[Planning Series] How To Plan Amidst Uncertainty

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

Some perfectionists plan their week as if all the pieces 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 have the ability to discover the motivation to do what issues most. However neither of those approaches work.

That’s why I interviewed Michelle Weeks on methods 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 completed 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 ultimate enrollment of the yr for Perfectionists Getting Shit Achieved. If you join PGSD, you’ll get prompt entry to the Energy Planning Course so you can begin planning correctly as a perfectionist immediately and begin 2026 with PGSD by your facet. Doorways shut at 11:59pm EST this Friday, 21 November. To enroll in the present day go to samlaurabrown.com/pgsd.

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FULL EPISODE TRANSCRIPT

Introduction
Hello and welcome to a different episode of The Perfectionism Venture. A podcast filled with perfectionism recommendation for entrepreneurs. My identify 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 Achieved group teaching program, which is in any other case generally known as PGSD. And for much more perfectionism recommendation that will help you with your small business, you possibly can observe me on Instagram @perfectionismproject.

Sam Laura Brown (Customized introduction)
You will love this. I simply know that is going to be excellent timing that I’m releasing these episodes in the present day. So what I’m doing is I’m releasing the 5 hottest episodes of this podcast, which is the Planning collection on methods to plan correctly as a perfectionist, whether or not you’ve gotten listened earlier than, whether or not that is going to be your first time listening, you probably have been getting in your personal manner, in your small business, in case you’ve been having a tough time displaying up, if you already know that you may be extra profitable in case you may simply really observe by way of with the plans that you simply make. You realize what to do. You’re simply not doing it. This collection is simply going to be one of the best factor for you. So I need to invite you to take heed to all 5 components of this collection. They’re going to be profoundly useful. And I additionally need to invite you to hitch us inside my program. Perfectionist Getting Shit Achieved. So we are literally within the final enrollment of this yr, so doorways might be closing at 11:59pm japanese 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 initially, there’s clearly by no means a greater time to get out of your personal manner than the current.

There’s simply having 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 a substitute of ready for January to begin getting out of your personal manner, you had 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 dwell with us, doing the replay, regardless of your time zone, doing that’s going to set you up for one of the best 2026 and in addition, whenever you join Perfectionist Getting Shit Achieved, you’re going to get prompt entry to all the pieces, 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 might be there for you inside PGSD as properly. So I hope you get pleasure from this collection, and I need to invite you to hitch us inside PGSD, earlier than the doorways shut at 11:59pm japanese time this Friday, the twenty first of November, you possibly can go to samlaurabrown.com/pgsd, the hyperlink might be down there for you within the present notes to go and enroll in the present day and be part of us inside.

Sam Laura Brown
This episode is a component three within the five-part Planning collection that’s popping out right here for you on the podcast on methods to plan correctly as a perfectionist. On this episode, I’m interviewing Michelle Weeks, and she or he can be a life coach for mothers, she helps mothers to do the mindset work they should do with the intention to present up absolutely for themselves and for his or her kids. And he or she additionally helps mothers transition into motherhood and doing that in a very 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, in case you get pleasure from this podcast, and also you resonate with the best way that I train, and the rules that I train, you’ll love Michelle. So go and check out her Instagram. And in case you are a mother attain out to her and discover out extra about what she does.

So on this episode, we speak about methods to energy plan amidst uncertainty. So methods to energy plan whenever you don’t know what your week goes to appear like. Possibly you’re a shift employee, and also you’re undecided whenever 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 totally different. Possibly like Michelle and I, you’ve gotten a baby or you’ve gotten kids. And there’s the uncertainty that comes with, will my baby be properly, will they be napping once they’re meant to be napping? Or what is going to that appear like? 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 kids, or what in case you are working a full time job, for instance, and you might be engaged on your small business alongside that. And also you don’t understand how exhausted you’re gonna be after you get house from work or you’ve gotten household commitments, possibly you might be caring for one more member of your loved ones, otherwise you simply have issues which might be taking place, loads of plates within the air, possibly like me, you might be doing a renovation, you’ve gotten these issues occurring 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 truly 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 speak about how one can energy plan, even when there’s uncertainty in your week. And that features as properly when you’ve gotten 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 preferrred self. And we speak about methods to actually plan in your actual life and what’s occurring and the way that basically is the simplest strategy to be productive while additionally caring for your self and your well being and health objectives and all the pieces that you’ve occurring in your life in addition to your small business.

