Let me confess something: we used to think that planning was the same as making a (huge) to-do list. We’d sit down with pen and paper, and end up with an endless list of ideas and wishes. Having many dreams isn’t bad, but we found that with so many things, despite always being busy, we never managed to accomplish them. This caused a lot of frustration. We crashed into reality and asked ourselves, ‘Something’s not right, what are we doing wrong?’
Maybe you’ve experienced the same thing. Perhaps you’ve made the typical New Year’s resolution list that, over the months, gets forgotten and you end up not achieving what you set out to do.
So, I want to ask you:
- Have you questioned why we set goals but don’t achieve them?
- Do you make endless to-do lists and still feel like you’re not making progress?
- Have you felt frustrated because, even though you’re always busy, you don’t see the results you want?
- Do you feel disconnected from your goals and purposes?
If that’s not your case, congratulations! You’re one or several steps ahead. But if you identify with this, you’re not alone. We’ve been through it too, and today we want to share what we’ve learned.
Effective planning is a powerful tool for turning your dreams into reality. Here are some tips for organizing your time and achieving your goals.
After reflecting on our ‘crash’ between what we planned and what we actually achieved, we began to understand where we were falling short and how to improve our time management.
Why Don’t We Achieve Our Goals?
Here are some reasons why we don’t reach our goals:
–WE SET UNREALISTIC GOALS
Sometimes we want to take on more than we can handle. Our hearts are full of dreams, which is beautiful, but we need to learn to differentiate between what we can actually do and what is just an aspiration. Recognizing our limitations isn’t a weakness, it’s a way of taking care of ourselves!
It’s important to acknowledge our limitations in time, mental and physical energy, resources, etc. We are human, not machines, and our expectations might be misaligned with the time or energy we have available.
-WE LOSE MOTIVATION
There are many reasons why we might lose motivation. Sometimes what we thought we wanted wasn’t what we really desired, or simply, our reason behind it wasn’t strong enough to keep us on track.
-WE DON’T KNOW WHAT WE REALLY WANT
As mentioned before, sometimes we end up with a huge list of things to do, but it’s a list without direction, not aligned with what we really want.
-WE DON’T CREATE A WORK PLAN
We jump into doing things without a clear plan, without a logical sequence. In the end, we don’t know where we came from or where we’re going, and that leaves us feeling lost and exhausted.
-WE DON’T PRIORITIZE
We don’t set which activities or goals truly matter to us. We get distracted doing a thousand things at once, draining our energy and not connecting with important purposes.
We’ve already looked at some of the reasons why planning can fail. Now, let’s explore how to improve our planning approach and overcome each obstacle to achieve our goals.
SO, HOW TO PLAN BETTER?
Let me remind you: Strategic planning is not the same as filling out a list of a thousand things to do and thus having a very busy day. It may seem counterintuitive, but being busy doesn’t equal being productive!
Efective planning is about:
🌿 Connecting with your purposes: What do I want to achieve?
🌿 Prioritizing what really matters: What is most important to me?
🌿 Identifying what you need to move forward: What actions should I take? Can I do it alone or do I need help?
🌿 Organizing a realistic, progressive, and measurable action plan: How and when will I do it?
HOW TO PLAN EFFECTIVELY: ORGANIZE YOUR GOALS AND TASKS REALISTICALLY AND SUSTAINABLY
🌿 Connect with Your Purposes: What Do I Want to Achieve?
First, brainstorm without filters. That means, write down everything that comes to mind that you want to do, achieve, start, finish, etc. I know I said to be realistic, but first give yourself permission to get it all out and write it down, no matter how ridiculous, difficult, or unattainable it seems. Try to do this in a peaceful environment, like a park or another place close to nature, or simply where you feel calm. Ideally, with a serene mind, not in a moment of stress or pressure. The idea is to connect with yourself and let your ideas flow.
2.🌿 Prioritize What Really Matters: What Is Most Important to Me?
We want to do everything, but the truth is we can’t. We are human, not superheroes, and that’s okay. This is where the magic of prioritizing comes in. If you choose what really matters, you’ll not only achieve your goals but do so without overwhelming yourself!
