[Planning Series] How To Plan Amidst Uncertainty

[Part 3 of 5] Most perfectionists discover it difficult to plan out their week after they don’t know what is going to come up or how a lot power they’ll have. Whether or not you’re working an exhausting day job, doing shift work or elevating younger youngsters alongside constructing your corporation – there are particular issues that may really feel laborious to plan round. Particularly when nobody has taught you find out how to plan correctly…

Some perfectionists plan their week as if every little thing will go easily, hoping for one of the best after which abandoning their plans when the inevitable occurs. Others really feel like they’ll’t make plans in any respect and wing it day-by-day, praying they’ll be capable of discover the motivation to do what issues most. However neither of those approaches work.

That’s why I interviewed Michelle Weeks on find out how to plan correctly amidst uncertainty. Michelle is a PGSD Coach in addition to being a life coach. Michelle and I are moms of 6-month-old infants (Freddie and Lydia). And we’re each utilizing Energy Planning to get out of our personal manner and get shit performed in our companies.

Tune into this episode to find the entire sensible issues we do to make Energy Planning work for us when life is throwing fixed curveballs.

Doorways shut Friday: That is our closing enrollment of the yr for Perfectionists Getting Shit Executed. If you join PGSD, you’ll get immediate entry to the Energy Planning Course so you can begin planning correctly as a perfectionist straight away and begin 2026 with PGSD by your facet. Doorways shut at 11:59pm EST this Friday, 21 November. To enroll right this moment go to samlaurabrown.com/pgsd.

Pay attention To The Episode

Hearken to the episode on the participant above, click on right here to obtain the episode and take it with you or pay attention wherever you usually take heed to podcasts – simply discover Episode 565 of The Perfectionism Undertaking Podcast!

Subscribe To The Perfectionism Undertaking Podcast

FULL EPISODE TRANSCRIPT

Introduction
Hello and welcome to a different episode of The Perfectionism Undertaking. A podcast stuffed with perfectionism recommendation for entrepreneurs. My title is Sam Laura Brown, I assist entrepreneurs launch their perfectionism handbrake, to allow them to get out of their very own manner and construct a satisfying and worthwhile enterprise. I’m the founding father of the Perfectionists Getting Shit Executed group teaching program, which is in any other case often known as PGSD. And for much more perfectionism recommendation that will help you with your corporation, you’ll be able to comply with me on Instagram @perfectionismproject.

Sam Laura Brown (Customized introduction)
You will love this. I simply know that is going to be good timing that I’m releasing these episodes right this moment. So what I’m doing is I’m releasing the 5 hottest episodes of this podcast, which is the Planning sequence on find out how to plan correctly as a perfectionist, whether or not you might have listened earlier than, whether or not that is going to be your first time listening, if in case you have been getting in your personal manner, in your corporation, if you happen to’ve been having a tough time displaying up, if you understand that you possibly can be extra profitable if you happen to might simply truly comply with via with the plans that you simply make. You already know what to do. You’re simply not doing it. This sequence is simply going to be one of the best factor for you. So I need to invite you to take heed to all 5 elements of this sequence. They will be profoundly useful. And I additionally need to invite you to affix us inside my program. Perfectionist Getting Shit Executed. So we are literally within the final enrollment of this yr, so doorways shall be closing at 11:59pm jap time on Friday the twenty first of November. In order that’s only some days away, and I need to invite you inside, as a result of to start with, there’s clearly by no means a greater time to get out of your personal manner than the current.

There’s simply with the ability to create the compound impact and like be in that momentum earlier than the yr is even over. I do know we love to attend until January and all of that, however what if, as an alternative of ready for January to start out getting out of your personal manner, you have been out of your personal manner and on that path by January, in order that come January, you’re not ranging from a standstill. That’s what I need to invite you into in December, we additionally do an annual reflection as a neighborhood the yr in overview, and we do planning for the next yr. So I need to invite you to be there for that, whether or not it’s being there stay with us, doing the replay, irrespective of your time zone, doing that’s going to set you up for one of the best 2026 and likewise, once you join Perfectionist Getting Shit Executed, you’re going to get immediate entry to every little thing, together with the facility planning course, which you’ll be able to watch begin to end in a day after which be planning correctly as a perfectionist, together with the help and the unbelievable neighborhood and different instruments which can be there for you inside PGSD as nicely. So I hope you take pleasure in this sequence, and I need to invite you to affix us inside PGSD, earlier than the doorways shut at 11:59pm jap time this Friday, the twenty first of November, you’ll be able to go to samlaurabrown.com/pgsd, the hyperlink shall be down there for you within the present notes to go and join right this moment and be part of us inside.

Sam Laura Brown
This episode is a component three within the five-part Planning sequence that’s popping out right here for you on the podcast on find out how to plan correctly as a perfectionist. On this episode, I’m interviewing Michelle Weeks, and he or she can be a life coach for mothers, she helps mothers to do the mindset work they should do so as to present up totally for themselves and for his or her youngsters. And she or he additionally helps mothers transition into motherhood and doing that in a extremely stunning, intentional manner. So I’ll hyperlink up Michelle’s Instagram and her web site within the present notes. And I actually need to encourage you, if you happen to take pleasure in this podcast, and also you resonate with the way in which that I educate, and the ideas that I educate, you’re going to love Michelle. So go and check out her Instagram. And if you’re a mother attain out to her and discover out extra about what she does.

So on this episode, we discuss find out how to energy plan amidst uncertainty. So find out how to energy plan once you don’t know what your week goes to appear to be. Possibly you’re a shift employee, and also you’re unsure once you’re gonna work, or there’s simply a lot change within the time of day that you simply work, that you simply aren’t in a position to actually get into routines, as a result of on a regular basis is so completely different. Possibly like Michelle and I, you might have a toddler or you might have youngsters. And there’s the uncertainty that comes with, will my youngster be nicely, will they be napping after they’re meant to be napping? Or what is going to that appear to be? Will they be going to sleep on the identical time? Or will they be when will they be waking up? And when will they have to be fed? And what if I’m exhausted and all these issues that may include having youngsters, or what if you’re working a full time job, for instance, and you might be engaged on your corporation alongside that. And also you don’t know the way exhausted you’re gonna be after you get dwelling from work or you might have household commitments, possibly you might be caring for one more member of your loved ones, otherwise you simply have issues which can be occurring, a variety of plates within the air, possibly like me, you might be doing a renovation, you might have these issues happening that you simply really feel like I don’t even know what’s going to return up this week. So how am I meant to really plan my week out, one of the best I can do is simply have this to-do checklist and decide off objects on the day if I do have time to be productive.

