10 Planning Tips to Help You Achieve Your Goals

I used to think the symptoms of my ADD were just personality flaws.

I was late for everything.

My bank account was chronically overdrawn -- I am certain that my overdraft fees alone funded the wages of at least one bank employee.

I had a car that was always such a mess it could have been legally classified "mobile dumpster." And I could never remember where I put the keys to it.

I thought these things were just part of who I was.

Planning is not something that came naturally for me at first, but once I found the systems that worked for me, my life changed.

My family no longer tells me that events are happening an hour before they actually are, because I am always on time.

I haven't had an overdraft fee in years.

My car is clean inside and out and the keys to it have a place so I can always find them.

My affinity for planners, my time in the military and my insatiable curiosity about what other people do to navigate the world successfully have all provided me with some great tools to overcome my "flaws" and live successfully as an adult.

When it comes to time management or following through on projects or commitments, I have found these ten tips to be especially helpful:

10 Planning Tips to Keep You Orginized and to Help You Achieve Your Goals

1. Have a system. Day planners, calendars, routines, online platforms-- there are so many planning tools out there. There also so many facets of your life. Find what works for you. It is crucial that you find a planning medium that you can actually use. Your planning system(s) should increase your quality of life, not complicate it.

You don't have to choose just one. You may use a hanging print calendar to write the due dates for your bills, a paper planner for your personal schedule and an online tool to coordinate chores with the people you live with. Explore multiple options to find what fits your life. And don't feel bad if you decide you need to abandon something. Your organization system(s) should help you thrive, not cause you to suffer.

Some things to consider when choosing your planning system:

• Do you need something separate for work/school/home/family/etc. or an all-in-one?

• Do you prefer paper, electronic or both?

• Is it more helpful for your calendar dates to begin with Sunday or Monday?

• Do you need daily, weekly, and/or monthly layouts?

• Will you need to carry your planner with you or will it be in a stationary place?

• Are you planning to archive your plans?

• Do you have the time and/or will to draw your own layouts? -- I'm lookin' at you, bullet journals.

Whichever system(s) you decide to use, the most important factor is that they help you to keep up with your tasks instead of deterring you from them. You may have to make some adjustments along the way to meet all of your planning needs.

2. Create SMART Plans. When setting goals decide exactly when, what and how you will complete them. Establishing perameters will guide your planning and give you evidence of your success or show you areas that need improvement.

Specific -- Define exactly what you want to do.

Measurable -- Quantify the amount of increase or decrease you will aim for.

Achievable -- Something you have the time, resources and ability to accomplish.

Realistic -- Make your goal something you can reasonably reach.

Timeable -- Give your goal a timeline: a start and stop date or length of time.

Here are a couple of examples:

Weak Goal -- I will be more active next month.

SMART Goal -- I will walk for 30 minutes, during my lunch break, 5 times every week for the month of October.

Weak Goal: I will save money this year.

SMART goal: I will increase my savings by $2400 by putting $100 per paycheck into savings, via direct deposit, for the next 12 months.

3. Break it down. A long-term goal such as "Earn a College Degree" or "Learn French" would be daunting for almost anyone. If your goal is going to take more than 3 months to achieve, there are likely sub-goals within that goal: lessons, assignments, practice, licensing, etc. Focusing on the smaller goals will help you to see the progress you have made and keep you motivated as you work toward your overarching goal.

When I was in college, I kept a print out of my class plans for each semester on my refrigerator. While I was working on a second degree, I kept a list of classes I needed to complete on a notecard and hung it on a bulletin board. I found it satisfying to be able to cross out those smaller tasks and it helped me to visualize my progress.

When you are working toward something that will take years to complete, try to find the smaller things that you will need to get there. Completing these sub-goals will keep you encouraged to keep going when it sometimes feels like there is no end in sight.

4. Ask an expert. If you have a complex, long-term goal it can be useful to seek out someone who has already done it, and ask for their opinions on the best way to go about it. Their insight could save you a lot of time and/or money.

5. Make your own plans a priority. When it comes to work, medical appointments, and time with family and friends, people show up--on time and consistently. We tend to stand ourselves up fairly easily, typically without giving it a second thought. If you carve out time in your plan to work on something for yourself, respect it as much as you would any other committment.

6. Consult your master plan. Canceling or rescheduling plans and appointments, because you have double booked yourself is not ideal. If you have a lot projects and/or obligations throughout the week, mapping those out in one place can help you avoid this. Keep a calendar or a weekly schedule in your planner so that you can quickly find availability in your schedule. Remember to put your new appointment on your calendar. We have created a free Weekly Master Plan template for you, if you want to give it a try!

7. Set deadlines. Things that don't have deadlines tend to get ignored. Due dates create a sense of urgency. If you have a task that doesn't have a deadline, give it one.

8. Write it down ASAP. Sometimes plans happen when you don't have your planner around. Or if you are a color-coder, you may not have the write pen to write it down. If someone asks you to do something or you discover an event that you want to attend, write it down so you can add it to your planner later. I love sticky notes for this, because you can put it right on the date or to-do list as soon as you get to your planner.

9. Have a reset plan. If life prevents you from practicing a habit you are trying to establish, it can discourage you or make you quit trying altogether. Having a reset plan will help you get back on track. Decide what you will do before you get thrown off. You will pick it back up on the following Monday, the first of the month, etc. If you need to, refer back to your SMART plan for this goal and re-establish your timeline.

10. Plan everything. The more you have mapped out, the easier it is to add things. Plans don't always have to be things on your calendar. Repetitive tasks like morning and evening routines count too. Try things out and see what works for you.

Structure + Discipline = Success.