So I actually hope that you simply get pleasure from this one. And that it solutions some questions for you about methods to plan when there’s uncertainty in addition to offer you some perception into virtually talking what energy planning seems like for each Michelle and I, we share loads of actual life examples of what energy planning seems 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 so much from this one. In the event you get pleasure from 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 small business and in the remainder of your life in the present day. Okay, so with that mentioned, 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 methods to use energy planning and plan out your week. Even whenever you don’t know precisely how your week is gonna look. You don’t know what may change. Possibly you’ve gotten a baby you’re doing shift work. You’ve gotten 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 like? Earlier than? Sorry? I don’t imply that what I imply is, what did your planning course of appear like earlier than energy planning?

Michelle Weeks

Nicely, 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 lady I had, which I really was very proud of on the time, as a result of it was all that I’d recognized. And I used to have an inventory of should do’s and an inventory of need to’s. However what I didn’t understand on the time was simply how a lot of an influence having an inventory like that had on my mind having the ability to change off. As a result of the checklist was all the time there, it was all the time sitting there, it was by no means going wherever. And so I by no means form of received to a spot the place I felt like I had accomplished one thing sufficient to have the ability to then change off and relaxation.

And so the lists for me whereas I whereas on the time, they had been working rather well, it wasn’t till I then found a brand new manner of doing it and a way more, I assume, holistic manner of doing it, as a result of my lists had been solely ever the duties that I needed to do. They usually by no means had issues on them that I really 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, really, this nonetheless permits me to do all of the issues that I want and need to do. But it surely additionally has that added factor of my mind having the ability to see one thing be full and have the ability to change off. But additionally, the holistic facet of what was essential to me was like balancing my relaxation, and my, you already know, my train and my social occasions and people kinds of issues, which the to-do checklist simply by no means ever, like facilitated that potential for me.

Sam Laura Brown

Yeah, whenever you had your to-do lists, you had been saying that it was form of just like the shoulds. And all these expectations you had for your self and probably not 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 it is best to? Or issues that you’d have favored 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 had been loads of the like, nitty gritty issues. So issues that and I assume as a perfectionist, I’d take into consideration all of the tiny little issues and the booby duties that will be on my checklist, however not essentially the duties that had been going to be actually impactful for me really shifting ahead. And so my checklist can be like 30, 40 bits lengthy, however none of them had been really issues that had been impactful. All they did was type of muddle in my mind and make me really feel like I had so many issues that I needed to do.

And that is likely to be issues like, you already know, like paying the payments, which clearly must occur, however paying the payments or, you already know, getting in contact with this particular person or no matter it could be, I felt like there have been so lots of these, that by the point I’d work my manner by way of these if I used to be simply doing it in a linear manner, I then would get to those that had been really actually essential. And I’d be like, oh, you already know what, I’ve completed fairly just a few issues in the present day, and I’m fairly exhausted. So I would simply, you already know, have a break right here. So it actually allowed me to, like, not essentially take motion on issues which might be actually essential, however preserve 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 all the pieces on that checklist was essential. Like on the time you I’m certain had been conscious of like prioritizing and that form 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 will actually intellectually perceive prioritization and that form of factor. And but we’re like, however these items are actually essential. They do must get completed. And since they must get completed 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 form of simply find yourself on this upkeep mode. Did you are feeling like that like all the pieces on that checklist was essential?

