Have you ever considered how many hours of work one always wastes on
multitasking during work time or the small task that one might engage in? All
these are the reasons as to why people lose attention or focus during work
hours. As we all know that after any distraction on a work schedule, it has to take you some minutes to
regain focus which at the end of your work session you will
come to realize how much time you have wasted.
Although, to
do lists have been hugely popular for years, a very big number have now
replaced their list with more structured weekly plans and this is because lists don't just work for
them anymore because:
· This is
because some people don't have a good system on how to prioritize the items on
the list.
· Some get
overwhelmed by looking at all the things they have to do.
· Others might
also have a feeling that they are continuously adding to their list rather than
reducing it.
People need
to know the power of weekly planning which lies in the perspective and the
control that it provides for work. If one sets aside an hour each week, then I
consider that not much, but besides, you need to see that the investment is
phenomenal hence leading to good time switching those lists for a good weekly
plan. Below is a good explanation of what a work plan is and the reason as to
why we need a work plan.
What is a work plan?
This is a
visual map of your to-do lists that helps you stay much more organized while
working on your tasks. With a work plan you will be able to be more organized
and encouraged more so on what you want to achieve and break the week into
smaller parts making everything flow easier for you. You can relate this to a
game sport where the managers put out a well-managed strategy that will help
the team archive their objectives.
Why do we need a work plan?
With a good
work plan, you will come to realize that it is very important in anything
regarding work.
1. A work plan will always give you more structure - With this,
you will be able to use your time more efficiently and will make you spend less
time on regaining focus after being distracted.
2. It will also
help you in further visualizing your week- Having
a week visualized week your work flow will be much easier. You will be in
position to spread out and prioritize work in a manner that significantly
increases how much you can accomplish. In all aspects, weekly planning gets you
more work done in a very organized way. Always know that every minute spent in
planning saves 10 minutes in execution.
Creating a Work Plan
Here, we are
now ready to save hundreds of hours and loads of energy by working much
smarter. Below are steps to follow to make your weekly time management plan.
1. Choose your planning tool
Everyone is
different and with different preferences on working tools to use depending on
their work. Many people will opt for the digital tools that will enable them to
do their work from anywhere. With so many options from so many simple tools
available, everyone needs to find what works best for them. You can check out
for list of best time management
software in the market.
2. Plan Your work Regularly
Your weekly
plan has to be done every week. That's the main reason as to why it is known as
a weekly. So, a habit of making it work has to be there. You need to pick a day
that you will use to establish your weekly work plan. You can always review
your weekly accomplishment and plan ahead for the rest of the week.
3. Get Planning
When planning
you need to begin with your bigger goals, after that decide on what you want to
accomplish the following weeks to meet those goals. Have in mind that the task
you add to your weekly plan should be the one that brings you closer to you achieving
your goals.
4. Schedule Everything
After knowing
what you want the next week and planning well, schedule your timing. And the
best way to ensure you plan a realistic work plan for the week is, if you work
with your calendar and see if there is time for everything. It is very
important if you plan time to complete a task.
Another thing
you need to consider is, you need to be careful not to over-schedule your time.
You need to leave time for maybe your meetings and any activity you might have
apart from work or even times to reflect and think or even any breaks you need.
5. Stick to the Plan
Imagine
having done all the work of making your plan and failing not to follow it will
be a full waste of time. Ensure you brush over your daily plan every morning
before going to work. Go over your plan and make adjustments if needed. If you
had a meeting and maybe it gets canceled or if there is any task uncompleted.
With all these you will have a clear understanding of your daily priorities.
And always to make sure nothing important falls through the crack, immediately
reschedule the tasks that were not completed.
6. Reflect and Repeat
Ensure to
look at your plan at the end of every week. Feel encouraged when seeing that
you have worked according to your plans and all the tasks are accomplished.
Conclusion
Always
remember that planning your weekly work is a learning and continuous process.
The longer you do it the better you get at predicting your energy levels.
Following the productivity tips and
planning accordingly will help you learn to let go of inefficient tasks and
projects.
Once the
habit of weekly work planning is in you, it will definitely become something
you enjoy and look forward to doing. As you consistently plan out your week,
you will find yourself motivated and more direct to the productive time.