On this episode, we discuss how one can energy plan, even when there may be uncertainty in your week. And that features as nicely when you might have uncertainty as to the way you’re going to really feel how productive you’re going to be. We are likely to plan for our very best self. And we discuss find out how to actually plan in your actual life and what’s happening and the way that basically is the simplest method to be productive while additionally caring for your self and your well being and health objectives and every little thing that you’ve happening in your life in addition to your corporation.

So I actually hope that you simply take pleasure in this one. And that it solutions some questions for you about find out how to plan when there may be uncertainty in addition to offer you some perception into virtually talking what energy planning seems to be like for each Michelle and I, we share a variety of actual life examples of what energy planning seems to be like for us and the modifications that occur week to week and the way we use journaling and self-coaching to assist us and various things like that.

So I do know you’re going to get rather a lot from this one. In case you take pleasure in it, please take a screenshot and tag each Michelle and I on Instagram, we’d like to see that and actually begin utilizing energy planning and the entire PGSD course of that will help you get out of your personal manner in your corporation and in the remainder of your life right this moment. Okay, so with that stated, let’s get into the interview with Michelle.

Sam Laura Brown

Hello, Michelle, welcome to the podcast. I’m so excited to be speaking to you about find out how to use energy planning and plan out your week. Even once you don’t know precisely how your week is gonna look. You don’t know what may change. Possibly you might have a toddler you’re doing shift work. You could have some type of uncertainty that makes it actually difficult to determine what to place in your plans? So let’s begin by speaking about for you, what did energy planning appear to be? Earlier than? Sorry? I don’t imply that what I imply is, what did your planning course of appear to be earlier than energy planning?

Michelle Weeks

Effectively, thanks, thanks for having me, I’m actually, actually excited to be on the podcast. For me, earlier than energy planning, I used to be an inventory woman I had, which I truly was very pleased with on the time, as a result of it was all that I’d identified. And I used to have an inventory of should do’s and an inventory of need to’s. However what I didn’t notice on the time was simply how a lot of an influence having an inventory like that had on my mind with the ability to swap off. As a result of the checklist was at all times there, it was at all times sitting there, it was by no means going wherever. And so I by no means sort of obtained to a spot the place I felt like I had accomplished one thing sufficient to have the ability to then swap off and relaxation.

And so the lists for me whereas I whereas on the time, they have been working very well, it wasn’t till I then found a brand new manner of doing it and a way more, I suppose, holistic manner of doing it, as a result of my lists have been solely ever the duties that I needed to do. And so they by no means had issues on them that I truly like needed to do. For me, it was identical to the issues that I needed to do. And so it wasn’t till I found energy planning that then I used to be like, Oh, truly, this nonetheless permits me to do all of the issues that I would like and need to do. But it surely additionally has that added component of my mind with the ability to see one thing be full and be capable of swap off. But additionally, the holistic facet of what was essential to me was like balancing my relaxation, and my, you understand, my train and my social occasions and people types of issues, which the to-do checklist simply by no means ever, like facilitated that potential for me.

Sam Laura Brown

Yeah, once you had your to-do lists, you have been saying that it was sort of just like the shoulds. And all these expectations you had for your self and not likely the issues that you simply needed to do. Are you able to consider any examples of that particularly, like issues that you simply had in your to-do checklist that you simply didn’t actually need to do, however you thought you must? Or issues that you’d have appreciated to have there, however you hadn’t actually thought to place in your to do checklist?

Michelle Weeks

Yeah, so I believe, for me, the shoulds have been a variety of the like, nitty gritty issues. So issues that and I suppose as a perfectionist, I’d take into consideration all of the tiny little issues and the booby duties that might be on my checklist, however not essentially the duties that have been going to be actually impactful for me truly transferring ahead. And so my checklist could be like 30, 40 bits lengthy, however none of them have been truly issues that have been impactful. All they did was type of litter in my mind and make me really feel like I had so many issues that I needed to do.

And that could be issues like, you understand, like paying the payments, which clearly have to occur, however paying the payments or, you understand, getting in contact with this individual or no matter it could be, I felt like there have been so a lot of these, that by the point I’d work my manner via these if I used to be simply doing it in a linear manner, I then would get to those that have been truly actually essential. And I’d be like, oh, you understand what, I’ve performed fairly just a few issues right this moment, and I’m fairly exhausted. So I’d simply, you understand, have a break right here. So it actually allowed me to, like, not essentially take motion on issues which can be actually essential, however maintain myself actually busy and actually overwhelmed on these smaller duties that weren’t essentially that essential. However I nonetheless really feel like I needs to be doing them.

Sam Laura Brown

Yeah, did it really feel I used to be gonna ask that it really feel like every little thing on that checklist was essential. Like on the time you I’m certain have been conscious of like prioritizing and that sort of factor. So what do you assume made it so that you simply nonetheless did these duties that wasn’t as essential for us as a result of I believe that’s so widespread, and that we are able to actually intellectually perceive prioritization and that sort of factor. And but we’re like, however this stuff are actually essential. They do have to get performed. And since they must get performed issues like paying the payments, I’m going to do them first. After which I’ll do my good to have’s later and we sort of simply find yourself on this upkeep mode. Did you are feeling like that like every little thing on that checklist was essential?

