A plan is a strategy oriented to some concrete objective. Thus, an entrepreneur draws up a business plan, a soccer coach draws up a plan for his team to achieve good results, and an individual organizes his retirement from a long-term project (for example, a pension plan). If we refer to planning, we are referring to the process of preparing a plan or a project.
General guidelines for proper planning
Planning is the opposite of improvisation. We make plans because we mentally project the future in some way. In this sense, having a rough idea of what we are going to do allows us to face our challenges with a greater chance of success. Not planning implies a whole series of possible inconveniences: taking unforeseen risks, lack of resources in the face of unexpected surprises, etc.
For the planning of an activity to be successful, it is convenient to start from some previous questions:
1) determine what is the objective to be achieved,
2) know the available means,
3) develop a systematic procedure that includes the entire process, so that all aspects are consistent with each other,
4) consider possible problems during the execution of the plan (for example, a plan B in case the first fails),
5) incorporate a systematic methodology into the project and
6) start from a realistic approach based on objective facts and not on assumptions or fantasies.
All human activities are ordered by some kind of planning
Some parents take care of the education of their children and for this it is convenient that they have a rough idea about what they are going to do (what will their school be, what financial means they have or what hygiene guidelines their children should follow). It should not be forgotten that the concept of family is directly related to the idea of family planning.
At the individual level we have the need to manage our time through some plan (for vacations, for free time or for our professional future).
Beyond the personal projects of each one, the notion of planning is applicable to the state, economic activity, sports or the construction of a building.
"I don't like to make plans"
While some planning is necessary in many areas of life, there are people who consider that too much planning is counterproductive. Having everything planned is helpful, but minimizes the wow factor. For this reason, some prefer to live from day to day without a plan that reminds them of what they have to do at all times.
