Your life and work are not something that you can plan once and then put them away. They are far too important for that!
I’ve learned that I must plan regular, purposeful time away if I am going to live out the things that are most important to me. And I must adequately prepare for my time away to maximize its impact on my life and work.
Let’s face it – the number one problem with goals is that people forget about them. And when you do, those things that you once identified as top priorities fade into the noise of life.
Get away
A few weeks ago, I spent a couple of days alone at a retreat center in southern Oklahoma (the first time I had ever traveled to Oklahoma!). These 2 days were huge for me – I spent time relaxing, reflecting, thinking, praying. And I made significant progress in a couple of areas in which my growth had stalled.
My quarterly reviews, like this one, are scheduled at the end of March, June, and September. (I also conduct an annual review at the end of December – more about that later!)
Getting away for these reviews is important for me. I don’t have to tell you that you’ll find greater focus and clarity when you leave behind the busyness and demands of the office. You know it’s true!
So do it! Plan time away. Budget for it. And protect it.
Prepare
Another thing I’ve learned about getting away is that I am far more productive when I have a plan before I go. Without a plan, I would fumble around for the first half-day trying to figure what I need to get done to make me feel like I accomplished something of value during my miniature sabbatical.
I wanted to be more productive with my time. So I did 2 things…
First, I developed a tool – a Quarterly Review Template.
Second, I identified the things that I needed to do before leaving…
- I review my template and pull together items I need to take with me.
- I write down one or two top priority goals for my time away. If I don’t get anything else done, these are the things I am going to accomplish. Then I review my goal(s) with my wife, Sarah, before leaving. You may also want to review them with your boss – or your team. You want to ensure that you’re working on those things that are most important to you, to your family, and to your team.
In just a moment, I will give you my Quarterly Review Tool – the exact template I use for my Quarterly Reviews. But first…
In addition to my quarterly review, I also conduct weekly and annual reviews. I’ve written previously about how my regular reviews have helped me find greater fulfillment and effectiveness in my life and work – take a few moments to check out these posts to see how these reviews differ:
- Weekly Review. Every Sunday evening I review my life plan. And every Friday I review my business vision. In this post I detail four ways that my weekly review has brought dramatic improvements to my life and work. You can download my Weekly Review Guide and Template.
- Annual Review. My annual review is usually scheduled during the week between Christmas and New Years. In this post I review my process for creating my annual time block for the coming year and I provide a free template for creating your own annual time block. This helps me look ahead 1-2 years to ensure that I set aside substantial time for my top priorities.
I’ve seen, first-hand, the amazing progress you can make when you’re alone for a day or two without the usual distractions. So make it a priority – plan now to get away soon!
Click here to download my Quarterly Review Guide and Template.
When do you review your progress? What does that look like for you? And how do you prepare for it? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
Hi Michael.
Thank you for sharing this post.
Sometimes we have so many plans and an ever increasing to do list that we forget about why we are working so damn hard in the first place.
This is a great reminder to us all that we need to make some time for ourselves.
Gary
Thanks for your thoughts!
Sometimes when you are doing that quarterly review against your goals, you find you accomplished some of them without focused effort. There is just something about getting your goals on paper that sets them in motion.
That’s true, Tom. And nailing one area, gives energy and momentum to progress in other areas.
Thanks Michael, I have practiced quarterly reviews in my ministry and they are so very important to keep our focus on the main thing.
I agree, Cleon. Thanks for connecting.
Great information Michael. Having a review time is something I’ve really struggled with, regardless of knowing how important they are. This post is a great reminder to get into the habit of doing them.
Thanks Joseph. The tough part for me was being away from the office for a day or two every quarter. It took me more than a year to get comfortable with it.