Michelle Weeks

Yeah, I did. I undoubtedly did. However I assume, 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 once they simply all felt essential, as soon as I’d recognized extra, I used to be in a position to then say, Okay, properly grasp on, I can prioritize these items in, I can nearly like group them and categorize them in order that they nonetheless will get completed, or they nonetheless have a spot. But it surely’s not at a time the place I could possibly be actually using that chunk of time for one thing that’s actually essential. So for me, it was like, you already know, if I’ve received 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 really, weren’t issues that had 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 might be essential inside this, you already know, carrying 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 whenever you began energy planning? Do you bear 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 assume, clearly, I’ve been in PGSD for the reason that date began. And there was undoubtedly a bit little bit of resistance there for me firstly. You realize, 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 these items. So for me, it was undoubtedly one thing that I wanted to vary my mindset round it. And I wanted to begin seeing it as one thing that was actually like, a liberating factor for me. And with the intention to do this, I wanted to decide to attempting it.

And for me, in all probability, I can’t actually bear 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 instrument and as a follow, and have the ability to use it to plan out my week successfully. And as soon as I had been in that development mindset round it as a substitute of simply being like, Oh, properly, 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 follow in order that it will possibly work. And that was, you already know, a journey of discovery? For certain. For certain, for me. And, and however the advantages that I noticed by way of that persistence had been so so so useful for me as an individual, however as a enterprise proprietor, as properly. And…

Sam Laura Brown

What had been a few of these advantages? Like what did since you are productive earlier than? What did it actually appear like when you energy planning and also you’d completed these first few months the place it may be a little bit of a rocky street? We’re attempting to determine how that works. After which you will get right into a groove with it. What did that appear like for you compared? Like how have you learnt? 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 flexibility to modify off. I had actually by no means switched off earlier than. In all probability ever, however definitely, you already know, I used to be a trainer for a few years earlier than that. And it was the flexibility to take a look at it and say, in entrance of me a visible learner in entrance of me, I can see that all the pieces on my checklist has a spot and goes to get completed. And on prime of that, I can get relaxation I can have you learnt I can decide to my train. I can see my mates I can do the social facet of issues. And I by no means received that with an inventory.

With an inventory, it was simply an ongoing, one thing that was all the time like little sandbags in my mind. However after I began to energy plan, it actually received 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 all the pieces suits, all the pieces has a house, all the pieces you already know goes to get completed. And there’s area for it to be one thing that I can change and iterate as I am going. So for me, that was the large change in recognizing that I may change on for regardless of the duties had been. However I may additionally change off and never really feel like these sandbags had been simply always in my mind weighing me down on a regular basis.

Sam Laura Brown

Yeah, I believe we’re all accustomed to that feeling of like, though you’ve had a productive day or productive week, you continue to by no means really feel such as you’re on prime of all the pieces, whenever 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 possibly can have all of it laid out and simply say, Cool, that is what I must do, after which get to the tip of that and truly really feel completed. And clearly, whenever you’re planning, you’re doing it in a manner you possibly can really observe by way of one. So I believe loads of perfectionists have hesitations round working from a calendar. Due to that tendency, we’ve to over plan, after which really feel like that is after 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 best way that I did it. I hadn’t but discovered methods to not over plan. And so I simply felt like I had this like merciless ruler, who was attempting to do these items 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 mentioned, wish to not have that psychological baggage of all these duties that we must always do.

I actually needed to speak about methods to plan and use energy planning when there’s uncertainty. So we each have on the time this might be launched six-month-old infants who’re born a few week aside. Yeah, and when you’ve gotten a baby, it brings loads of uncertainty. And it brings loads of potential for change, particularly whenever you don’t know in the event that they’re going to be properly or not once they’re going to sleep or once they’re going to have to be fed. Like for the time being, I’m breastfeeding Lydia on demand. In order that’s actually anytime that she needs it. So these can forestall challenges to planning until we all know methods to plan successfully when there’s uncertainty.

