Forward Planning
Life is busy, and with a busy life comes a busy list. The Christmas period being a case in point. My list includes what to take where and when, who to see where and when, what needs doing by when, and the tasks which need doing but are so easily overlooked when life is busy. For various reasons, this year has been more reactive than proactive. Lists have ruled. However, I intend to work towards better forward planning next year.
Having our son, and taking maternity leave meant personal life was the priority, while business paused for a time. Now I’ve restarted work, I feel the focus for the next week or so, must be forward planning. Alongside keeping social media up to date, and responding to enquiries, thinking ahead is important in evolving my business strategy.
Forward planning means making decisions. I’d already made a big decision, in deciding not to renew the lease on the studio. However, decisions can be reversed. After a couple of sessions recently, with canine friends, I realised how much the studio still means to me. BSS House, from whom I rent the space, have renewed the lease on very flexible conditions. We’ll see how it goes.
Forward planning will include looking ahead to key events which I can link to during the year. The link might be blogging, it might be photography, but either way, looking ahead proactively will help me to prepare content.
Running a business means there are no allowances for annual leave or other time off. If I’m out of office for any reason, it’s not simply a case of handing my work to a colleague. Part of my planning will be to try building in contingencies for the occasions when I do need to take time off. I return to a popular post which considers some of the things a sole trader needs to think about, that should come as standard when employed in a larger organisation.
I’m not one for making New Year’s resolutions, but the start of 2019 does herald an opportunity to forward plan for the coming months. As always, you can follow progress through my blog.
Thank you for reading, and I wish you and your loved ones a peaceful New Year.
Planning is so important and whether or not New Year’s resolutions are made I think the New Year period is a great opportunity to take stock and think back over the past 12 months and look forward to the next 12 months. Thank you for linking your post up with #Blogstravaganza xx
It does feel like a natural time to look back, and forwards. The shortest day has been, the festive season is over, and it’s a chance to think ahead to the coming year. Lots to look forward to, and lots to learn from over the past 12 months. Wishing you and yours a very happy new year xx #Blogstravaganza
I agree about forward planning. I recently did a training course all about planning and tasks and creating a planner. I used to think that by doing the simpler tasks first was more efficient but in reality we are supposed to do the most time sensitive and important tasks first in order to be as productive as possible. #Blogstravaganza
I think that’s a good approach; trying to complete the time sensitive and important tasks should leave a bit of a clearing to work through the simpler jobs. I sometimes try to mix it up a bit. Get something time sensitive and/or important done, then do one of the easier/quicker tasks. It’s almost like a reward for getting the bigger job done, and is a good motivator to see tasks being crossed off the ‘to do’ list! Thanks for taking the time to read and comment #Blogstravaganza