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Planning and PrioritiesLaddersOften when we have a goal or desired outcome, it seems so far away as to be almost unachievable. It is difficult to feel motivated when the goal is distant; sometimes we feel overwhelmed before we begin. Here is a strategy to try. Think of your goal as waiting at the top of a ladder. In fact, draw a ladder on a sheet of paper and write in your goal at the top. Next to the rungs of the ladder, write in a series of intermediate goals that lead towards the top. Make these as concrete and clear as possible. Perhaps the most important rung is the lowest. This is the starting place and the goal or task you write in here should be manageable and achievable almost immediately. "To Do" ListsMany people write lists of things they feel they need to do, often in an ad hoc way. An alternative is to formalise this process somewhat by allocating time regularly to write a comprehensive list of tasks. One suggestion is to do this on a Sunday evening as a way of preparing for the week to come. Consulting with your diary to include appointments and note any "due dates" for academic work is important, as is spreading the tasks across the time available.Other people find that writing a list just before going to bed each night helps clear the mind and leads to a better night's sleep! These tasks and goals forms the basis of the next day's "To do" list. PrioritiesWhatever form of list you write, an essential part of the process is to set priorities for the tasks you have identified. Without priorities, everything on the list assumes equal importance, often leading to wasted time, frustration, and significant amounts of tail chasing. The simplest way to set priorities is to allocate a simple A, B, or C letter code to each list entry. A = important and requiring immediate attention B = important, but not urgent C = neither important or urgent at this timeNaturally, some sort of judgement is needed and it may be that there are too many A ratings on the list to do in the time available. That is when you need to review and reset your priorities. Sometimes tasks will carry over to the next list, although if this happens too often, try breaking the task down into sub-tasks that are more achievable. It also happens that some tasks will need to be boosted as priorities, and this is where having some skills in organising your time will be helpful. TicksIt is worth remembering that a "to do" list or goal list of any kind is a tool to help you achieve what you want for yourself. Only use it if it enhances your life and never forget to give big cheerful ticks to items you have completed! Content Approved by: Director, Counselling Service
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