And so I’d love to listen to from you what modifications you made to your weekly energy planning or what bits had been particularly essential after Freddy was born and also you started energy planning once more. Like how did you guarantee that if he didn’t nap when he was meant to or issues like that occurred, that you simply had been nonetheless in a position to simply preserve your plans workable and preserve going as a substitute 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 might 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 could be very unsure, not solely from clearly a child. I even have my husband’s schedule could be very, very unsure, he does loads of journey, we transfer very frequently. So I’ve loads of follow in energy planning with uncertainty and the advantages of that which has been one thing that has really supported me by way of the uncertainty that we’ve been by way of just lately, significantly.

Now, when it comes to how my planning has modified. There’s a few issues that I undoubtedly have made, or have put extra emphasis on. The primary one is planning, or being further variety to myself after I’m planning. Now, I can like I sit and I acknowledge simply how a lot is occurring in life for the time being as everybody has. And previous to having Freddie it was in all probability a bit bit extra of like a Oh, I do know. Like I do know that issues are going to go the best way and or the best way that I’m hoping them to go. But it surely was in all probability extra an inside selection as as to if or not I used to be going to observe by way of and that will be the issues that had been unsure. Whereas now that uncertainty is type of out of my palms so I plan being further further variety to myself that on a sensible sense, seems like having heaps of area is like area in my calendar. So a lot of further 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 want it. And if I don’t, then that all the time turns into clear relaxation for me.

But it surely form of permits me to have that thought means of I’ve received further time, I’ve received further buffer, however I even have my fireplace extinguisher time as properly. In order that’s been actually helpful. The 2 issues that I’ve in all probability modified essentially the most or have centered on essentially the most since then, is the 2 issues that lots of people I assume, 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 all the time considering, Okay, what’s the contingency plan going to be if, you already know, Freddie’s care falls by way of or if I’m, like, exhausted, or I haven’t slept in any respect the evening earlier than, or no matter it could be. So I spent loads 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, loads 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 really proven me a lot development in myself, which I’m actually enthusiastic about, as a result of as a substitute of it being like, oh, however you already know, 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 to any extent further, as a substitute of such as you had 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 forth, and so forth. It’s like, okay, I’m gonna preserve this inside, you already know, I’m going to not make this imply extra about myself than it does, I’m gonna acknowledge that that is the fact of the state of affairs. And now I’m going to vary my plans and make them workable from right here on. So it doesn’t form 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 an important level. As a result of we will actually really feel loads of disgrace round needing to vary plans, when we’ve this concept that how we plan firstly of the week, we must always have the ability to observe that to a tee and never must make any modifications. And we expect, Nicely, I’m having to make a change. Which means I’m not following by way of. Which means like, possibly I’m self-sabotaging. After which we will go into that complete span of like, is that this self-sabotage? Or do I want to truly relaxation and spend all this time attempting to determine that out? However to only what I 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, properly, what if childcare falls by way of? Or what if I’ve to get up each hour, that evening, after which I can’t do something the following 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 all the time have this imaginary, like how issues needs to be taking place, 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 methodology 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 in from our builder, our renovation, and the time that is launched will hopefully be accomplished in like the ultimate week, and we’re hopefully shifting 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 received shit to do. And I used to be like, Yeah, however I’ve deliberate for this type of factor to occur, as a result of I do know we’re within the ultimate week of a renovation, and that we’re in all probability 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 midst of a renovation as if I don’t have a child as if I’ve limitless vitality. I’ve deliberate it as if all of these issues are occurring. And I’ve like I like the way you talked concerning the fireplace extinguisher kind you might have like Sunday the entire time I’ve blocked off his buffer time. In order that just like the factor that occurred in the present day with the emails, I may 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 like for you? Are you 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 daily, one display screen will all the time have my calendar on it, and the opposite one might be the place I’m working from. And so I always 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 received this from you. On the finish of every day I am going by way of 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 might be have throughout subsequent to it, do they have to be shuffled or is that one thing that I simply must study for subsequent week isn’t essentially one thing that must be put into my energy planning, possibly that’s one thing that I must remove in one of many steps. So that’s how I do it, I do I take a look at it every day, and I transfer round every day. After which I do my weekly overview on the finish of the week. And that’s form of my time the place I then say, okay, you already know, what really wants to vary what labored, what didn’t, and so forth, and so forth. And that then helps me plan with issues in thoughts for the following week, or it helps me to form of transfer the issues over that have to be moved. If I can see that they’re nonetheless issues that basically must get completed. In any other case, I can remove 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 properly, that it’s actually having these two screens, I discover useful, however you don’t must have two screens, however I like to see my calendar there. So I’m always reminded of it. And there are some days that I’m working. After which I simply form of go down a rabbit gap, and I’m not my calendar. After which the following work day, it’s only a behavior now to take 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 generally I’m like, I like, I simply must get this, like in the present day’s stuff workable. So I can do it. After which I want to determine after I can do the remaining. So I don’t concentrate on getting all the pieces into its excellent spot. Typically I’ll simply be like, cool, these duties didn’t occur yesterday, they’re not going to have the ability to occur in the present day, I’ve this different stuff I must do. I’m simply gonna like, drag them to a future day they usually is likely to be overlapping. After which when that day comes, I’ll make these changes in order that it’s all workable.

