Planning (and not Planning) Your Future
Posted on July 11, 2012
This writer’s last post was about taking complete vacations, without our electronic devices, and being fully disconnected from our work. The post received a wonderful comment–by doing so we can “live in the moment”. There is nothing more healthy and fulfilling for our Body-Mind-Spirit than being completely present. But…
…there is a flip side to that statement. And it is this—living in the moment, being spontaneous and free, does not preclude planning. Some of the best experiences in life come from careful planning and preparation. A few examples:
Let’s start with vacations. Would you agree that vacations go better when you make lists, pack the right shoes and clothes, have the sunscreen, bug spray, books and DVDs, passport, and anything else you need, was opposed to when you wait until the last minute and throw things into a suitcase or car in a mad rush?
Some things take planning or they’ll never get done. Projects like building a house or writing a book come to mind. These take forethought, meticulous attention to detail, and marshalling of resources.
At work, we are often called upon to multi-task, to work on several projects at a time. The best way to do this, I have found, is to be organized, and then concentrate fully on one project at a time. One can’t really work effectively on multiple projects simultaneously, just as it’s hard (though not impossible) to have two thoughts at one time. But one can work well by organizing projects by priority, and devoting the appropriate amount of time to each one at the right moment.
Okay, sure, you can over-plan, be over-prepared, obsess about details, and take the joy out of an event. But a modicum of planning can make the difference between a scattered, discombobulated experience and a smooth one. The Greeks had it right—“Moderation in all things”. A moderate amount of preplanning followed by a moderate amount of free, “let’s see what happens and go with the flow” feeling can make for a great time. That’s my take anyway. What’s yours?