Embracing Reflective Planning for Better Time Management

Hello and welcome to the travelling introvert. Today I want to talk about time management techniques but specifically for reflective planners. People who sort of will think about something and then like to ruminate over it a little bit more and come back to it. This is for you and so the idea is to empower you reflective planners with effective time management strategies that work with your your methodology of planning and why it's really important for you to embrace this and sort of speak up with what to ask for what you need whether it be more time or things put in a different format. And so for me, when I talk about reflective planning, I want to talk about people who are thinking about things in advance. Okay. I'll give you an example. I'm currently planning a rather large trip and I haven't done it in a really long time.

So I've started now and it might seem that I am over indexing on tiny details but then I will go away and come back and oh yeah, that thing and I'll go away and come back and be like, oh yes and this other thing. Like a packing list. The amount of things I've added because something doesn't come up every day. And then I need to think about it and come back and it can lead to overthinking or analysis paralysis so there really should be a box of sort of I will make a decision by this date or I have to do this thing by that date but apart from that there are some really interesting ways for how you can sort of think about being reflective and planning at the same time. For example, actually blocking out time. A period of time specifically just to be able to make a decision on something. A lot of the time we might have the information, we have the data, we might have had a meeting about it and then we're supposed to make a decision then and there. But what could be really beneficial for those of you who are reflective planners is to block out.

It might be fifteen, it might be thirty minutes after that call or a day after that call to actually sit down and work through whatever processes that you have to then make a decision. So then you have a slightly flexible yet structured schedule to accommodate that deep work and reflective periods. Another thing is thinking about your energy levels, are there particular energy patterns that you have during the day? And then with that in mind, think about how and when you might schedule high focus tasks doing during peak energy times. Or maybe it's better for you to be thinking about something during a low physical energy time, but where you can use your mind better? Do you have a time of day where you are far more creative or open minded than other times? Put notes up in your bathroom while you're taking a shower, whatever works for you. But make sure that you have regular reflection points within whatever project it is that you're working on, whatever thing that is that you're doing and to help refine those time management strategies. Maybe set aside a weekly time to review what worked and what didn't or review what things that you know that you need to make a decision on in the next coming week and what information that you need so that you can start that wheel rolling. Maybe practice some journaling and self reflection to be like okay well I made this decision in this amount of time and I felt rushed but if I added five more minutes it would have been better or if I had someone to bounce the idea off because I'm not saying that you need to do this reflection alone. Maybe it's a case if you gather all the information and then you go and talk to somebody about something and then you come away and then you can make a decision fifteen minutes later.

It really does depend and it really is up to you. But remember, it's not about perfectionism. You need to focus on progress making those decisions. You will never be right 100% of the time and you need to be okay with that. So, set realistic priorities and realistic goals but make sure that you integrate the fact that you know that you are a reflective planner in anything that you do. So, think about experimenting with techniques and adapt to your own personal style, your own personal needs, and what you have. And then tweak and try it again until you have something in your toolbox that works for you. Thank you for listening, this is Janice at The Career Introvert helping you build your brand and get hired, have a great rest of your week.