If we do not plan, nothing is likely to change for the better, and we are likely to be stressed out. Then we just keep making the same mistakes over and over, without looking for solutions and planning our strategy.

What are some guidelines to keep in mind when we think about planning?

• Once a plan has been made, schedule it.
• Know how much you can realistically accomplish in a day.
• Schedule your most difficult tasks for high-energy times of day.
• Check your to-do list three times a day to see if you are on schedule.
• Reward yourself when you accomplish a significant activity.
• Do not book 100 per cent of your time. Leave a reserve for emergencies.
• If you must travel across town to get to a meeting, make sure you schedule in travel time so that you can get there on time.

We plan, we put plans in place, we check to see if they worked, and if they do not work, we adjust or take further action. Tasks need to be done and planning alone will not do it. Acting without planning will be less productive. Taking time to check to see whether we have done the right things will prevent us from having to learn from our mistakes.