{"componentChunkName":"component---src-templates-post-js","path":"/blog/plan-your-day/","result":{"data":{"mdx":{"body":"function _extends() { _extends = Object.assign || function (target) { for (var i = 1; i < arguments.length; i++) { var source = arguments[i]; for (var key in source) { if (Object.prototype.hasOwnProperty.call(source, key)) { target[key] = source[key]; } } } return target; }; return _extends.apply(this, arguments); }\n\nfunction _objectWithoutProperties(source, excluded) { if (source == null) return {}; var target = _objectWithoutPropertiesLoose(source, excluded); var key, i; if (Object.getOwnPropertySymbols) { var sourceSymbolKeys = Object.getOwnPropertySymbols(source); for (i = 0; i < sourceSymbolKeys.length; i++) { key = sourceSymbolKeys[i]; if (excluded.indexOf(key) >= 0) continue; if (!Object.prototype.propertyIsEnumerable.call(source, key)) continue; target[key] = source[key]; } } return target; }\n\nfunction _objectWithoutPropertiesLoose(source, excluded) { if (source == null) return {}; var target = {}; var sourceKeys = Object.keys(source); var key, i; for (i = 0; i < sourceKeys.length; i++) { key = sourceKeys[i]; if (excluded.indexOf(key) >= 0) continue; target[key] = source[key]; } return target; }\n\n/* @jsx mdx */\nvar _frontmatter = {\n  \"title\": \"Plan Your Day\",\n  \"date\": \"2020-08-25T00:00:00.000Z\",\n  \"tags\": [\"productivity\"],\n  \"banner\": \"banner.png\"\n};\n\nvar makeShortcode = function makeShortcode(name) {\n  return function MDXDefaultShortcode(props) {\n    console.warn(\"Component \" + name + \" was not imported, exported, or provided by MDXProvider as global scope\");\n    return mdx(\"div\", props);\n  };\n};\n\nvar layoutProps = {\n  _frontmatter: _frontmatter\n};\nvar MDXLayout = \"wrapper\";\nreturn function MDXContent(_ref) {\n  var components = _ref.components,\n      props = _objectWithoutProperties(_ref, [\"components\"]);\n\n  return mdx(MDXLayout, _extends({}, layoutProps, props, {\n    components: components,\n    mdxType: \"MDXLayout\"\n  }), mdx(\"p\", null, \"After much experimentation, I've settled on the following method for planning my\\nday. And this method works at all time horizons (weekly, monthly, quarterly, and\\nyearly).\"), mdx(\"h2\", {\n    \"id\": \"1-answer-what-will-make-today-successful\"\n  }, mdx(\"a\", _extends({\n    parentName: \"h2\"\n  }, {\n    \"href\": \"#1-answer-what-will-make-today-successful\",\n    \"aria-label\": \"1 answer what will make today successful permalink\",\n    \"className\": \"headerLink\"\n  }), mdx(\"svg\", _extends({\n    parentName: \"a\"\n  }, {\n    \"xmlns\": \"http://www.w3.org/2000/svg\",\n    \"width\": \"24\",\n    \"height\": \"24\",\n    \"fill\": \"none\",\n    \"stroke\": \"currentColor\",\n    \"strokeWidth\": \"2\",\n    \"strokeLineCap\": \"round\",\n    \"strokeLineJoin\": \"round\",\n    \"className\": \"feather feather-link\"\n  }), mdx(\"path\", _extends({\n    parentName: \"svg\"\n  }, {\n    \"d\": \"M10 13a5 5 0 007.54.54l3-3a5 5 0 00-7.07-7.07l-1.72 1.71\"\n  })), mdx(\"path\", _extends({\n    parentName: \"svg\"\n  }, {\n    \"d\": \"M14 11a5 5 0 00-7.54-.54l-3 3a5 5 0 007.07 7.07l1.71-1.71\"\n  })))), \"1. Answer \\\"What will make today successful?\\\"\"), mdx(\"ul\", null, mdx(\"li\", {\n    parentName: \"ul\"\n  }, mdx(\"strong\", {\n    parentName: \"li\"\n  }, \"Review your goals and objectives to gain alignment.\"), \" Determine which goals\\nyou need to move forward today. Where do you need to make the most progress?