keep Your Plans in a Visible Place
Once you have your tools and start drafting your goals, timetables and tasks, be sure to store your documents where you can see them or access them easily. When I store those documents on my desktop or with filenames that put them at the top of my list of documents, they become reminders of my goals and planning process….and easily accessible when I need to change them :).
Next Planning Topic: Planning for Spring Break
