Daily Planning

Daily Planning

By Dr. Donald E. Wetmore

A poet once said, "The most powerful time is when you are
alone, thinking about what you are to do rather than the
doing itself." You've been reminded many times, "A stitch in
time saves nine". Daily Planning is the time you ought to
set aside each evening to plan out and take control over the
most precious resource at your command, the next twenty-four
hours. Done correctly, Daily Planning is not an expense that
will cost you time but an investment that will pay you back
many times over the time invested.

Here are four important steps to follow each day during your
Daily Planning time.

1. Create a To Do list of everything you "have to" do and
everything you "want to" do during the next day. If you want
to manage it, you have to measure it first. Add actions
steps to take care of your commitments and responsibilities
but also include other action items to help you to balance
your life more effectively and achieve more of your goals in
each of your Seven Vital Areas: health, family, financial,
intellectual, social, professional, and spiritual.

2. Review every item on your To Do list and ask yourself
three questions with regard to each item:
   a. "Is this the best use of my time?" If it is, plan to do
it. If it isn't, try to figure out a way to delegate it.
   b. "Is there a better or more efficient way of handling or
completing this item?" For example, combining telephone
calls and making them all together.
   c. "Is there anything I can do in advance to prepare for
this task?" Do you need supplies or information from another
to get it done?

Most of the time I cannot delegate my tasks, find a better
way to do it, or do anything to better prepare for it, but I
can always find a few ways to improve. Whatever those
improvements are, add them to your To Do list as action
items

3. Review any Appointments and Scheduled events you have
planned for the next day and ask yourself the same three
questions you asked in step #2 above. As you review each
commitment, determine if it is the best use of your time.
Maybe you are scheduled to attend a meeting that has little
value to you. Try to get excused. See if there is a better
way to handle each commitment. For example, instead of an
actually meeting with someone, are you able to fax, email,
or call that person instead? Can you do anything to better
prepare for it? If you have a doctor's appointment, are
there questions you can write down to ask the doctor.
Whatever these improvements are, add them to your To Do list
as actions items.

4. Prioritize your To Do list. Place the number "1" next to
the most important item on your list. Place the number "2"
next to the second most important item. Continue
prioritizing the entire list. You now have a To Do list of
all the items you "have to" do, but, more importantly, all
the items you "want to" do, including action items to help
you achieve your goals and better life balance and make your
appointments and scheduled events and To Do list items flow
more smoothly.

The process of Daily Planning will save you more time in the
long run than what you spend to do it and will increase your
daily productivity each day.

My article, "Crucial v Not Crucial" will help you to easily
identify what you really need to get done in your day to
increase your productivity. It's free. To get yours now,
email your request for: "crucial" to: mailto:ctsem@msn.com

Receive your free Timely Time Management Tips on a regular
basis to increase your personal productivity and get more
out of every day? Sign up now for your free "TIMELY TIME
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Dr. Donald E. Wetmore
Professional Speaker
Productivity Institute
Time Management Seminars
60 Huntington St., P.O. Box 2126
Shelton, CT 06484
(800) 969-3773
(203) 929-9902
fax: (203) 929-8151
email: ctsem@msn.com
Visit Our Time Management Supersite:
http://www.balancetime.com

Professional Member-National Speakers Association

Copyright 2001 You may re-print the above information in its
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