\"), mdx(\"li\", {\n    parentName: \"ul\"\n  }, mdx(\"strong\", {\n    parentName: \"li\"\n  }, \"Write outcomes that you'd like to see for a successful day today.\"), \" An\\noutcome is written as what you want to be true in order to work backwards\\nagainst what you need to do in order to make it true.\"), mdx(\"li\", {\n    parentName: \"ul\"\n  }, mdx(\"strong\", {\n    parentName: \"li\"\n  }, \"Try and keep the list to 3-5 items.\"), \" This depends on the time you have\\navailable \\u2014 as well as the size of your to-dos \\u2014 but in general it's a good\\nrule-of-thumb to follow. Keep it manageable.\")), mdx(\"h3\", {\n    \"id\": \"example\"\n  }, mdx(\"a\", _extends({\n    parentName: \"h3\"\n  }, {\n    \"href\": \"#example\",\n    \"aria-label\": \"example permalink\",\n    \"className\": \"headerLink\"\n  }), mdx(\"svg\", _extends({\n    parentName: \"a\"\n  }, {\n    \"xmlns\": \"http://www.w3.org/2000/svg\",\n    \"width\": \"24\",\n    \"height\": \"24\",\n    \"fill\": \"none\",\n    \"stroke\": \"currentColor\",\n    \"strokeWidth\": \"2\",\n    \"strokeLineCap\": \"round\",\n    \"strokeLineJoin\": \"round\",\n    \"className\": \"feather feather-link\"\n  }), mdx(\"path\", _extends({\n    parentName: \"svg\"\n  }, {\n    \"d\": \"M10 13a5 5 0 007.54.54l3-3a5 5 0 00-7.07-7.07l-1.72 1.71\"\n  })), mdx(\"path\", _extends({\n    parentName: \"svg\"\n  }, {\n    \"d\": \"M14 11a5 5 0 00-7.54-.54l-3 3a5 5 0 007.07 7.07l1.71-1.71\"\n  })))), \"Example\"), mdx(\"ul\", null, mdx(\"li\", {\n    parentName: \"ul\"\n  }, \"I have written two chapters of my book\"), mdx(\"li\", {\n    parentName: \"ul\"\n  }, \"I have talked with Dave about the release\"), mdx(\"li\", {\n    parentName: \"ul\"\n  }, \"I have designed the book cover\")), mdx(\"h2\", {\n    \"id\": \"2-break-the-work-down-into-tasks\"\n  }, mdx(\"a\", _extends({\n    parentName: \"h2\"\n  }, {\n    \"href\": \"#2-break-the-work-down-into-tasks\",\n    \"aria-label\": \"2 break the work down into tasks permalink\",\n    \"className\": \"headerLink\"\n  }), mdx(\"svg\", _extends({\n    parentName: \"a\"\n  }, {\n    \"xmlns\": \"http://www.w3.org/2000/svg\",\n    \"width\": \"24\",\n    \"height\": \"24\",\n    \"fill\": \"none\",\n    \"stroke\": \"currentColor\",\n    \"strokeWidth\": \"2\",\n    \"strokeLineCap\": \"round\",\n    \"strokeLineJoin\": \"round\",\n    \"className\": \"feather feather-link\"\n  }), mdx(\"path\", _extends({\n    parentName: \"svg\"\n  }, {\n    \"d\": \"M10 13a5 5 0 007.54.54l3-3a5 5 0 00-7.07-7.07l-1.72 1.71\"\n  })), mdx(\"path\", _extends({\n    parentName: \"svg\"\n  }, {\n    \"d\": \"M14 11a5 5 0 00-7.54-.54l-3 3a5 5 0 007.07 7.07l1.71-1.71\"\n  })))), \"2. Break the work down into tasks.\"), mdx(\"ul\", null, mdx(\"li\", {\n    parentName: \"ul\"\n  }, mdx(\"strong\", {\n    parentName: \"li\"\n  }, \"Create tasks to help you reach the outcomes you defined.\"), \" With the end in\\nmind, you can write out digestible to-dos to reach the outcomes.\"), mdx(\"li\", {\n    parentName: \"ul\"\n  }, mdx(\"strong\", {\n    parentName: \"li\"\n  }, \"Set appetites to define how much time you're willing to spend.\"), \" An\\n\", mdx(\"em\", {\n    parentName: \"li\"\n  }, \"appetite\"), \" is different than an estimate in that it defines how much time\\nyou're willing to spend on a to-do. It is a constraint that helps control and\\nmanage your time.\"), mdx(\"li\", {\n    parentName: \"ul\"\n  }, mdx(\"strong\", {\n    parentName: \"li\"\n  }, \"Prioritize the list based on what is most important (related to outcomes).