Nowadays life has become very hectic and we often struggle to catch up with all our tasks and routines. This is because of the rising demands for our time and attention by several factors and the hyper-influence of the technological world. Youngsters and students juggle between studies and extracurricular activities, while catching up with their personal lives too. Then the storm of social media is consuming our precious time round the clock.

Life was really simple even a decade ago for almost everyone, whether adults or children, as everyone could find some leisure time in their busy schedules. That is nearly impossible nowadays. Even when we take a sigh of relief that weekends are here, thinking that after school, college or even university, we can relax, time swiftly passes. We only realise that it’s Sunday night, and we keep wondering how it ended so fast.

The 24 hours in a day are not enough anymore. But that is an uncontrollable factor, right? But what we can change is to have control over how we utilise our time effectively and make a proper consistent routine. That is where the power of planning comes in!

Planning is the golden ticket to your future. A person with a good plan has a map to guide him or her towards the right direction, while a person without any clear plan will wander in the dark. That is why all of us must make a habit of planning and stick to it firmly.

Here are some pointers on how we can go about planning our lives more effectively.

Time management matters the most

As I mentioned earlier, we can have better control of our lives with good time management. If we maintain a diary where we write down plans for all the important tasks we have to do, and when and how we will do it, then there is a good chance that we will execute the plans in the right manner. It is best to do it before going to bed at night, so that when we wake up the next day, we are clear about what to do with our time that day.

Often, what happens is that we forget or leave out one or two important tasks or activities and then it goes in the pending list. So a well-planned schedule is important, especially for students and working people. In this way, we will take out time for both work and leisure.

One important thing to keep in mind is that as a youngster, you may have your school friends’ presence on social media apps, and you would always want to check and be present with them. However, keep in mind that this is more time-consuming than other activities. Social media works like a magnet; it consumes most of our day with the constant bombardment of notifications and the urge to check our phones every minute.

So please keep this magnetic pull in check, otherwise you will miss out on other important tasks of the day. With good planning, we can assign a few hours to social media only and strictly adhere to this schedule.

Achieving goals made easy

Good planning can accelerate our journey toward goal achievement. Just dreaming of something and then randomly working for it without any clear roadmap will lead you nowhere. Every goal needs to be properly addressed with a practical plan.

First of all, break your goal into small sub-goals to easily achieve it and work towards the bigger picture. Set time frames of when and in what duration you will complete a task that will help you in achieving your goal.

Then calculate the risk factors involved, how much preparation you need to do beforehand, or whose help you will need, what budget is required and what sources of finance are available. When you plan in this way, there are higher chances of effectively succeeding in what you are dreaming of.

Procrastination is the root of all problems

Procrastination in simple terms means postponing things or tasks for the future. This also happens because we don’t plan things or create proper schedules for the day. The most effective person is one who completes the task he starts and does not delay it for the future. So when you plan your schedule for the day, you will know exactly when you need to do what and should dedicate that particular time to completing what you have set out to do. Otherwise, there will simply be more work to do in the future.

It is very important to make a journal or diary, or simply a to-do list and jot down all the tasks with proper time next to them one night before.

Choose wisely to succeed

When you plan coherently for your career, you will make a better choice because you will have a clear roadmap in your head. We are often interested in two to three different fields and are unclear about which one to pursue and work toward. As a result, it leads to resentment in the future if we opt for a career that does not work for us and has fewer opportunities.

So it is very important to have a career counselling session with an expert, especially when you are choosing your degree programmes in universities, as it would define your whole life ahead. For this, rigorous planning is required of all possible risks, opportunities and financial factors involved in your choice.

Planning helps to focus

Planning clears the blurry images and helps you improve your focus on your tasks and activities. When you have a clear planning schedule in front of you, you will not waste your time on unproductive tasks. You will work with a dedicated mindset to finish all tasks written on the planner or else you know you will have to face repercussions. So planning helps you focus on what matters most and what can be delayed for later.

Chaos leads to stress

Sometimes we are stressed, but we don’t know the main cause behind it. It could be the irritation due to a heavy homework and assignments load, or missing school work. If you plan your homework, assignments and any missing work accordingly, you will be more relaxed and even perform better in studies. This is because sometimes unfinished tasks linger in our minds, causing stress. By planning, you have more control and power over your day. You will know how to take things forward and you will not miss out on anything, unless something uncertain or unforeseen happens.

When you have a hold and control over your tasks because of good planning, it will boost your motivation and confidence.

These were just some of the benefits I mentioned of planning and how powerful it can be in turning your life around. One can never fail with good and effective planning. So maintain a diary and a journal and jot down your plan for the next day, every night before you go to bed.

“A clear vision, backed by definite plans, gives you a tremendous feeling of confidence and personal power.” — Brian Tracy

Published in Dawn, Young World, October 19th, 2024