I believe we will get caught up on like, Okay, properly, however when am I going to do these duties after which attempting to determine that out. But it surely’s simply so essential within the second within the week to only be centered on okay, we’re at in the present day, what do I must do in the present day, 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 is likely to be that if we haven’t completed one thing that we determine, really, on this clear relaxation time, like this factor must get completed this week. If I don’t do it, then, then I’m going to get it in, get it completed in that point. However I like to recommend towards that as a result of then we simply find yourself probably not having any motivation to get it completed within the time that we’ve allowed. What has your expertise been like with that when it comes to, really having an finish to your day? And methods to know when to go previous that? After which methods to know when to only name it and in case you’ve procrastinated or if one thing hasn’t occurred to only bear the consequence of that and preserve going.

Michelle Weeks

And I believe so simply I’ll reply that in a sec. However I needed to only contact on what you mentioned as properly is that concept of like there are some weeks that I fairly confidently planning out an entire week after which preserve it workable. However there are additionally many weeks that I take a look at it and like have you learnt 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 in all probability comes with the truth that I’ve practiced it so much and it’s now develop into one thing that I’m far more snug with however I don’t essentially all the time plan the entire week I can I undoubtedly 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 time limit already, I’ll reassess and work out what’s occurring.

When it comes to, like having completion within the day, I’m not excellent at it, that’s for certain. But it surely’s undoubtedly one thing that I can acknowledge in myself as of late. And having the ability to have that point the place I do, my weekly overview, is basically useful for me to see what the developments are. And definitely, to start with, after I was over planning so much, and having, you already know, in all probability planning for my idealistic self, moderately than planning for my lifelike self, I’d get in all probability to love 4 or 5 o’clock after which say, Oh, if I simply and if I simply and if I simply, and, you already know, the calendar would form of disappear additional and additional throughout my display screen. However what I can acknowledge now could be, I believe, within the means of persisting with it and being inquisitive about it, it’s helped me to establish after I do overplan, what, like, what’s making me really feel like I must proceed on in the present day. 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 must 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 form of simply breaking the self-trust that I, that I’m constructing with myself always? By attempting to get forward or by feeling like I haven’t completed sufficient or all of these, like shortage ideas which may come into it? And I discover normally after I go previous, or after I’m attempting to my brains attempting to persuade me to go previous after I’ve scheduled, normally, it’s one thing that comes up for me that’s in that shortage thought course of, after which I might be inquisitive about what that’s. Oftentimes, you already know, there are undoubtedly some occasions that I’m like, No, I must get this job completed. And that is the time that I’m going to get it completed. And I’m going to go for it. And sure, I’ll make all the pieces 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 completed day, I must get this completed by X, Y, Z, and I’m going to maintain going in the present day. So…