\"), \"\\nSort the list by what's most important so you can focus on the\\nhighest-priority item first. The priority order should correlate directly to\\nthe priority of the outcomes defined in the first step.\")), mdx(\"h3\", {\n    \"id\": \"example-1\"\n  }, mdx(\"a\", _extends({\n    parentName: \"h3\"\n  }, {\n    \"href\": \"#example-1\",\n    \"aria-label\": \"example 1 permalink\",\n    \"className\": \"headerLink\"\n  }), mdx(\"svg\", _extends({\n    parentName: \"a\"\n  }, {\n    \"xmlns\": \"http://www.w3.org/2000/svg\",\n    \"width\": \"24\",\n    \"height\": \"24\",\n    \"fill\": \"none\",\n    \"stroke\": \"currentColor\",\n    \"strokeWidth\": \"2\",\n    \"strokeLineCap\": \"round\",\n    \"strokeLineJoin\": \"round\",\n    \"className\": \"feather feather-link\"\n  }), mdx(\"path\", _extends({\n    parentName: \"svg\"\n  }, {\n    \"d\": \"M10 13a5 5 0 007.54.54l3-3a5 5 0 00-7.07-7.07l-1.72 1.71\"\n  })), mdx(\"path\", _extends({\n    parentName: \"svg\"\n  }, {\n    \"d\": \"M14 11a5 5 0 00-7.54-.54l-3 3a5 5 0 007.07 7.07l1.71-1.71\"\n  })))), \"Example\"), mdx(\"ul\", null, mdx(\"li\", {\n    parentName: \"ul\"\n  }, \"Write Chapter 1 (2 hours)\"), mdx(\"li\", {\n    parentName: \"ul\"\n  }, \"Write Chapter 2 (2 hours)\"), mdx(\"li\", {\n    parentName: \"ul\"\n  }, \"Call Dave (30 minutes)\"), mdx(\"li\", {\n    parentName: \"ul\"\n  }, \"Design Book Cover (1 hour)\")), mdx(\"h2\", {\n    \"id\": \"3-commit-time-on-the-calendar\"\n  }, mdx(\"a\", _extends({\n    parentName: \"h2\"\n  }, {\n    \"href\": \"#3-commit-time-on-the-calendar\",\n    \"aria-label\": \"3 commit time on the calendar permalink\",\n    \"className\": \"headerLink\"\n  }), mdx(\"svg\", _extends({\n    parentName: \"a\"\n  }, {\n    \"xmlns\": \"http://www.w3.org/2000/svg\",\n    \"width\": \"24\",\n    \"height\": \"24\",\n    \"fill\": \"none\",\n    \"stroke\": \"currentColor\",\n    \"strokeWidth\": \"2\",\n    \"strokeLineCap\": \"round\",\n    \"strokeLineJoin\": \"round\",\n    \"className\": \"feather feather-link\"\n  }), mdx(\"path\", _extends({\n    parentName: \"svg\"\n  }, {\n    \"d\": \"M10 13a5 5 0 007.54.54l3-3a5 5 0 00-7.07-7.07l-1.72 1.71\"\n  })), mdx(\"path\", _extends({\n    parentName: \"svg\"\n  }, {\n    \"d\": \"M14 11a5 5 0 00-7.54-.54l-3 3a5 5 0 007.07 7.07l1.71-1.71\"\n  })))), \"3. Commit time on the calendar.\"), mdx(\"ul\", null, mdx(\"li\", {\n    parentName: \"ul\"\n  }, mdx(\"strong\", {\n    parentName: \"li\"\n  }, \"Based on the appetites, create blocks in the calendar for each task.\"), \" If\\nyou don't hold yourself accountable to a specific time in the day, it's easy\\nto let things slip by. Add it to your calendar, and make any necessary\\nadjustments as the day unfolds.\"), mdx(\"li\", {\n    parentName: \"ul\"\n  }, mdx(\"strong\", {\n    parentName: \"li\"\n  }, \"If there's not enough time, reassess your tasks or move to tomorrow.\"), \" If\\nyou run out of time to complete the to-dos (based on the appetite), reassess\\nthe tasks, the appetites, or move it to the next day.\"), mdx(\"li\", {\n    parentName: \"ul\"\n  }, mdx(\"strong\", {\n    parentName: \"li\"\n  }, \"If something changes, reassess and update your calendar.\"), \" Plans almost\\ninvariably shift, which is fine (and expected). Continue to reassess your\\ncalendar, tasks, and outcomes, reconfiguring accordingly.