These questions can help you prioritize:
- What do I want and need?
- Why do I want to do this?
- Is the motivation coming from me or am I doing it just to please someone else?
- Will it make me happy? Will it help me and/or someone else? Is it a momentary or lasting happiness? Is it worth it? Would it negatively affect someone? Even, would it negatively affect me?
Connect with yourself and choose what is truly important and beneficial for you and others, what will make you happy, what is important for today but also for the future.
Reduce your list to the prioritized objectives. You don’t have to completely forget the others; you can let them go or save them for later. However, I advise you to accept, with compassion, what you can’t do so that it doesn’t become a headache.
In addition to the previous questions, we recommend a fantastic tool that can be applied to work and daily life: the Eisenhower Matrix. You can explore it in this video:
3. 🌿 Identify What You Need to Move Forward: What Actions Should I Take? Can I Do It Alone or Do I Need Help?
Now that your priorities are clear, it’s time to break them down. Ask yourself: What specific steps can I take to achieve this goal? Write them down, one by one. The more specific they are, the easier it will be to make progress. And remember, you don’t have to do everything at once!
4. 🌿 Organize a Realistic, Progressive, and Measurable Action Plan: How and When Will I Do It?
Now that you have clear steps, organize them. What comes first? How long will it take? Set times and dates. Don’t worry if it’s not perfect; what’s important is that it’s realistic and achievable. Remember, a good plan is flexible and helps you move forward without pressure!
- Set Priorities: What should I start with? What needs to be done first?
- Set Concrete Deadlines: Define when you will do them: in which month, what day, and at what time or within what time frame.
- Use Support Tools: Whether you prefer analog or digital, the important thing is to find what works best for you. Tools like planners, calendars, or organizational apps are your allies for daily, weekly, or monthly tracking.
This is where our Monthly Planner comes in, designed for those who enjoy the beauty of nature and want to organize effectively. In addition to faunistic illustrations that connect you with the natural world, this planner offers:
🌿 Dedicated spaces to write your annual and monthly goals.
🌿 Special sections for reflecting on self-care and personal well-being.
🌿 Practical ideas for setting self-care goals and reconnecting with nature.
Our planner is not just an organization tool; it’s a way to remind you that your goals, well-being, and the world around you are connected. Use it to plan better while enjoying a touch of nature in your daily life!
- Set Specific Objectives: That is, make them concrete and measurable. For example, if the goal is to save for a trip, you can define how much you need to save and in what time frame. This way, you can create a savings plan, whether daily, weekly, or monthly. Example: Every day I will put 1000 pesos in the piggy bank or I will make a scheduled savings of 50,000 pesos monthly into my savings account.
BONUS 1: Review the Why
Knowing the ‘why’ behind your goals is key. The clearer it is, the easier it will be to stay motivated. And if you change your mind at any point, it’s okay! Our goals also evolve. What’s important is that you feel at peace with your decisions.
BONUS 2: BEWARE OF PERFECTIONISM
I planned everything well, connected, made my list, organized, followed through, and it went wrong! Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.
Wait! FAILURE IS OKAY. Messing up is okay, making mistakes is okay. Many of us weren’t taught this healthy way of looking at things, but it’s never too late to unlearn and learn. Don’t punish yourself. Even if we plan every detail, life has its own rhythm, and things don’t always go as we imagined.
What we can do is accept what happened, be grateful for what we’ve learned, and use that experience to grow. In the end, it’s not a failure, it’s one more lesson on your path! Yes, it sounds like a cliché phrase, but I’m telling you from experience: if you apply these three things, you
BONUS 3: Did You Plan When You’re Going to Rest?
Just as you plan your goals, it’s vital to plan your rest. Taking time for yourself is not only necessary, it’s essential! Rest is what recharges you to keep moving forward. So, schedule moments for self-care, connection with nature, connection with others, or simply disconnection.
If you liked these tips, feel free to share them with someone who might need them!
And remember, with a good plan and a bit of patience, anything is possible.
I invite you to take a moment now, open your notebook or planner, and start with a couple of simple goals for the week.
Start today!
