How to plan your life when the future is foggy at best
If there’s any beauty that has come from this pandemic, it’s that we are reorganizing our priorities to honor what really matters to us. And for many, “career” is at the top of the reboot list. A lot of folks are currently asking, “What do I really want to do with my life, given that everything else seems to be up in the air?”
Letting go of what we always thought we could count on, however, can leave us feeling like we’re floundering. Having a plan is one of the best stressreduction strategies in those situations.
If you are seeking a professional change, you will want to make sure adaptability is part of the process: Channel your desire to make a strategic plan, and build in checkpoints that allow you to correct course as new information arises and circumstances shift. This technique is called microplanning, and it allows us to relieve stress without giving in to the erroneous perception that we have control over what is going to happen next.
There are six elements to microplanning:
— PURPOSE: Identify the purpose whose fulfillment you find the most gratifying. If you aren’t clear on your purpose, jot down the most fulfilling career experiences you’ve had to date and notice what commonalities they have. Those will lead you to your purpose. For example, my purpose is to help leaders become more connected to sustainable sources of personal power so we can all make our highest contribution to humanity and the planet.
— THE YEAR: Make a plan for the year that aligns with your purpose, based on the best available information. Identify one to three areas of growth that you want to focus on. Your plan could include a job search, pursuing growth opportunities in your current career, laying the groundwork for starting your own business or whatever else makes sense for you.
— QUARTERS: At the beginning of each quarter, reflect on the time that has just elapsed. Ask yourself: What worked, and what didn’t in this past quarter? What did I learn? What needs to shift in my plan? Based on your answers, set goals for the next quarter — no more than five.
— MONTHS: Each month, take your goals for the quarter and assess where you stand. Break active goals into specific projects and then break each project down into phases. Every project requires four phases: planning and initiation, shipping/launching/making it visible, completion and integration, and rest and reflection.
— WEEKS: At the start of each week, make a to-do list. This weekly plan allows you a broader view of what’s ahead and gives you more flexibility to plan than a daily to-do list. And make sure to include time for self-care.
— DAYS: Track your energy every day. Keep a journal by your bed and jot down how you felt emotionally, mentally and physically. Note what you worked on, how it went and what you’re grateful for. Use this data-collection practice to make adjustments to your goals and the way you work.
The world is changing dramatically all around us, and we need to change with it. By breaking down our planning processes into smaller chunks, we can all adapt more naturally.