\")), mdx(\"h3\", {\n    \"id\": \"example-2\"\n  }, mdx(\"a\", _extends({\n    parentName: \"h3\"\n  }, {\n    \"href\": \"#example-2\",\n    \"aria-label\": \"example 2 permalink\",\n    \"className\": \"headerLink\"\n  }), mdx(\"svg\", _extends({\n    parentName: \"a\"\n  }, {\n    \"xmlns\": \"http://www.w3.org/2000/svg\",\n    \"width\": \"24\",\n    \"height\": \"24\",\n    \"fill\": \"none\",\n    \"stroke\": \"currentColor\",\n    \"strokeWidth\": \"2\",\n    \"strokeLineCap\": \"round\",\n    \"strokeLineJoin\": \"round\",\n    \"className\": \"feather feather-link\"\n  }), mdx(\"path\", _extends({\n    parentName: \"svg\"\n  }, {\n    \"d\": \"M10 13a5 5 0 007.54.54l3-3a5 5 0 00-7.07-7.07l-1.72 1.71\"\n  })), mdx(\"path\", _extends({\n    parentName: \"svg\"\n  }, {\n    \"d\": \"M14 11a5 5 0 00-7.54-.54l-3 3a5 5 0 007.07 7.07l1.71-1.71\"\n  })))), \"Example\"), mdx(\"ul\", null, mdx(\"li\", {\n    parentName: \"ul\"\n  }, \"(9:00-11:00am) Write Chapter 1\"), mdx(\"li\", {\n    parentName: \"ul\"\n  }, \"(12:00-2:00pm) Write Chapter 2\"), mdx(\"li\", {\n    parentName: \"ul\"\n  }, \"(2:30-3:00pm) Call Dave\"), mdx(\"li\", {\n    parentName: \"ul\"\n  }, \"(3:30-4:30pm) Design Book Cover\")), mdx(\"h2\", {\n    \"id\": \"why-does-this-method-work\"\n  }, mdx(\"a\", _extends({\n    parentName: \"h2\"\n  }, {\n    \"href\": \"#why-does-this-method-work\",\n    \"aria-label\": \"why does this method work permalink\",\n    \"className\": \"headerLink\"\n  }), mdx(\"svg\", _extends({\n    parentName: \"a\"\n  }, {\n    \"xmlns\": \"http://www.w3.org/2000/svg\",\n    \"width\": \"24\",\n    \"height\": \"24\",\n    \"fill\": \"none\",\n    \"stroke\": \"currentColor\",\n    \"strokeWidth\": \"2\",\n    \"strokeLineCap\": \"round\",\n    \"strokeLineJoin\": \"round\",\n    \"className\": \"feather feather-link\"\n  }), mdx(\"path\", _extends({\n    parentName: \"svg\"\n  }, {\n    \"d\": \"M10 13a5 5 0 007.54.54l3-3a5 5 0 00-7.07-7.07l-1.72 1.71\"\n  })), mdx(\"path\", _extends({\n    parentName: \"svg\"\n  }, {\n    \"d\": \"M14 11a5 5 0 00-7.54-.54l-3 3a5 5 0 007.07 7.07l1.71-1.71\"\n  })))), \"Why does this method work?\"), mdx(\"ul\", null, mdx(\"li\", {\n    parentName: \"ul\"\n  }, \"The first step helps you align to your goals, which orients your work and\\nplanning against only the most essential and high-value work.\"), mdx(\"li\", {\n    parentName: \"ul\"\n  }, \"The second step helps you break down what you want to happen into digestible\\nblocks of work as actionable tasks.\"), mdx(\"li\", {\n    parentName: \"ul\"\n  }, \"The third step forces you to constrain yourself against time, holding yourself\\naccountable with realistic expectations.\")), mdx(\"h2\", {\n    \"id\": \"this-works-for-planning-weeks-months-quarters-and-years-too\"\n  }, mdx(\"a\", _extends({\n    parentName: \"h2\"\n  }, {\n    \"href\": \"#this-works-for-planning-weeks-months-quarters-and-years-too\",\n    \"aria-label\": \"this works for planning weeks months quarters and years too permalink\",\n    \"className\": \"headerLink\"\n  }), mdx(\"svg\", _extends({\n    parentName: \"a\"\n  }, {\n    \"xmlns\": \"http://www.w3.org/2000/svg\",\n    \"width\": \"24\",\n    \"height\": \"24\",\n    \"fill\": \"none\",\n    \"stroke\": \"currentColor\",\n    \"strokeWidth\": \"2\",\n    \"strokeLineCap\": \"round\",\n    \"strokeLineJoin\": \"round\",\n    \"className\": \"feather feather-link\"\n  }), mdx(\"path\", _extends({\n    parentName: \"svg\"\n  }, {\n    \"d\": \"M10 13a5 5 0 007.54.54l3-3a5 5 0 00-7.07-7.07l-1.72 1.71\"\n  })), mdx(\"path\", _extends({\n    parentName: \"svg\"\n  }, {\n    \"d\": \"M14 11a5 5 0 00-7.54-.54l-3 3a5 5 0 007.07 7.07l1.71-1.71\"\n  })))), \"This works for planning weeks, months, quarters, and years, too.