Last night I sat on a cushy leather chair with the ocean just a few feet away from me.
As I could hear the waves crash onto the beach, I sipped on my water, talking with private clients of mine.
I guess one of the perks of doing private coaching and making house calls.
We were doing some lifestyle coaching, personal stuff, business stuff, a nice mix.
However, all of the changes they were trying to make really came down to one habit, without this habit, nothing else happens.
Planning.
Specifically, planning the week on Sunday night, and then reevaluating each night, tweaking the plan for the next day.
There are a lot of people that don’t plan the night before, that don’t write things down, and those are the same people that forget things all the time and live a very scattered life.
You set 90% of your day up for success if you plan the night before.
Sure, I get it, you can’t control all of it…
But, you bet your bottom dollar you can be as proactive as possible and be ready for the day.
Last night we worked on two cornerstone habits…
On Sunday night doing a weekly map of the week.
Block off all your “non-negotiables.”
What does the day look like?
Any scheduled appointments I need to be on time for?
What time do I have to be at work?
Things that can’t be moved.
Then, from there, around that, plug in the rest of the things that need to get done each day.
What time am I scheduled to workout?
When am I going to get my creative time in, my personal development time?
What are the big three things I’m going to get done to make progress?
This is not a to-do list.
This is mapping each day, but here are the two mistakes people make.
One, they put too much in one day.
We overestimate how much we can get done in a day, and underestimate how much we can get done in a year.
Again, this is not a list.
This is a plan, so we need to map it out accordingly, don’t put too much on one day.
The second thing we need to do is use what I call time containers.
For example, you have an appointment from 12-1.
That goes into the plan.
However, assuming a 30-minute commute, the actual container of time is more likely 1115-145, a 45-minute buffer on each side for the 30-minute commute and a 15-minute buffer.
This sounds like a lot, but once it becomes a weekly habit, it doesn’t take more than 5-10 minutes every Sunday night.
Then, each night, acknowledge what you did that day (you did more than you think), have a moment of gratitude, and then adjust the plan for the next day.
And keep it mind, as you map out your day and your week, don’t “copy and paste.”
Meaning, I don’t love the goal, for example, of three workouts a week.
Why?
Every week is different.
Although it’s great that you want to get to the gym every MWF, there will be weeks that’s not possible, because each week presents its own challenges.
Instead, look at maybe a monthly objective, in this case, 12 workouts a month.
You can apply that across all areas.
Don’t just copy and paste each week, each week is different, your plan needs to adjust, your expectations need to adjust (holiday weeks for example), etc.
But the most important thing to do is the plan, spell it out.
I see it all the time…
If my team plans for their day before, if they write down what they are going to do, if they plan for the circumstances that could come up, they have much better days.
If our clients plan the night before, pack their meals, pack their workouts clothes, and plan their day so they can get a workout in, they have much better days.
Now, we still have to execute on that plan, a plan without action is no good, but we must first start with planning.
I think what you’ll find, and what I think my clients from last night will find, is that planning is a cornerstone habit.
Now, because you are executing on planning, so many other things fall into place.
You’re consistent and productive in your work…
Your fitness and nutrition consistency improves because you plan for it..
You block off family time, so your personal life improves.
It all gets better.
1% Better.
Dedicated to Your Success,
Doug Spurling