This is part 3 of my series on how to make consistent progress towards our goals in a busy, ever changing life. Check out part 1 and part 2 here.
So far we’ve been talking about how to build a plan that gives us a fighting chance of fitting in the things that matter to us. But what if things don’t go to plan?
Back up plans and plan z
Having alternatives built into your plan can help – if I don’t manage to get to the gym on Tuesday before work, can I have a plan be that would do the same workout at lunchtime instead? To avoid laziness setting in, be clear on what plan A is and stick to it if you can. But if you can’t, plan B is there. (see my separate post on what level of flexibility suits you.)
Plan B is basically doing something that’s just as good as plan A at a different time. But it’s also useful to have a plan Z – a last resort back up plan that involves the tiniest taste of the thing you planned.
If you missed your Zumba class because you needed to pick up the kids, plan B might be going to another exercise class the next day. But Plan Z could be as quick and simple as finding 5 minutes to dance with the kids.
Not enough time to write a blog post? Plan Z could be jotting down a title idea to come back to later.
Can’t get to the gym – plan Z could be some squats and counter push ups while the kettle boils (see my separate post on exercise snacks).
It may feel like you’re not going to get any benefit from such a tiny action. And on one level, sure, you’re not going to make huge strength gains in a few minutes, and that blog post still isn’t written. But from the point of view of forming habits, the impact can be huge.
Even a small step means you’ve kept yourself consistent and reinforced your commitment.
Reflect (with kindness)
The other side of planning for your week is looking back. With grace and kindness, take time to reflect what worked and what didn’t. Treat the past week an experiment, one where you can learn as much from what didn’t go to plan as from what went perfectly.
What made it easier to stick to your plan – and how can you get more of that?
What got in the way and how can you stop that being a problem again?
What might you need to do less of to free up time?
Trying to fit change into already full lives is a huge challenge. Even if you didn’t fully succeed in your plan, the fact that you tried at all, in the face of a busy and ever-changing week, is something to be celebrated.
And if you learn what worked, from one week to the next, you’ll not just get better at your goals, but get better at knowing how to fit working towards your goals into your life.
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