Michelle Weeks

Yeah, I did. I positively did. However I suppose, the excellence that I used to be in a position to then in on reflection, the excellence that I used to be in a position to see. Whereas on the time after they simply all felt essential, as soon as I’d identified extra, I used to be in a position to then say, Okay, nicely hold on, I can prioritize this stuff in, I can nearly like group them and categorize them in order that they nonetheless will get performed, or they nonetheless have a spot. But it surely’s not at a time the place I might be actually using that chunk of time for one thing that’s actually essential. So for me, it was like, you understand, if I’ve obtained an enormous chunk of time that I actually need to use to be efficient and transfer myself and my enterprise ahead. I used to be utilizing that point for these little to do’s that felt actually essential on the time, however truly, weren’t issues that have been serving to to push myself and my enterprise ahead. So it was about distinguishing between, sure, these are essential, however there’s a time and a spot for them. And these are the duties which can be essential inside this, you understand, sporting this hat on this chunk of time that I’m going to plan out.

Sam Laura Brown

Yeah, that makes whole sense. So inform me, what was your expertise? Like once you began energy planning? Do you keep in mind when that was?

Michelle Weeks

I’ve been planning… I’ve been energy planning now for just below two years. And yeah, the expertise was, I suppose, clearly, I’ve been in PGSD for the reason that date began. And there was positively a little bit little bit of resistance there for me originally. You already know, I, I needed perfectionist, I needed it to love be color-coded completely and fluff round and have all of it like I couldn’t have any gaps. As a result of how outrageous if my calendar had gaps in it, and all this stuff. So for me, it was positively one thing that I wanted to vary my mindset round it. And I wanted to start out seeing it as one thing that was actually like, a liberating factor for me. And so as to do this, I wanted to decide to making an attempt it.

And for me, most likely, I can’t actually keep in mind, however I believe it was between, it was round three months for me, which I do know is type of what you recommend anyway. However I believe it really was round that three-month mark that I began to say, oh, okay, I, I can see like how liberating that is for me to have this as a device and as a observe, and be capable of use it to plan out my week successfully. And as soon as I had been in that development mindset round it as an alternative of simply being like, Oh, nicely, it doesn’t work. It’s like, okay, why isn’t it working? Why can I What can I do? Or how can I alter or adapt this observe in order that it may work. And that was, you understand, a journey of discovery? For certain. For certain, for me. And, and however the advantages that I noticed via that persistence have been so so so helpful for me as an individual, however as a enterprise proprietor, as nicely. And…

Sam Laura Brown

What have been a few of these advantages? Like what did since you are productive earlier than? What did it actually appear to be when you energy planning and also you’d performed these first few months the place it may be a little bit of a rocky highway? We’re making an attempt to determine how that works. After which you may get right into a groove with it. What did that appear to be for you as compared? Like how are you aware? Sure, that is working for me. And also you then clearly determined to maintain doing it?

Michelle Weeks

Yeah, good query. For me, it was the power to change off. I had actually by no means switched off earlier than. Most likely ever, however actually, you understand, I used to be a trainer for a few years earlier than that. And it was the power to have a look at it and say, in entrance of me a visible learner in entrance of me, I can see that every little thing on my checklist has a spot and goes to get performed. And on high of that, I can get relaxation I can are you aware I can decide to my train. I can see my buddies I can do the social facet of issues. And I by no means obtained that with an inventory.

With an inventory, it was simply an ongoing, one thing that was at all times like little sandbags in my mind. However once I began to energy plan, it actually obtained to the purpose that I used to be like, I can see, I can launch all of these sandbags from my mind. And I can see in entrance of me the place every little thing matches, every little thing has a house, every little thing you understand goes to get performed. And there’s area for it to be one thing that I can change and iterate as I’m going. So for me, that was the massive change in recognizing that I might swap on for regardless of the duties have been. However I might additionally swap off and never really feel like these sandbags have been simply consistently in my mind weighing me down on a regular basis.

Sam Laura Brown

Yeah, I believe we’re all conversant in that feeling of like, although you’ve had a productive day or productive week, you continue to by no means really feel such as you’re on high of every little thing, once you’re simply speaking from that lengthy to-do checklist, particularly after we’re including extra objects to that to-do checklist because the week goes on. Yeah, however when you’ll be able to have all of it laid out and simply say, Cool, that is what I have to do, after which get to the tip of that and truly really feel completed. And clearly, once you’re planning, you’re doing it in a manner you’ll be able to truly comply with via one. So I believe a variety of perfectionists have hesitations round working from a calendar. Due to that tendency, we have now to over plan, after which really feel like that is once I first began working from a calendar. I believe I first tried it possibly about 5 years in the past now. And it was a horrible expertise. Due to the way in which that I did it. I hadn’t but found out find out how to not over plan. And so I simply felt like I had this like merciless ruler, who was making an attempt to do this stuff with out ever having a break and considering that each one the duties take half the time. And it wasn’t enjoyable. After which figuring that out. It’s simply so liberating, as you stated, wish to not have that psychological baggage of all these duties that we should always do.

I actually needed to talk about find out how to plan and use energy planning when there may be uncertainty. So we each have on the time this shall be launched six-month-old infants who’re born a few week aside. Yeah, and when you might have a toddler, it brings a variety of uncertainty. And it brings a variety of potential for change, particularly once you don’t know in the event that they’re going to be nicely or not after they’re going to sleep or after they’re going to have to be fed. Like in the meanwhile, I’m breastfeeding Lydia on demand. In order that’s actually anytime that she desires it. So these can stop challenges to planning except we all know find out how to plan successfully when there may be uncertainty.

And so I’d love to listen to from you what modifications you made to your weekly energy planning or what bits have been particularly essential after Freddy was born and also you started energy planning once more. Like how did you ensure that if he didn’t nap when he was meant to or issues like that occurred, that you simply have been nonetheless in a position to simply maintain your plans workable and maintain going as an alternative of what we are likely to do is simply ditch the entire plan and say, Oh, I can’t even plan in any respect. As a result of I don’t know, when he’s gonna sleep or for somebody who’s simply I can’t I don’t know the place my shifts shall be or I don’t know if I’ll be too drained after my full time job to work on my enterprise. So for you, what has that regarded like? Like how have you ever actually made certain your plans are workable, and you’ll nonetheless decide to planning with all that uncertainty that they presents?

