To Plan Or Not To Plan
Updated: Aug 18, 2022
Written by: Katarzyna Dorosz, Executive Contributor
Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise.
Many years ago, while already in primary school, I learned how to plan how I want to learn. I had a large blackboard, and I wrote down everything important to me and annotated this with special symbols known only to me. I had no idea that I was creating the so-called “mind map” that engages both cerebral hemispheres. Thanks to this, I have achieved a much more effective way of remembering and organizing knowledge. Organizing knowledge and information is an important step in the planning process.
Our brain processes thousands of pieces of information every minute.
It is important to catch and write down what is important to us.
Group what is of real priority.
Do you know that you will be truly motivated if you define exactly what you are doing and why you are doing it.
The next step is crucial.
Your goals must be formulated as follows:
In 1 person singular (i.e., as ME),
In a perfect form (as if it had already happened),
Must be specific (clearly defined e.g., what I want to achieve),
Must be measurable (i.e., after which I can say that I have achieved the specific goal)
Have a delivery date (until when I have to do it).
Another important element is to write down what further positive and long-term effects will bring about the achievement of your goal.
Then, set a reward for completing the task on time and reward yourself for each stage.
Plan exactly the time you want to spend on the implementation of individual tasks.
This can be daily work (if so, set your working hours) or planned 2-3 times a week (determine which days will be the best without compromising other essential tasks or duties). Combining them into some multi-task modules, or the opposite ‒ shredding tasks into even smaller parts.
I also recommend trying another method that also brings about effective results.
Prepare a blackboard, cards, small colorful sticky notes.
Schedule a time, for example 30 minutes.
Make sure no one disturbs you. Before you start work, focus, and breathe deeply, meditate, listen to relaxing music. Turn off the music and set the timer to 10 minutes.
Write down all your ideas without analyzing and wondering how you will implement them.
Remember that there are no bad ideas, and all limitations are only in your head.
Write down everything that comes to your mind and doesn't analyze it.
Write it down on pieces of paper and stick it anywhere, because it doesn't matter at this stage.
Try to accomplish this within 10 minutes.
Do not think.
Our brain will work in create or edit mode when it creates. Creation mode is activated when we are creative, and open to new ideas and experiences.
The editing mode, on the other hand, causes us to turn on the logic and start analyzing the given situation.
Now just switch to edit mode and organize your thoughts so far.
Group together those that somehow connect with each other. Name these groups and then arrange them in order of importance. Look at it again and analyze it carefully, it will help you better understand your plan.
Do not be afraid when at this stage, another idea comes to your mind, write it down and assign it to a group of already existing ones. Thus, you have the skeleton of all your considerations ready to go.
And now you will focus on selecting the value of your different ideas and thoughts.
You have prioritized them, and you have them grouped ‒ now discard everything that you think will be of no use to you in this project, especially those sticky notes with loose and unassigned thoughts, that don’t make clear sense given the task.
Try to do this very carefully, knowing that this will keep your ideas clear and easy to implement.
Postpone work on it for 24 hours and then come back to it.
Every time we come back after a break, we have a new and fresh perspective on matters. I also recommend taking a photo of your “task skeleton” and even printing it.
Then go to the seaside, to the cafe, to the park. Open it there and see what new thoughts come to mind. Remember one thing, don't be afraid to throw out and change if needed at this stage of planning.
The more carefully we prepare a mind map, the more precisely we will achieve our goals.
And remember, turn off the inner critic because there are no bad ideas.
I love to plan, both in my professional and private life.
It helps me achieve my goals, write books on time, remember the birthdays of family and friends, and have time to develop my passions, nurture my creativity.
Therefore, I recommend this method of small steps to everyone and wish you all good luck.
Katarzyna Dorosz, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine
Katarzyna Dorosz is a leader in the field of brain performance, mental performance, and improving memory and quality of work.
She is a world-renowned expert for senior and mature individuals who also conducts research on longevity. She is also a lecturer and author of several books.
Katarzyna works with many prestigious American universities about attaining meaningful longevity in Life and how to maintain brain function.
She also supports women around the world through motivational lectures. Her attitude and stubborn pursuit of purpose show how important changes and progress in life are.
She is also the author of the TV Show "Te Power of Life".
During lectures, she uses the "Educational kinesiology and Emotional intelligence" and developed her own methods of exercises that provide excellent memory, concentration exercises as well as relaxation, and a set of physical exercises to improve the condition (adjusted to the age and flexibility of the body).
In business training, Katarzyna uses the popular Japanese Kaizen method, i.e. a philosophy based on changing lifestyle ‒ an endless process of improving and improving the quality of the company.
