The Boring (and Vastly Underrated) Art of Planning | Scott H Young

Break down everything you need to do to enable you to move forward on a project. Success requires a plan way more granular than most people make it.

For example, if your project is writing a novel, ask yourself what you're trying to do. Are you trying to reach out to a publisher, self-publish, or is it just for practice? How will you structure the story? Define the main plot? Fill out the character backgrounds?

With a map drawn, the next step is your itinerary. When you will start, how many days a week you will work and when you expect to reach key milestones.

Put everything in your calendar. Many people fail to realize how many other tasks might interfere with their project, such as an upcoming vacation or other deadlines. Scheduling it can also prepare you psychologically. For example, knowing that you will have to dedicate your evenings to a project for the next six months.

Planning should tell you what you need to do for today. Not next week. Not tomorrow. Today.

A step further is to commit to particular hours of the day. For example, I will exercise right after I finish work, before dinner.