Sam Laura Brown

Yeah, I like the way you mentioned about, it actually lets you get curious and in addition to love see these shortage ideas and that form of factor. As a result of it truly is such an important private growth instrument like it’s going to present you the place you must nonetheless do work. And that may be confronting at occasions. 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 whenever you aren’t in a position to simply work off this obscure to-do checklist anymore. And completely, you already know, preserve 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 in the present day. Now I’ve to decide about, will I preserve doing these items and altering my plans? or received’t I? And even in case you determine, really, I’m simply going to maintain working, I’m going to form of not take a look at the calendar, then whenever you do the weekly overview, and also you’re wanting again on the week, it’s such a good time to see like, Okay, properly, I went well beyond after I plan to what’s occurring there? Why do I believe I’m doing that? And never like, I shouldn’t have completed that. We don’t need to be in that mentality. It’s actually centered on what labored, what didn’t work. And subsequent week, yeah, what is going to I do?

So it might be in that state of affairs subsequent week, I’m going to determine if that occurs, once more, to do the work after I deliberate, or I’m really gonna examine in with myself. And I’m gonna say, hey, no really say for instance, in case you’ve somebody’s procrastinated throughout the day, like, oh, shit, now it’s 5 pm. And I want to begin actually working. In that context. It’s so useful to only be like, really, 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 all the time meant to be working on a regular basis. And whenever you expertise the consequence, it not solely creates motivation to not do it, nevertheless it actually lets you decide what’s essential and what isn’t.

And I discovered myself like there are days and I’m not excellent about planning both. There are days the place I simply really feel like there’s a lot to do and I simply must get all of it completed. There’s not sufficient time, and every time 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 understand that, like, I’d simply get that larger 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 all the pieces’s so essential. After which if I pressure myself to have extra clear relaxation, yeah, it actually then helps me prioritize. Truly, there’s just one factor I had deliberate that day that I want to maneuver to a different day. And the remaining, I can simply go away.

So I’m glad you talked about that it’s gonna look totally different every week that you simply’re doing energy planning. And that’s no matter whether or not you’ve gotten kids or a job that you’ve alongside your small business or the rest goes to be some weeks like for the time being, 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 shifting home and Christmas and like there’s so many issues occurring, I used to be like, I must determine what I’ve time for. If I write this huge, lengthy to-do checklist of what I must do for the enterprise, I’m going to be like, cool, I’ve heaps of time, this 5 weeks, I can do so much in that point. And I’m in all probability going to get midway by way of it and really feel so overwhelmed. However after I can energy plan, I put heaps of buffer time in there, a lot of days off, Steve’s working a lot of shifts, so he received’t have the ability to 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 form of plan based mostly on the naked minimal of what I’ll have the ability to do. And now I don’t really feel any stress about it. As a result of I do know, each job though I’ve this lengthy to-do checklist, each job has its place. And I understand how to maintain my plans workable. I’ve been training 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 shifting into the home and centered on that.

So there are some weeks as properly the place I’ll plan a few days. And that’s one of the best I can do. After which I’ll examine in once more and plan the following few days. So I’m actually glad you talked about that, like, it’s not about having this excellent hour, you sit down, you make these excellent plans, and also you observe by way of completely. And then you definately do that overview and pat your self on the again, it’s not gonna appear like that. And that’s not even what we’re aiming for. It’s actually simply having a manner of planning that really works for you and your life-style. And I like earlier than the way you talked about to concerning the uncertainty you’ve gotten 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 after I give delivery 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 alternative issues occurring.

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 variety 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 proper particular person to consider it as a result of you’ve gotten actually had loads of altering plans and be like, really, I simply came upon in the present day that I’m shifting subsequent week to a completely totally different metropolis and all these issues. Sure. So I need to rapidly discuss if we will about inside uncertainty that you simply talked about, when it comes to moderately than it being one thing exterior which may disrupt us that it is likely to be us procrastinating or feeling overwhelmed or being drained or that we’re undecided how we’re going to really feel all through the week. Yeah. So that may make it difficult to plan as properly. How do you method that with your personal energy planning?

