Whether you are newly qualified or busy, you need to plan your time and be organised.
Maybe, like me, you have a notebook or journal, for planning, lists and ideas.
My journal habit started during my time as a student at CHE when I had a special Practice Planning Notebook.
I literally carried it everywhere with me.
Here’s the favourite quote I wrote inside the cover.
‘Nothing in this world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not: nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent.’
Calvin Coolidge
7 tips to help you plan your practice
Here’s what I’ve learned from 17 years of practice planning.
- Start a bullet journal.
Use it for plans, notes, and reflections. You can do this very simply, with one page per day, or a two page spread for a monthly plan. Tick things off as you do them. - Have a weekly schedule.
Do certain tasks on fixed days. Use your journal to plan your time. Block out time for different types of work. - Make time for a weekly review.
Even half an hour is valuable. Sit with your journal and your calendar. Recognise your accomplishments, no matter how small. Notice where you got stuck, and think about what you would do differently next time. Look ahead at the next couple of weeks and get organised. - Don’t spread yourself too thin!
Focus on one or two goals per quarter, break them down into smaller actionable steps, and block out some time to do them each month. Big goals take a while, so give yourself some smaller, more achievable ones too. - Don’t compare yourself to other people.
This can be really demoralising. Focus on your own path, and celebrate your own wins. - Find someone you trust to be your cheerleader.
This could be a colleague, your supervisor, another friend in business, or a coach or mentor. The Radiant Business courses I offer always have the loveliest people join. - Try free-writing to free up your mind.
I highly recommend morning pages at least a few days per week, and maybe even work through The Artist’s Way or The Artist’s Way at Work to help with confidence and self-growth.
Bullet journal resources
Here are some extra resources to help you get started.
How to Bullet Plan – lots of ideas for layouts
The Bullet Journal Method – the classic guide
- Leuchturm 1917 Classic – my favourite journal (I prefer dotted)
I hope this article has given you some ideas and inspiration for how to use a journal to help you plan your practice.