Michelle Weeks

Yeah, and it’s so true there. I imply, my life may be very unsure, not solely from clearly a child. I even have my husband’s schedule may be very, very unsure, he does a variety of journey, we transfer very frequently. So I’ve a variety of observe in energy planning with uncertainty and the advantages of that which has been one thing that has really supported me via the uncertainty that we have now been via not too long ago, notably.

Now, by way of how my planning has modified. There’s a few issues that I positively have made, or have put extra emphasis on. The primary one is planning, or being additional sort to myself once I’m planning. Now, I can like I sit and I acknowledge simply how a lot is occurring in life in the meanwhile as everybody has. And previous to having Freddie it was most likely a little bit bit extra of like a Oh, I do know. Like I do know that issues are going to go the way in which and or the way in which that I’m hoping them to go. But it surely was most likely extra an inner selection as as to if or not I used to be going to comply with via and that might be the issues that have been unsure. Whereas now that uncertainty is type of out of my palms so I plan being additional additional sort to myself that on a sensible sense, seems to be like having heaps of area is like area in my calendar. So plenty of additional buffer time, I even have what I name like a hearth extinguisher zone, which for me is like, it is a added bonus working, working chunking my week, if I would like it. And if I don’t, then that at all times turns into clear relaxation for me.

But it surely sort of permits me to have that thought technique of I’ve obtained additional time, I’ve obtained additional buffer, however I even have my hearth extinguisher time as nicely. In order that’s been actually useful. The 2 issues that I’ve most likely modified essentially the most or have targeted on essentially the most since then, is the 2 issues that lots of people I suppose, don’t essentially get to in energy planning, when they’re nonetheless studying and that’s the contingency plans.

For me, contingency plans are completely key. In order I plan all through the week, I’m at all times considering, Okay, what’s the contingency plan going to be if, you understand, Freddie’s care falls via or if I’m, like, exhausted, or I haven’t slept in any respect the night time earlier than, or no matter it could be. So I spent a variety of time now considering of the contingencies that I can put in place. After which following on from that, I actually take a look at the workability of my calendar. And for me, a variety of what I do is I don’t dwell on if one thing has labored, or sorry, if I’ve needed to change plans. I don’t dwell on that, which has truly proven me a lot development in myself, which I’m actually enthusiastic about, as a result of as an alternative of it being like, oh, however you understand, it means a lot extra about me. Now, I’m like, Okay, I don’t dwell on it. That didn’t work. How can I reshuffle, what can I do to make it workable any longer, as an alternative of such as you have been saying, letting it’s one thing that I maintain on to, after which it drags for the remainder of that day, and the remainder of the week, and so on, and so on. It’s like, okay, I’m gonna maintain this inside, you understand, I’m going to not make this imply extra about myself than it does, I’m gonna acknowledge that that is the truth of the scenario. And now I’m going to vary my plans and make them workable from right here on. So it doesn’t sort of compound and have a compound impact all through the week. It’s simply cool. And we transfer on, and we determine it out as we go.

Sam Laura Brown

Yeah, that’s such a terrific level. As a result of we are able to actually really feel a variety of disgrace round needing to vary plans, when we have now this concept that how we plan originally of the week, we should always be capable of comply with that to a tee and never must make any modifications. And we expect, Effectively, I’m having to make a change. Meaning I’m not following via. Meaning like, possibly I’m self-sabotaging. After which we are able to go into that entire span of like, is that this self-sabotage? Or do I would like to really relaxation and spend all this time making an attempt to determine that out? However to only what I really like about energy planning is that a part of it’s planning that your plans will change, which is contingency planning and seeing like, Okay, nicely, what if childcare falls via? Or what if I’ve to get up each hour, that night time, after which I can’t do something the subsequent day, as a result of I’m so exhausted. And so when that’s baked into the plans, and when a part of Energy Plan is checking in on the calendar and adjusting it, it then turns into simply a part of what ought to occur. Like, as perfectionists, we at all times have this imaginary, like how issues needs to be occurring, after which what we’re doing, after which we despair concerning the distinction between these two. But when it’s a part of the planning technique to vary your plans, then it simply turns into like a non-issue.

Like earlier than recording this. We had an e mail are available from our builder, our renovation, and the time that is launched will hopefully be accomplished in like the ultimate week, and we’re hopefully transferring in subsequent week. And there’s one thing excellent with all {the electrical} stuff. And it took us two hours. I imply, Steve to undergo this e mail and evaluate all these invoices and quotes and draft up this reply. And so I used to be in a position to simply shuffle round what was on my plans, it wasn’t a problem. And Steve was like, I don’t need to disrupt your day, such as you’ve obtained shit to do. And I used to be like, Yeah, however I’ve deliberate for this sort of factor to occur, as a result of I do know we’re within the closing week of a renovation, and that we’re most likely gonna must have just a few emails, have conferences with the builders, so I haven’t deliberate my week. As if I’m not in the course of a renovation as if I don’t have a child as if I’ve limitless power. I’ve deliberate it as if all of these issues are happening. And I’ve like I really like the way you talked concerning the hearth extinguisher kind you could have like Sunday the entire time I’ve blocked off his buffer time. In order that just like the factor that occurred right this moment with the emails, I might take that two-hour chunk that I had, and simply slide it over to Sunday. After which it’s not a problem I’m not behind. And it’s so essential to maintain the plans workable as you go. In order that that feeling of being behind doesn’t occur, like what does that appear to be for you? Are you taking a look at your calendar all through the day? Or do you take a look at the tip? Like, virtually talking? Yeah, how do you make these changes in your calendar?