Michelle Weeks

So I do, I do loads of journaling. Journaling is like the important thing in each facet that I do. However I, I journal earlier than I energy plan, I additionally journal firstly of each workday that I’ve. The explanation that I do that’s in order that I can see what’s occurring firstly, in my mind see what’s occurring. But additionally from there, I can really 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 already know, usually 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 totally different instructions. You realize, I’m nonetheless enthusiastic about, you already know, Freddie and what he did this morning, or how I wanna go and play with him or you already know, all these various things which might be occurring in my thoughts. And I discover that after I sit down and journal first I’m nearly in a position to like, flush all of these out. Work out what I’m really feeling proper now and the way I’m really 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 alter or work out how I’m going to method this work session, working with the place I’m at proper now, as a substitute of simply enthusiastic about, like, what I needs to be considering or, or how I needed to be considering, and so forth, and so forth.

The opposite a part of it for me is, after 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 methods to energy plan was going by way of the method of that weekly view, seeing the developments, and so forth, and so forth. So I form 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 received loads of historical past that reveals me that that is likely to be the case. So whereas I don’t use that to, you already know, 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 would 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 must get into?

Sam Laura Brown

Yeah, and in addition, I’m certain you do that, as properly, 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 form of factor, within the first half been extra like getting shit completed. Yeah, it’s so useful to have that method, and to essentially simply be so variety to ourselves, like how energy planning is mostly a instrument 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 huge 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 proud of what I’ve. And be, grateful with what I’ve and, and that may sound nice. However loads of occasions the vitality with which we’re saying that it’s actually us simply form of placing our palms up and surrendering and never within the highly effective manner that we will give up actually in a apathetic form of surrendering over like going properly, 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 truly be variety to ourselves. And generally which means getting shit completed. And generally, which means not placing something on our plate that day in any respect. And having the ability to distinguish the distinction.

And I 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 all the day. And there’s usually occasions that earlier than I do a job, I want to educate myself on having the ability to get it completed in that point. Or after I do a job, I want to educate myself on that being okay, and simply maintaining 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 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 probably can and have it’s as useful as attainable for folks to determine whether or not they’ll be part of PGSD or not.

And so I used to be like, Okay, properly, I need to do all of this factor and put all these items collectively and like, made it this complete factor. After which I used to be my energy planning. And I do know like, as I mentioned, I’ve received 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 received 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 aim that I’m attempting 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 may see. And I simply labored as if I used to be in an examination, you’ve gotten loads of practices of like, the pens are going to be down in an hour and a half. Yeah. And so if that was a state of affairs, what may I create in that point, and trusting that it doesn’t must be excellent. And it’s not the one piece of the puzzle and all of that. However actually, as a substitute of being like, properly, as a result of there’s this complete factor that we may speak about, which is understanding how lengthy a job will take. And sure, usually it’s a matter of deciding generally that simply you already know you must preserve issues workable and provides further time and also you didn’t understand issues would come up.

However generally it’s only a matter of deciding. I’m going to make it take this lengthy, as a result of I may spend an entire All week value of labor, yeah, maintaining 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 excellent. And I already knew what to say if I actually tapped into that. So I may simply sit down and concentrate on that and let it’s okay and preserve going. After which I talked about on Instagram, after I recorded the opposite podcast episodes which might be a part of this collection, two of them, I used to be like this Oh, shit, and I ought to utterly redo them. After which I needed to coach myself after the actual fact, on that. And in order that’s a part of maintaining the plans workable is like teaching your self. And likewise in PGSD, we’ve teaching, you possibly can take heed to the teaching, name replays, and different PGSD’s get coached on it. Now we have 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 may 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 properly. However that apart, I used to be like, I’ve completed this earlier than. I do know what to do. And the one motive it might 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 loads of nice alternatives for self-coaching. And it’s such an important private growth instrument 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 properly, which was working from that epic To-Do Record always 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 form of asking the flawed private growth questions after we’re doing that.

