In our increasingly fast-paced world, it can be tempting to take a reactive approach to managing your day. However, there are many benefits that come from taking the time each morning or night before to plan out your day. Planning ahead helps you manage your time better, save energy and stress throughout the day, and create focus on what’s most important.

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One of the key advantages of planning out your day is that it gives you greater control over how you use your time. By taking 10 minutes in the morning or evening before to map out what needs to get done for the following day, you will have an easier time staying focused on those tasks when distractions arise during the course of the day. You’ll also be able to prioritize which tasks need attention first by estimating how much time each task might take and scheduling accordingly. This way, instead of wasting precious hours trying to decide where best to spend them as they go by –– something we’re all guilty of doing –– you can simply refer back to your plan whenever necessary and stay on track with whatever it is that needs doing next.

Another advantage of taking the time to plan ahead is that it can help you save energy and stress throughout the day. By mapping out what needs to be done in advance, you’ll have a better sense of how much work lies ahead and can manage your expectations accordingly. This way, when things don’t go as planned (which they inevitably won’t) you’re less likely to feel overwhelmed or discouraged, as you already have a sense of how much still needs to be done. Additionally, by having an idea of what’s coming up the next day, you can also make sure that any necessary materials and resources are ready ahead of time so that you don’t get held up during the course of the day. Finally, planning ahead can create a greater focus on what’s important.