Michelle Weeks

So virtually talking, for me, I’ve two screens that I work from day by day, one display will at all times have my calendar on it, and the opposite one shall be the place I’m working from. And so I consistently have my calendar in entrance of me, and I can acknowledge what it’s that I meant to be doing on this time and the place my day goes, after which I and I obtained this from you. On the finish of every day I’m going via and I put little, like ticks or crosses subsequent to what did occur or what didn’t occur. After which I overview and take a look at if these issues which can be have throughout subsequent to it, do they have to be shuffled or is that one thing that I simply have to study for subsequent week just isn’t essentially one thing that must be put into my energy planning, possibly that’s one thing that I have to get rid of in one of many steps. So that’s how I do it, I do I take a look at it each day, and I transfer round each day. After which I do my weekly overview on the finish of the week. And that’s sort of my time the place I then say, okay, you understand, what truly wants to vary what labored, what didn’t, and so on, and so on. And that then helps me plan with issues in thoughts for the subsequent week, or it helps me to sort of transfer the issues over that have to be moved. If I can see that they’re nonetheless issues that basically have to get performed. In any other case, I can get rid of them. And yeah, don’t make it imply an excessive amount of about myself within the course of.

Sam Laura Brown

Yeah, and I do the identical as nicely, that it’s actually having these two screens, I discover useful, however you don’t have to have two screens, however I like to see my calendar there. So I’m consistently reminded of it. And there are some days that I’m working. After which I simply sort of go down a rabbit gap, and I’m not taking a look at my calendar. After which the subsequent work day, it’s only a behavior now to have a look at my calendar, and I’ll go and replace roughly talking, what I did the day earlier than and make these modifications. In order that I’m by no means feeling behind, I can take a look at my calendar at any level, it solely takes a few minutes to replace it. Yeah. And typically I’m like, I like, I simply have to get this, like right this moment’s stuff workable. So I can do it. After which I would like to determine once I can do the remainder. So I don’t deal with getting every little thing into its good spot. Typically I’ll simply be like, cool, these duties didn’t occur yesterday, they’re not going to have the ability to occur right this moment, I’ve this different stuff I have to do. I’m simply gonna like, drag them to a future day they usually could be overlapping. After which when that day comes, I’ll make these changes in order that it’s all workable.

I believe we are able to get caught up on like, Okay, nicely, however when am I going to do these duties after which making an attempt to determine that out. But it surely’s simply so essential within the second within the week to only be targeted on okay, we’re at right this moment, what do I have to do right this moment, I’m nonetheless considering of like how we do the facility hour and the order, we do issues with clear relaxation and never being a precedence over the work duties. And it’s very straightforward to only drag issues out after we get behind. After which we’re in that over planning. And a contingency planning could be that if we haven’t performed one thing that we determine, truly, on this clear relaxation time, like this factor must get performed this week. If I don’t do it, then, then I’m going to get it in, get it performed in that point. However I like to recommend towards that as a result of then we simply find yourself not likely having any motivation to get it performed within the time that we have now allowed. What has your expertise been like with that by way of, truly having an finish to your day? And find out how to know when to go previous that? After which find out how to know when to only name it and if you happen to’ve procrastinated or if one thing hasn’t occurred to only bear the consequence of that and maintain going.

Michelle Weeks

And I believe so simply I’ll reply that in a sec. However I needed to only contact on what you stated as nicely is that concept of like there are some weeks that I fairly confidently planning out an entire week after which maintain it workable. However there are additionally many weeks that I take a look at it and like are you aware what I’m going to plan the primary two days of that week, and that’s okay. I don’t essentially plan the entire week, each single week I can acknowledge, and once more, it most likely comes with the truth that I’ve practiced it rather a lot and it’s now develop into one thing that I’m far more snug with however I don’t essentially at all times plan the entire week I can I positively plan two or three days at a time and be like, Okay, that’s the restrict of my books this week. After which at that cut-off date already, I’ll reassess and determine what’s happening.

When it comes to, like having completion within the day, I’m not good at it, that’s for certain. But it surely’s positively one thing that I can acknowledge in myself as of late. And with the ability to have that point the place I do, my weekly overview, is de facto helpful for me to see what the tendencies are. And positively, to start with, once I was over planning rather a lot, and having, you understand, most likely planning for my idealistic self, reasonably than planning for my practical self, I’d get most likely to love 4 or 5 o’clock after which say, Oh, if I simply and if I simply and if I simply, and, you understand, the calendar would sort of disappear additional and additional throughout my display. However what I can acknowledge now’s, I believe, within the technique of persisting with it and being inquisitive about it, it’s helped me to establish once I do overplan, what, like, what’s making me really feel like I have to proceed on right this moment. What’s making me really feel like if it says that I’m beginning my clear relaxation at 5 o’clock, what are the ideas? And what are the precise duties that I’m having that’s making me really feel like I have to go additional than that?

After which in that second, nearly taking a step again and saying, is that this one thing that’s that I really want to do? Or is that this me sort of simply breaking the self-trust that I, that I’m constructing with myself consistently? By making an attempt to get forward or by feeling like I haven’t performed sufficient or all of these, like shortage ideas that may come into it? And I discover often once I go previous, or once I’m making an attempt to my brains making an attempt to persuade me to go previous once I’ve scheduled, often, it’s one thing that comes up for me that’s in that shortage thought course of, after which I may be inquisitive about what that’s. Oftentimes, you understand, there are positively some instances that I’m like, No, I have to get this job performed. And that is the time that I’m going to get it performed. And I’m going to go for it. And sure, I’ll make every little thing else workable. However there are these two sides. It’s like being curious concerning the underlying stuff and going a bit deeper into that. After which different days that I’m like, No, it is a get shit performed day, I have to get this performed by X, Y, Z, and I’m going to maintain going right this moment. So…

Sam Laura Brown

Yeah, I really like the way you stated about, it actually lets you get curious and likewise to love see these shortage ideas and that sort of factor. As a result of it truly is such a terrific private growth device like it should present you the place you have to nonetheless do work. And that may be confronting at instances. That’s why in PGSD, we provide a lot help, as a result of it’s like, all that stuff’s already there. But it surely’s going to make it extra apparent once you aren’t in a position to simply work off this imprecise to-do checklist anymore. And completely, you understand, maintain indulging in these like, Okay, only one other thing, only one other thing. However you’re in a position to see like, Okay, I had deliberate to finish right this moment. Now I’ve to decide about, will I maintain doing this stuff and altering my plans? or received’t I? And even if you happen to determine, truly, I’m simply going to maintain working, I’m going to sort of not take a look at the calendar, then once you do the weekly overview, and also you’re wanting again on the week, it’s such a good time to see like, Okay, nicely, I went well past once I plan to what’s happening there? Why do I believe I’m doing that? And never like, I shouldn’t have performed that. We don’t need to be in that mentality. It’s actually targeted on what labored, what didn’t work. And subsequent week, yeah, what is going to I do?

