How to Unclutter Your Mind – Powerful Weekly Planning
By Robyn Pearce
(526 words)
Bryce and Heather Lupton of Te Opu Farm, Maungatoroto used to be like many farming families – everything needed attention yesterday; the hours in a day were never enough; and their personal and family time seemed to constantly slide into a black hole of ‘one day we’ll….’, filled with good ideas and intentions.
Many live like this; few like it; Bryce and Heather did something about it. In their case the solution came as they worked with a business coach in the Cogent Farming Business Systems system, exploring creative and scientific farm management improvements.
‘Joining Cogent made a huge difference in our thinking. It taught us to be more structured. Although it’s fantastic for farming advice, the most immediate impact was in our personal and family lives and the way we now make choices with our time.’
Weekly plan
‘Every Monday morning Heather and I have a meeting. We decide what achievements we want for the week. We’ve got a whiteboard on which we’ve drawn up the week with a series of timeslots for each day. We then fit the tasks into relevant time slots.
‘The key thing that’s made a dramatic difference to our lives is blocking in the activities. For instance, we both love to play squash. Now we block it in, and other family activities, as well as the farm jobs. We plan what we want to do as well as what we have to do.
This process helps keep us realistic about the time needed, but more than that, it unclutters the mind. Instead of finishing one task and then thinking, ‘What shall I do now?’ we find we just easily and naturally flow into the next task on the list. For instance, I’ll come in from the farm after finishing a task, glance at the whiteboard, and instead of thinking ‘what should I do now?’ I just get on with the next scheduled item. The thinking’s done once – the focus is then for the rest of the week on the action.
‘One of the great benefits of this way of thinking is that the family has been involved all the way – Heather and I are working together much more, rather than as independent units, and we’re also able to do other things we love because our time and our heads have freed up. For instance, Heather has chosen to go back teaching – just ˝ a day per week. It gives her a fresh interest and stimulation, brings new ideas back into the family, and keeps everyone happy – not just one person.’
As I listened to Bryce explain the family planning system I had difficulty restraining my enthusiasm – he was practicing the same techniques that made a huge difference in my own previously out-of-control life, and which I now share with my clients. If you’d like a weekly planning sheet to use as a template, incorporating a panel to write in your weekly goals, you’re most welcome to download my free little ebook ‘How to master time in only 90 seconds’ You’ll find it at http://www.gettingagrip.com/products/ebooks.html If you’ve got a question or a useful time-saving tip, I’d love to hear from you – robyn@gettingagrip.com
Robyn Pearce CSP (Certified Speaking Professional) is the Time Queen. She mastered her own time challenges and now helps people around the world overcome theirs. She can show you how to transform your time challenges into high productivity and the life balance you desire.
Download her free report “How to Master Time In Only 90 Seconds”, a simple yet powerful diagnostic tool to help you identify your key areas for action. You’ll find it at http://www.gettingagrip.com/products/e-books/index.asp And while you’re there, enrol for your free Top Time Tips – practical advice every two weeks
© All Rights Reserved to Robyn Pearce, GettingAGrip.com, PO Box 29 586, Fendalton, Christchurch 8540, New Zealand Ph. + 64 3 351 2140
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