\"), mdx(\"p\", null, \"Although the focus is here on planning your day, you can use the same steps to\\nplan next week, month, quarter, or year. Identify what would make the time unit\\nsuccessful, break the work down, and schedule time to do it.\"), mdx(\"p\", null, \"When looking at longer time horizons (months, quarters, years), breaking the\\nwork down will often result in a project, which is a collection of tasks that\\nwork towards a single objective. And scheduling time will often result in\\nrecurring events, which can come to life as habits.\"), mdx(\"h3\", {\n    \"id\": \"year-example\"\n  }, mdx(\"a\", _extends({\n    parentName: \"h3\"\n  }, {\n    \"href\": \"#year-example\",\n    \"aria-label\": \"year example permalink\",\n    \"className\": \"headerLink\"\n  }), mdx(\"svg\", _extends({\n    parentName: \"a\"\n  }, {\n    \"xmlns\": \"http://www.w3.org/2000/svg\",\n    \"width\": \"24\",\n    \"height\": \"24\",\n    \"fill\": \"none\",\n    \"stroke\": \"currentColor\",\n    \"strokeWidth\": \"2\",\n    \"strokeLineCap\": \"round\",\n    \"strokeLineJoin\": \"round\",\n    \"className\": \"feather feather-link\"\n  }), mdx(\"path\", _extends({\n    parentName: \"svg\"\n  }, {\n    \"d\": \"M10 13a5 5 0 007.54.54l3-3a5 5 0 00-7.07-7.07l-1.72 1.71\"\n  })), mdx(\"path\", _extends({\n    parentName: \"svg\"\n  }, {\n    \"d\": \"M14 11a5 5 0 00-7.54-.54l-3 3a5 5 0 007.07 7.07l1.71-1.71\"\n  })))), \"Year Example\"), mdx(\"p\", null, mdx(\"strong\", {\n    parentName: \"p\"\n  }, \"1. Answer \\\"What will make this year successful?\\\"\")), mdx(\"ul\", null, mdx(\"li\", {\n    parentName: \"ul\"\n  }, \"I have run a 5k.\"), mdx(\"li\", {\n    parentName: \"ul\"\n  }, \"I have published a new book.\")), mdx(\"p\", null, mdx(\"strong\", {\n    parentName: \"p\"\n  }, \"2. Break the work down into tasks.\")), mdx(\"ul\", null, mdx(\"li\", {\n    parentName: \"ul\"\n  }, mdx(\"em\", {\n    parentName: \"li\"\n  }, \"5k Training\"), \" (project with tasks like \\\"Buy running shoes\\\", etc.).\"), mdx(\"li\", {\n    parentName: \"ul\"\n  }, mdx(\"em\", {\n    parentName: \"li\"\n  }, \"New Book\"), \" (project with tasks like \\\"Decide on title\\\", etc.).\")), mdx(\"p\", null, mdx(\"strong\", {\n    parentName: \"p\"\n  }, \"3. Commit time on the calendar.\")), mdx(\"ul\", null, mdx(\"li\", {\n    parentName: \"ul\"\n  }, \"(M-Th from 6:00-7:00am) Running\"), mdx(\"li\", {\n    parentName: \"ul\"\n  }, \"(Every day from 8:00-9:00am) Writing\")));\n}\n;\nMDXContent.isMDXComponent = true;","frontmatter":{"date":"August 25, 2020","title":"Plan Your Day","banner":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"base64":"data:image/png;base64,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","aspectRatio":1.6666666666666667,"src":"/static/1e2aeac608cf1c2fcfdffc116a59408d/d456e/banner.png","srcSet":"/static/1e2aeac608cf1c2fcfdffc116a59408d/8005d/banner.png 188w,\n/static/1e2aeac608cf1c2fcfdffc116a59408d/49959/banner.png 375w,\n/static/1e2aeac608cf1c2fcfdffc116a59408d/d456e/banner.png 750w,\n/static/1e2aeac608cf1c2fcfdffc116a59408d/130bf/banner.png 1125w,\n/static/1e2aeac608cf1c2fcfdffc116a59408d/52e98/banner.png 1500w","sizes":"(max-width: 750px) 100vw, 750px"}}},"tags":["productivity"]},"timeToRead":2,"fields":{"slug":"/plan-your-day/"}}},"pageContext":{"isCreatedByStatefulCreatePages":false,"slug":"/plan-your-day/"}}}