One thing that we talk about a lot is the value of planning.
Whether in these blogs, on videos or in in-person conversations.
Setting plans for the coming days (and weeks) around our exercise, eating and other areas.
And, in a fair number of cases, when I start talking about planning with people, you can see their reaction behind their eyes.
The massive resistance to it.
Often followed by phrases like “I just like to go with the flow”.
“I plan enough at work”.
“It all feels a bit restrictive”
“I like a bit more freedom in what I do”
And so on.
And I get that.
There’s a massive part of me that feels the same.
Every Sunday evening my wife and I have our ‘Weekly planning meeting”.
We look at our own logistics, the kids’ movements, stuff that needs doing or sorting and schedule and plan accordingly.
And there’s a little part of me that dies inside as we start.
But I know, from experience, that’s it’s invaluable.
That it means the coming days and weeks go so much better for all of us.
We get so much more done and it gets done more easily.
Because, despite what we’ll tell ourselves, effective planning is the exact opposite of restrictive.
It frees up time, energy, motivation and enthusiasm.
It means the things that just need to get sorted get sorted relatively easily.
Not planning is fake freedom.
If we don’t fill our calendar with high value, high priority, motivating things, then it’ll get filled for us with low value, low priority, draining bullsh!t.
If we don’t decide what’s important to us and put steps in place to make those things happen, we’ll end up doing what we think we should and / or what other people want us to do.
The things we “have to do” will end up expanding to fill the time (and energy and enthusiasm) available to do them, leaving less of those valuable resources for the things we want to do.
Ultimately, not planning new actions and behaviours………….
Is planning on doing our default actions and behaviours!
Which is fine.
Until it isn’t (if you’ve got to the point where what was “fine” now “isn’t” then here’s where you get proven help in making some lasting changes –> www.myrise.co.uk/apply) .
Much love,
Jon ‘They may take our lives………’ Hall
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RISE in Macclesfield was established in 2012 and specialise in Group Personal Training weight loss programmes for those that don’t like the gym and find diets boring and restrictive!
