Planning versus doing

Something I’ve been pondering recently and has come up in a few of my coaching sessions has been the ideal balance between planning and doing, and how we can ensure we get the balance right. 

Sometimes we might find ourselves spending so long planning something that we don’t get enough time to actually do it. I know at times in the past I’ve spent so long in the planning phase that I then had less time than I would have liked and everything felt more pressured (or sometimes I’ve never actually made it to the doing phase at all!).

Sometimes we get so engrossed in the doing that we don’t take time to pause and check we’re doing the right things. I know I’ve definitely done this when I’ve been more reactive and suddenly realise I’m not making time to do any of the things I really want to do. 

Some people like to plan on a regular basis, whilst some prefer to do less frequent longer-term planning. Some like to plan in detail whilst others prefer to keep it broader. There’s no right or wrong way to do it as long as it works for you. It may well depend on the types of things you’re planning as well as your personal preferences. 

What is the right balance of planning versus doing for you at the moment? 

How will you make time for planning and for doing?

How will you review this in future to make sure the balance stays right for you?