So it could be in that scenario subsequent week, I’m going to determine if that occurs, once more, to do the work after I deliberate, or I’m truly gonna verify in with myself. And I’m gonna say, hey, no truly say for instance, if you happen to’ve somebody’s procrastinated in the course of the day, like, oh, shit, now it’s 5 pm. And I would like to start out actually working. In that context. It’s so useful to only be like, truly, I’m simply going to let myself expertise the consequence of the procrastination as a result of with the to-do checklist, we don’t actually give ourselves that we’re like, oh, I’m at all times meant to be working on a regular basis. And once you expertise the consequence, it not solely creates motivation to not do it, but it surely actually lets you decide what’s essential and what isn’t.

And I discovered myself like there are days and I’m not good about planning both. There are days the place I simply really feel like there’s a lot to do and I simply have to get all of it performed. There’s not sufficient time, and at any time when I discover myself in that, particularly when it feels actually intense, I’m like, I’m simply going to take the entire time off tomorrow. And what is going to occur is I’ll notice that, like, I’d simply get that greater image perspective and be like, Oh, okay, like, right here, I used to be simply being like, actually so, so concerned in issues and considering every little thing’s so essential. After which if I power myself to have extra clear relaxation, yeah, it actually then helps me prioritize. Really, there’s just one factor I had deliberate that day that I would like to maneuver to a different day. And the remainder, I can simply depart.

So I’m glad you talked about that it’s gonna look completely different every week that you simply’re doing energy planning. And that’s no matter whether or not you might have youngsters or a job that you’ve alongside your corporation or anything goes to be some weeks like in the meanwhile, I energy deliberate for 5 weeks, and I’m working from that energy plan and adjusting as I went, as a result of the renovation and transferring home and Christmas and like there’s so many issues happening, I used to be like, I have to determine what I’ve time for. If I write this large, lengthy to-do checklist of what I have to do for the enterprise, I’m going to be like, cool, I’ve heaps of time, this 5 weeks, I can do rather a lot in that point. And I’m most likely going to get midway via it and really feel so overwhelmed. However once I can energy plan, I put heaps of buffer time in there, plenty of days off, Steve’s working plenty of shifts, so he received’t be capable of assist with childcare on these days, I’ll be taking care of Lydia. And I’ve simply deliberate, I’m not going to do something on these days. And I’ve sort of plan based mostly on the naked minimal of what I’ll be capable of do. And now I don’t really feel any stress about it. As a result of I do know, each job although I’ve this lengthy to-do checklist, each job has its place. And I understand how to maintain my plans workable. I’ve been working towards that for just a few years now. So and I’ve accounted for that. And I’ve accounted for stuff to return up. And for me to be drained and for me to need to be transferring into the home and targeted on that.

So there are some weeks as nicely the place I’ll plan a few days. And that’s one of the best I can do. After which I’ll verify in once more and plan the subsequent few days. So I’m actually glad you talked about that, like, it’s not about having this good hour, you sit down, you make these good plans, and also you comply with via completely. And then you definately do that overview and pat your self on the again, it’s not gonna appear to be that. And that’s not even what we’re aiming for. It’s actually simply having a manner of planning that truly works for you and your way of life. And I really like earlier than the way you talked about to concerning the uncertainty you might have with Ruby, and I completely forgot all of that. after we’re pregnant and also you’re like, I don’t even know which metropolis I’m gonna be in once I give start and all these various things. And I used to be like, oh my God, like, that’s a lot that there have been so many various issues happening.

And but, you’ve nonetheless been in a position to make plans and do the issues that you simply wanted to do. And all whereas being sort to your self and taking care of your well being and being with your loved ones and all these issues. So I believe you actually are actually the right individual to consider it as a result of you might have actually had a variety of altering plans and be like, truly, I simply came upon right this moment that I’m transferring subsequent week to a completely completely different metropolis and all these issues. Sure. So I need to rapidly speak if we are able to about inner uncertainty that you simply talked about, by way of reasonably than it being one thing exterior that may disrupt us that it could be us procrastinating or feeling overwhelmed or being drained or that we’re unsure how we’re going to really feel all through the week. Yeah. So that may make it difficult to plan as nicely. How do you method that with your personal energy planning?

Michelle Weeks

So I do, I do a variety of journaling. Journaling is like the important thing in each side that I do. However I, I journal earlier than I energy plan, I additionally journal originally of each workday that I’ve. The rationale that I do that’s in order that I can see what’s happening firstly, in my mind see what’s happening. But additionally from there, I can truly I discover it units myself up so a lot better to have the ability to tackle board what is definitely on my calendar. And sometimes, you understand, typically I’m coming into a piece session or I’m coming into my energy planning. And I’m like, my mind goes in 10,000 completely different instructions. You already know, I’m nonetheless enthusiastic about, you understand, Freddie and what he did this morning, or how I wanna go and play with him or you understand, all these various things which can be happening in my thoughts. And I discover that once I sit down and journal first I’m nearly in a position to like, flush all of these out. Work out what I’m truly feeling proper now and the way I’m truly going to tackle these duties and from that time, then I’m like proper, now I’m prepared. Now I can take this on or now I can adapt or regulate or determine how I’m going to method this work session, working with the place I’m at proper now, as an alternative of simply enthusiastic about, like, what I needs to be considering or, or how I needed to be considering, and so on, and so on.

