How To Plan Your Day

Visualize your long term picture of success and put it in writing. Review your goal frequently. Your goal should be specific, measurable, achievable and compatible with where you are now. There should be an end date as well. Steven Covey calls this "Begin with the end in mind."

Try to do your planning at the same time every day. Use this time to review past accomplishments as well as future things to do.

Use only one planner to keep track of your appointments. Keeping a separate business and personal planner creates confusion.

Write out a To Do list every day. Include items that can be completed, such as "Prepare exhibits for monthly report", rather than just "Work on report."

Separate your To Do list into A, B and C priorities. "A" items are important to your long term success, "B" may be urgent but not as important and "C" are those that would be nice to do if you get the time.

Start with the A items. Don't work on a C just because it's easy to do. Also, break your A items into small manageable chunks, so they're easy to accomplish.

Check off items as you complete them to give yourself a sense of accomplishment.

Block off time in your planner for major activities. This might include a block of time for working alone on major tasks. If someone wants to meet you during that time, say "I'm sorry, I already have an appointment."

Don't jam your day full of activities. Leave time for emergencies, special opportunities and thinking time.

Be your own manager. Ask yourself if you have met your goals, and what changes you plan to make to achieve them.

Do it now. People will often say "Call me next week, and we'll book an appointment then." Respond by saying, "Let's save ourselves a call and do it now."

Always plan time for balance; include family, fitness, recreation, social and spiritual activities.

Conduct a time study to see how you're doing and where the opportunities for improvement lie. Many people are only able to spend one quarter of their time on top priority activities. Moving this up to one third of the week means almost 4 more hours per week on key activities.