So I like what you mentioned about journaling. And would you say like for somebody who is considering energy planning, however they really feel like, properly, I’ve received loads of uncertainty. And you already know, I’ve been procrastinating, I get overwhelmed and the stuff occurring outdoors 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 completed it earlier than they did what I didn’t simply utterly overplanned. After which it felt so strict and inflexible. What would you say to somebody who’s considering like, this sounds prefer it could possibly 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 assume 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 when it comes to just like the planning facet of it was really the factor that liberated me. After which I discovered so fascinating, as a result of it nearly looks like by having a plan, you are feeling restricted, you are feeling such as you’re in a field, you’ve received all these items, however really, in the best way that energy planning is designed, it lets you, to acknowledge what you possibly can really do and the pliability that you could even have.

And that in itself is in case you’re working from a calendar, you possibly can really 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 form 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 an excellent shot, see it as a instrument that may allow you to but additionally see it as a follow that you could iterate and alter and make fit your needs as you go.

And recognizing that planning such as you’re always planning anyway, proper? You’re all the time planning however that is in a manner that you could plan that really lets you really feel like you possibly can change on and change off to really feel like you possibly can have a level of management inside 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 that you could then work out the way it works for you and management the issues that you’ll be able to management after which let you drift on the issues that you could’t essentially management as properly.

Sam Laura Brown

Yeah, that’s so correct that we’re planning anyway, even you probably have that lengthy to-do checklist and also you’re saying, Nicely, 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 form of wait to the day see what’s taking place. Yeah, spotlight just a few duties and do them. That’s nonetheless a technique of planning. And it’s one which it doesn’t actually assist even when there’s uncertainty, as I mentioned like you possibly can energy plan on the time off generally if you must do this. However the extra you follow it, and the extra you study your self and the way you’re employed finest, and also you make these contingency plans, then you possibly can plan when there’s loads of uncertainty.

However regardless, like we’ve the uncertainty anyway, so it’ selecting to truly plan successfully with there being uncertainty or simply form of fake that everybody else has certainty. And also you’re the one one who doesn’t. So you must have this totally different manner of doing it. I believe completely, all of us wish to assume properly, like, it’s totally different for me. Yeah. And it’s Yeah. They don’t have and that form of factor, however recognizing everybody has that exterior uncertainty and that inside uncertainty as to how the week will play out. And what are we going to do about which might be we going to truly plan successfully and correctly within the face of that, or are we simply going to try to, you already know, put our head on the quilt and fake that isn’t occurring, and simply see what we really feel like within the second, as a result of I don’t learn about you. However for me, after 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 might be snug I’ve completed earlier than, they don’t actually contain me, placing myself on the market or doing something daring, it’s simply form 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 loads of braveness and be very growth-minded already, to have the ability to within the second, select these duties that basically are the needle movers and actually require loads 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 totally different, like each week and for everybody, nevertheless it’s not about it being a structured like it’s a must to get up presently, after which do this type of job first, like some folks heat up and do like, life admin employees or Enterprise Admin first after which do the exhausting stuff. And different folks like I desire to begin the day with doing the difficult issues. However the previous couple of weeks when Lydia’s been waking up, I’m like, really, I simply must form of ease into the day and I’m simply gonna like examine 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’ve energy planning, we will 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’s not solely do you begin to really get heaps extra excessive influence, needle shifting duties completed, however you really study a lot extra about your self. And that’s what you had been saying, you already know, you really 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 would like within the second. As a result of you already know your self so a lot better. It’s such an important private growth instrument that you simply get to study extra about your self, to be able to then apply that to your planning as a substitute of planning being separate to one thing that you could study your self as properly.

Sam Laura Brown

Yeah, after which PGSD we’re only a huge 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 a web 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 collection, I need to invite you into Perfectionist Getting Shit Achieved so you will get out of your personal manner in your small business and get your small business off the bottom. In the event you battle with displaying up constantly, in case you 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 japanese time this Friday, the twenty first of November. So to hitch us inside, go to samlaurabrown.com/pgsd, in the present day.