The opposite a part of it for me is, once I’m energy planning, I actually, like transport myself to every day. And for me, that was a part of a part of the method of studying find out how to energy plan was going via the method of taking a look at that weekly view, seeing the tendencies, and so on, and so on. So I sort of know, like, by the point it will get to Thursday, yeah, like, I can see I’m fairly exhausted, as a result of I’ve obtained a variety of historical past that reveals me that that could be the case. So whereas I don’t use that to, you understand, catastrophize, the latter a part of my week, what I do do is realistically take a look at it and say, okay, if I’m going to assume that manner off, that’s how I’m going to have an effect on how I can predict how I’d really feel that manner. What can I do now to help myself? Earlier than it will get to that time? Or on that day? What can I do to help myself earlier than I get into the issues that I have to get into?

Sam Laura Brown

Yeah, and likewise, I’m certain you do that, as nicely, like having extra duties on Sunday. So possibly it’s like extra within the first half of the week, sure, later. And just like the later half been extra buffer time, and that sort of factor, within the first half been extra like getting shit performed. Yeah, it’s so useful to have that method, and to actually simply be so sort to ourselves, like how energy planning is known as a device for being self-compassionate, however not in a manner that we’re simply letting ourselves off the hook and pretending that we don’t need to do large issues and that don’t need to develop as an individual, as a result of it may be straightforward to be on this place we’ve been over planning and so pissed off at how behind you might be after which we’re like, fuck it, I’m not gonna make any plans, I’m simply gonna study to be pleased with what I’ve. And be, grateful with what I’ve and, and that may sound nice. However a variety of instances the power with which we’re saying that it’s actually us simply sort of placing our palms up and surrendering and never within the highly effective manner that we are able to give up actually in a apathetic sort of surrendering over like going nicely, it doesn’t matter, it’s not going to make a distinction.

And so after we energy plan and do this weekly overview, and actually get to study extra about ourselves, after we’re doing that, it helps us to really be sort to ourselves. And typically which means getting shit performed. And typically, which means not placing something on our plate that day in any respect. And with the ability to distinguish the distinction.

And I really like the way you talked about about journaling, as a result of I don’t assume I’ve talked about this very a lot. However I that’s such an essential a part of it for me is that like I sit with my pocket book subsequent to me all through the whole day. And there’s typically instances that earlier than I do a job, I would like to educate myself on with the ability to get it performed in that point. Or after I do a job, I would like to educate myself on that being okay, and simply conserving on going. And just like the final week I’ve had each of these issues occur rather a lot. Like for instance, with PGSD with the gross sales web page. I’m like I used to be engaged on that. And like I really like writing and all of that. So it’s like, oh, however there’s, I actually need to get this good. And like, say it in one of the best ways I presumably can and have it’s as useful as potential for folks to determine whether or not they’ll be part of PGSD or not.

And so I used to be like, Okay, nicely, I need to do all of this factor and put all this stuff collectively and like, made it this entire factor. After which I used to be taking a look at my energy planning. And I do know like, as I stated, I’ve obtained weeks value deliberate out. I do know that if this drags out, that’s gonna have an enormous knock-on impact. And I don’t need that to occur. So I’ve obtained an hour and a half to complete it. So then I went into journaling, and I spent like 10 minutes journaling about if this was straightforward, what would I do? Yeah, what’s the actual purpose that I’m making an attempt to attain right here?

How can I obtain that on this time, I set a timer. Like I have already got my calendar, however I set a timer on my cellphone that I might see. And I simply labored as if I used to be in an examination, you might have a variety of practices of like, the pens are going to be down in an hour and a half. Yeah. And so if that was a scenario, what might I create in that point, and trusting that it doesn’t must be good. And it’s not the one piece of the puzzle and all of that. However actually, as an alternative of being like, nicely, as a result of there’s this entire factor that we might discuss, which is realizing how lengthy a job will take. And sure, typically it’s a matter of deciding typically that simply you understand you have to maintain issues workable and provides additional time and also you didn’t notice issues would come up.

However typically it’s only a matter of deciding. I’m going to make it take this lengthy, as a result of I might spend an entire All week value of labor, yeah, conserving issues and like placing that each one collectively and get to the tip be like, That’s fairly nice. However actually, I didn’t have to be good. And I already knew what to say if I actually tapped into that. So I might simply sit down and deal with that and let it’s okay and maintain going. After which I talked about on Instagram, once I recorded the opposite podcast episodes which can be a part of this sequence, two of them, I used to be like this Oh, shit, and I ought to fully redo them. After which I needed to coach myself after the actual fact, on that. And in order that’s a part of conserving the plans workable is like teaching your self. And in addition in PGSD, we have now teaching, you’ll be able to take heed to the teaching, name replays, and different PGSD’s get coached on it. We’ve the discussion board, all these issues that will help you as a result of that teaching within the second is such an essential a part of it.

And and not using a to-do checklist, like I might simply spend all that point doing the gross sales web page and be self-sabotaging however not realizing it, however as a result of I knew I had determined how lengthy I’d give myself. So I’d already spent a while on it earlier than that, I believe possibly an hour and a half. And I used to be like a half an hour and a half extra. That’s what I made a decision, yeah, I’ve written gross sales pages earlier than as nicely. However that apart, I used to be like, I’ve performed this earlier than. I do know what to do. And the one cause it could take extra time is that I’m overthinking it. So how am I going to do that with out overthinking it? So yeah, they’ll actually be a variety of nice alternatives for self-coaching. And it’s such a terrific private growth device as a result of all of that stuff I wouldn’t must face I wouldn’t be uncovering if I used to be simply doing what I used to do as nicely, which was working from that epic To-Do Listing consistently feeling behind. And identical to them, after we’re doing that we expect how work is like, how do I be extra motivated? And we’re sort of asking the fallacious private growth questions after we’re doing that.

So I really like what you stated about journaling. And would you say like for somebody who is considering energy planning, however they really feel like, nicely, I’ve obtained a variety of uncertainty. And you understand, I’ve been procrastinating, I get overwhelmed and the stuff happening exterior like that I can’t management you. And I simply don’t really feel like I can work from a calendar. Or possibly they’ve performed it earlier than they did what I didn’t simply fully overplanned. After which it felt so strict and inflexible. What would you say to somebody who’s considering like, this sounds prefer it might be actually useful for me. However I nonetheless don’t assume there’s sufficient certainty for me to have the ability to plan my time.

