Life Plan…

As I sit here with my cup of coffee and contemplate what to accomplish on my day off, my mind directs itself towards creating a list of priorities. Typically, when I begin each day, whether at work or not, I tend to write down all of the things that I hope to get done. Usually, I flash through the next several days on my calendar to remind myself what items have deadlines so I can complete those first. It always seems, at least lately that my lists get longer and the days get shorter and I end up only accomplishing a few items on my list.  

Here’s my list for today – Sunday, November 27, 2011:

1. Go for a run – it’s been so long that I’ve been out for a run. I finally have the time to exercise!
2. Call Grandma and Grandpa Smith to say goodbye – my grandparents from Florida were visiting for the last week and a half and they head home tomorrow.
3. Call Grandma Jones – I’m going to see her on Tuesday morning so I need to let her know to expect me. Plus I didn’t get to see her on Thanksgiving so want to see how her day went. 
4. Make soup – when I have Sundays off, I like to make a big pot of soup or stew for the week, especially on a cold day like today.
5. Write blog and download videos – need not explain!
6. Go through mail – it’s been about a week, hopefully there’s nothing important. 
7. Continue unpacking and organizing my apartment – it’s been about 6 months since I moved and I can’t seem to find the time to get the last round of boxes unpacked and put away and it’s starting to drive me crazy!! I feel like I should just leave them because who knows I may be moving again soon!

I keep telling myself I should create a strategic plan for my life!! For those of you who work in organizations and businesses, typically every 3-5 years the agency goes through a strategic planning process. In fact, I just led our organization through its 2010-2015 strategic plan last year. It helps the agency focus in on its core mission and goals, and allows for management to say no to those tasks that don’t fit in with the strategic direction. It also helps the agency identify its budget, as the strategies identified will be those that get financial support. If it’s not a priority, then no money should go towards supporting it. Folks often say “how can an organization know where it’s going if it doesn’t have a strategic plan.”  

I feel the same can be said for us as individuals as well. If we don’t have our priorities identified how do we know where we want to go in life. More importantly, once we identify our priorities then we can manage a budget that supports our direction. There are many things that I’ve wanted to do in my life, and I identify more and more things each day – not just those far-fetched dreams, like buying my own little private island to retreat to – but things that will help me advance my career and my life. I feel like I need to begin writing them all down, go through a prioritizing exercise, and then establish my very own 3-5 year strategic plan. Obviously, like agency strategic plans, things change, and you have to update your priorities to reflect those changes. But, it creates a roadmap on which you can start to direct your life, as well as your finances. So, maybe my new year’s resolution will be to create Jennifer Jones’s 2012-2015 Strategic Plan!!

Checking in at about 6:30 PM on Sunday evening, and I’ve made it through 4 of my 6 items.  Not bad, but still a long way to go!