Plan & Prepare

Plans are useless, but planning is indispensable.

The act of planning gives you a starting point to see what works and what doesn't, so expect to tweak your plan as you start making progress.

You can't start to put your plan into action if you don't prepare either! The act of planning will help you know what kinds of things you might need.

Planning

This is definitely one of the hardest parts of SPEAR, but because the plan is guaranteed to change you shouldn't feel much pressure! Think of this as a good brainstorming session.

Sit down with someone who can help you solve your problem (achieve your goal). Next think about all of the aspects of your life that might relate to the goal indirectly. For example if your goal relates to doing better in school, think about what could help you focus and perform better, and what your shortcomings are (turning work in late, not studying, etc.).

Questions to ask yourself:
Who can help me figure out a plan?
Is my plan easy to follow?
What obstacles might I encounter along the way?
Is my plan broken down into small enough steps?

PLANNING Example 1
SMART Goal: "I will get As in all of my 3rd MP classes."

Go to bed before 11pm and wake up before 6:30am
Write assignments and events (tests, etc.) in a planner
Do homework at a desk/table, not on a bed/couch
Turn on "Downtime" on iPhone to avoid distractions

PLANNING Example 2
SMART Goal: "I will make the varsity soccer team in the fall."

Schedule workout times on my calendar
Spend 3 hours in the weight room each week
Read a book on leadership by the end of the school year
Make a diet schedule
Keep a consistent sleep routine

Preparation

"By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail." - Benjamin Franklin

If you're not ready to put a plan into action, your plan will fail. One piece of advice: never save money on organization. Don't think "Wow, $10 for a planner? I don't need to spend that money." You do, and you should. Think about all of the other USELESS (or virtually useless) things you spend money on every year...

Questions to ask yourself:
What can I buy/make to help me with my plan?
Who can help me follow through with my plan?
How can I use technology to help me succeed?

PREPARATION Example 1
SMART Goal: "I will get As in all of my 3rd MP classes."

Share plan with mom
Buy a planner, an alarm clock, and a whiteboard
Set app limits and Downtime on iPhone
Add bookmarks in Google Chrome to school pages

PREPARATION Example 2
SMART Goal: "I will make the varsity soccer team in the fall."

Research and create a workout plan
Create a diet plan
Print out plans and make daily checklists
Find a buddy
Talk to current varsity players to get a to do list
Get gym membership

What does a plan look like?

Example
SMART Goal - "I will only have one tardy for the rest of the year."

Go to bed by 11pm on school nights

Do NOT go to bed later than 11:30pm any night
Set alarms for 10:00pm and 10:30pm
Set Do Not Disturb to turn on at 10:45 pm
Get computer set up before going to bed

Wake up by 7am for school

Set first alarm for 6:30am
Place phone across the room when going to bed
Use my Fitbit to track sleep/wake-up times
Sit at workspace by 7:20am, ready to log in

Stay on track in the AM by avoiding phone

Set app limits or have Downtime turn on early
Set alarms to keep on track with morning routine

Characteristics

Bulleted list
Use reminders and a calendar - Helps keep you on track
Set a series of small SMART goals
Post it somewhere visible
Get someone to back you up - Everyone needs help sometimes, so ask for help!
Make it easy to follow - Do whatever you can
Automate what you can - Use technology to help you! Alarms should repeat automatically, etc.
Trace the problem back to its roots - If you're late to school a lot, how easily do you fall asleep? Why might that be?

Before You Move On...

Make sure you:

Write down your plan underneath your goal
Have someone to help you carry out your plan (a teacher, friend, sibling, parent, coach, etc.)
Check that your plan is easy and simple to follow

The next step involves actually following your plan to achieve your goal, so you need to have your planning and preparation done!