Planning

Planning is the ability to think ahead and mentally anticipate the best way to carry out a task or reach a specific goal. It is the ability to form a specific, achievable goal; formulate a strategy, execute it with focus, and monitor our progress towards the goal. It includes the ability to manage ourselves and others, as well as resources including time and surrounding circumstances to reach a specific goal.

Planning provides benefits that facilitate progress even when faced with uncertainty and a constantly changing environment by offering a guide for action and better utilisation of resources.

Planning in Action The person will be able to:

• Accurately estimate time and effort required to complete a task.
• Visualise sub-tasks involved in the completion of a bigger task.
• Develop schedules with clear, realistic and specific milestones and deadlines.
• Organise personal time to carry out responsibilities.
• Identify aspects of the plan that need support, in a timely manner.
• Use strategies to formulate a plan with or without the support of others.
• Set realistic goals and act towards achieving them.
• Exhibit goal-directed behavior independently and when instructed.
• Establish ways to measure results and milestones for themselves.
• Formulate contingency plans in case of unexpected occurrences.