Goals, plans and time

Productivity is never an accident. It is always the result of commitment to excellence, intelligent planning and focused effort - Paul J. Meyer

With the new financial year just starting, our goals and plans are again at the front of mind.

What we found is, that when attempting to set realistic goals and create good supporting plans, we often miss the consideration of how much available time we have to achieve all we want.

Goals provide a clear direction and purpose, acting as the beacon towards which our plans are structured.

Plans, on the other hand, are the roadmaps that outline the specific steps and actions needed to progress towards our goals. Without a good plan, goals can remain aspirations rather than achievable targets.

However, one's awareness of the availability of time plays a pivotal role in this equation. It dictates how efficiently plans can be executed, influencing the feasibility and timeline of achieving the goals.

While we know more and more about the importance of goal setting and many do venture into creating plans, often the time component appears only as a due date thrown almost ad hoc in a plan, acting like a milestone, rather than a realistic check if the goal in question is attainable in our available time.

This is why when we speak about goal setting and plans, we often suggest starting with the most ignored and unloved part of this process, which is figuring out how much available time is accessible to us.

It sounds like an easy task, but the quick math of deducting your 4 weeks of regular downtime from the 52 available weeks, often leads to unrealistic time frames, because just in Victoria, we do have 10 public holidays, which ultimately add up to two full working weeks. Not taking into consideration this, can easily lead to unachievable goals.

This is why next time you are setting your goals and creating a strategic plan, make sure you carefully think about a mindful allocation of time to ensure alignment between aspirations and practicality.

The synergy between goals, plans, and available time is essential for both personal and professional growth, fostering productivity and fulfilment in the pursuit of success.

Pooja Kelkar - Habit Change Coach and Ildi Racz-Prosser - Productivity Coach

We help you and your team explore your unique Time Centric Archetypes.

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