Michelle Weeks

I suppose my thought course of round that is that I, I dedicated to it. After which I acknowledge that the planning, so the factor that I assumed was going to be limiting by way of just like the planning facet of it was truly the factor that liberated me. After which I discovered so attention-grabbing, as a result of it nearly seems like by having a plan, you are feeling restricted, you are feeling such as you’re in a field, you’ve obtained all this stuff, however truly, in the way in which that energy planning is designed, it lets you, to acknowledge what you’ll be able to truly do and the flexibleness which you could even have.

And that in itself is if you happen to’re working from a calendar, you’ll be able to truly bodily see in entrance of you the advantages that it’s going to have in your week. Proper. So for me, it was it’s about sort of permitting people who find themselves considering that manner. Permitting people who find themselves in that thought course of, saying to them, like simply keep it up, give it a superb shot, see it as a device that may provide help to but in addition see it as a observe which you could iterate and alter and make fit your needs as you go.

And recognizing that planning such as you’re consistently planning anyway, proper? You’re at all times planning however that is in a manner which you could plan that truly lets you really feel like you’ll be able to swap on and swap off to really feel like you’ll be able to have a level of management throughout the uncertainty round you. And it’s nearly such as you don’t essentially must be a sufferer of the externals. It’s like it is a course of which you could then determine the way it works for you and management the issues that you’ll be able to management after which assist you to waft on the issues which you could’t essentially management as nicely.

Sam Laura Brown

Yeah, that’s so correct that we’re planning anyway, even if in case you have that lengthy to-do checklist and also you’re saying, Effectively, I’ve to work from this to-do checklist as a result of there’s an excessive amount of uncertainty for me to plan. So I’ll simply sort of wait to the day see what’s occurring. Yeah, spotlight just a few duties and do them. That’s nonetheless a way of planning. And it’s one which it doesn’t actually assist even when there may be uncertainty, as I stated like you’ll be able to energy plan on the time off typically if you have to do this. However the extra you observe it, and the extra you study your self and the way you’re employed finest, and also you make these contingency plans, then you’ll be able to plan when there may be a variety of uncertainty.

However regardless, like we have now the uncertainty anyway, so it’ selecting to really plan successfully with there being uncertainty or simply sort of faux that everybody else has certainty. And also you’re the one one who doesn’t. So you have to have this completely different manner of doing it. I believe completely, all of us wish to assume nicely, like, it’s completely different for me. Yeah. And it’s Yeah. They don’t have and that sort of factor, however recognizing everybody has that exterior uncertainty and that inner uncertainty as to how the week will play out. And what are we going to do about which can be we going to really plan successfully and correctly within the face of that, or are we simply going to try to, you understand, put our head on the duvet and faux that isn’t happening, and simply see what we really feel like within the second, as a result of I don’t find out about you. However for me, once I see how I really feel, I not often really feel like doing the issues that basically matter. And I simply do the issues which can be snug I’ve performed earlier than, they don’t actually contain me, placing myself on the market or doing something daring, it’s simply sort of like cool, I really feel like doing this behind the scenes stuff that I’m tinkering away at. And in order that by no means labored.

For me, I don’t assume it really works for many individuals, it’s a must to actually have a variety of braveness and be very growth-minded already, to have the ability to within the second, pick these duties that basically are the needle movers and actually require a variety of braveness. Thanks a lot for sharing all that you’ve you. So I actually respect it. And we love having you as a PGSD Coach, and have a you assist our PGSD is with energy planning and making use of it to their lives and making it work for them. And as we’ve mentioned on this, that, it’s gonna look a bit completely different, like each week and for everybody, but it surely’s not about it being a structured like it’s a must to get up right now, after which do this sort of job first, like some folks heat up and do like, life admin workers or Enterprise Admin first after which do the laborious stuff. And different folks like I desire to start out the day with doing the difficult issues. However the previous few weeks when Lydia’s been waking up, I’m like, truly, I simply have to sort of ease into the day and I’m simply gonna like verify in with everybody first, after which I’ll do myself later. So it’s not about having to work in a sure manner. It’s actually about working in a manner that works finest for you and figuring that out. I believe we all know that. However we don’t actually know that till we have now energy planning, we are able to take a look at that.

Michelle Weeks

I believe on that, sorry. I believe on that time. It’s like, I believe the good thing about it isn’t solely do you begin to truly get heaps extra excessive influence, needle transferring duties performed, however you truly study a lot extra about your self. And that’s what you have been saying, you understand, you truly find out how you’re employed and what, what works for you so that you simply don’t must essentially go into that, oh, I’ll simply do what I need within the second. As a result of you understand your self so a lot better. It’s such a terrific private growth device that you simply get to study extra about your self, so that you could then apply that to your planning as an alternative of planning being separate to one thing which you could study your self as nicely.

Sam Laura Brown

Yeah, after which PGSD we’re only a large bunch of…

Sam Laura Brown

Thanks a lot, Michelle.

Michelle Weeks

So welcome. Thanks for having me.

Sam Laura Brown

My pleasure. I’ll hyperlink within the present notes the place yow will discover Michelle on Instagram. Do you need to say your Instagram deal with?

Michelle Weeks

Yeah, it’s @Michelle.C.weeks.

Sam Laura Brown

And you’ve got an internet site doing?

Michelle Weeks

Sure, www.Michelleweeks.com.au

Sam Laura Brown

Superior. Thanks a lot, Michelle.

Michelle Weeks

Thanks, Sam.

Outro
I hope you loved that episode within the planning sequence, I need to invite you into Perfectionist Getting Shit Executed so you may get out of your personal manner in your corporation and get your corporation off the bottom. In case you battle with displaying up persistently, if you happen to battle with procrastination, with overthinking, with burnout, with overwhelm, with having a tough time making choices. PGSD is for you. We’re doing at present our final enrollment for the yr. So the doorways are closing at 11:59pm jap time this Friday, the twenty first of November. So to affix us inside, go to samlaurabrown.com/pgsd, right this moment.