When I go home for a visit, the question that is asked most often is, “what’s the plan?”  This comes up numerous times a day, sometimes followed by additional phrases:

“What’s the plan for supper?”

“What’s the plan this morning?”

“What’s the plan after that?”

Or, variations of the phrase can also be heard:

“What’s the plan, Stan?” (no one in our house is named Stan –  rhyming is just commonplace)

“Plan?” (when laziness wins)

“Has anyone talked to mom about the plan?” (the Master Planner)

I say all this because planning is something I’ve grown up around.  My mom has always planned everything out: our clothes were laid out the night before we went to school, our lunches packed early, supper was always thought up a couple days ahead, activities and trips planned out well in advance.

Planning is something I love.  Having a plan helps me live a more simple, balanced life because it keeps me from feeling overwhelmed when life gets busy, helps me make healthy choices and allows me to see that yes, it all gets done in the end.

Here are a few thoughts on planning as it relates to healthy living.

Plan… your meals

Google calendar, or any other online calendar, is great for meal planning.  On the weekend, I type in what I plan to eat that week based on grocery store sales, any nights I might be eating out, leftovers or older produce I need to eat.  Having it written down in Google calendar allows me to move things around or delete them when I want. 

This is a great way to save money, too.  If I’m good about meal planning, I can be good about grocery shopping.  I only have to buy what’s on my list for suppers and lunches that week which prevents me from impulse buying at the grocery store.  Save your sanity, save a buck… it’s a win-win.

Plan… your workouts

I was good at this in the winter time.  I have pages full on Google calendar of when my planned workouts were and what I was going to do at the gym.  This was easier in the winter when I knew my only exercise option was the gym – too cold to be outside!  Now, I plan which nights I have free to work out, but don’t necessarily plan what type of exercise I’ll be doing.  Whether it’s the gym, running, biking, yoga, or going for a walk, as long as I’m moving, it all counts.  If I plan for exercise, I’m far more likely to do it.

Plan… to be flexible

Think back to last week.  Did everything go as you thought it would?  Did it all work out exactly how you imagined?  Probably not.  We can’t plan for everything – life would be boring if we could.  There needs to be wiggle room in any plan; spontaneity is still good!  If you always stuck to your plan, think of all the impromptu outings with friends you would miss, or the beautiful weather you passed up because you planned on an elliptical workout, not a walk along the river.  It’s great to have a plan but it shouldn’t be set in stone.  Be willing to make adjustments.  Planning is meant to be helpful, not a hindrance to living.

I like to keep this proverb in mind:

A good plan today is better than a perfect plan tomorrow.