A planner is a tool or framework used to set a specific goal and then plan the necessary actions that will lead us to achieve that objective. It’s like a map that guides us from our starting point to the destination we want to reach. Through a planner, we can break down a goal into smaller, manageable steps, identify tasks to accomplish, set deadlines, and allocate resources if necessary. All this is to achieve a balance between work and personal life so that both are not negatively affected, ensuring quality in both aspects of their lives. A planner helps us visualize and structure how to achieve a desired outcome.
One option that can help us achieve our goals without neglecting quality of life and time is a 90-day planner—a valuable tool used by various professionals and individuals who want to set short-term goals.
This 3-month period is ideal for focusing on specific goals and tracking progress. In both business and personal settings, 90-day agendas allow you to set concrete, measurable goals, making it easier to evaluate progress and adjust your goals to achieve success.
They are an effective way to stay motivated and on track toward achieving dreams and life improvements, as they offer a relatively short time frame to achieve significant results.
The Importance of Organization for Quality of Life and Goals
Effective planners should contain several key elements to help you achieve your objectives in an organized and efficient way, obtaining quality time on your projects:
Overall Goal: This is what you want to achieve in general terms. It should be a clear and concise statement of your main goal. For example, if you’re planning a project, the overall goal could be to “Launch a new product to the market in six months.”
Specific Goals: These are smaller milestones or objectives that you must reach to achieve the overall objective. They should be Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound (SMART).
Actions: This is where you break down the specific tasks you need to perform to meet the specific goals. These tasks should be clear and organized in chronological or priority order.
Resources: Identify the resources needed to perform each action and achieve the goals. These resources may include money, personnel, tools, technology, etc. For action research on suppliers, resources could involve time for online research and access to commercial databases.
Timeline: This is a point to achieve your goals within time and objectives. Assign start and end dates to each action. It will help you set realistic deadlines and create a timetable for your plan. For example, you can schedule the vendor research start date for Monday and the completion date for two weeks from now.
Monitoring and Evaluation: Define how and when you will monitor your plan’s progress. This way, you can detect any early deviations and make the necessary adjustments. You can schedule periodic reviews, for example, every week or every month, to assess your progress.
Success Indicators: Establish criteria that help you determine if you have achieved your goals. These indicators should be measurable and quantifiable. In the case of researching suppliers, you could measure it by the number of potential suppliers identified and evaluated.
Budget: If your plan involves expenses, create a budget detailing the costs associated with each action and the total plan. It helps you effectively manage your financial resources. It is also a major point, as the money we can generate and save will help us plan for long-term rest and emotional peace.
Let’s Get to Work
With a goal planning and management approach, goals are the intermediate milestones or partial achievements that are part of the path to achieving a main objective. It’s like breaking down a big task into smaller, more manageable parts. Instead of focusing solely on the end goal, it’s beneficial to identify and list the goals or intermediate steps that will bring you closer to that objective.
Do this periodically because, over time, circumstances may change, and it is necessary to adjust and review your objectives to maintain the effectiveness of your plan. If you think about it in terms of one or several weeks, you can set more specific and measurable goals that fit your monthly or even weekly objectives. This helps you have a broader and long-term view of your activities, making organization and time management easier to meet those goals and, ultimately, achieve your main objectives.
A well-structured and comprehensive planner will provide you with a clear roadmap and allow you to maintain focus on your goals, facilitating informed decision-making as you progress towards achievement without overwhelming yourself with schedules and times that detract from the quality of life.
