Overview

Planning is the process of deciding when, what, where and how to do a certain activity before
starting to work. Various types of plans are- Operational, tactical and strategic plan, formal and
informal plan, proactive and reactive plan and functional and Corporative plan. The planning process
comprises- Analysis of the environment, Setting the objectives, Develop premises, Determine and
evaluate alternatives, Selection of the Best alternative, Formulation of the derivative plan, Budget
formulation, Implementation of the plan and Follow up action.

Concept of Planning, Types of Planning and Planning Process

Concept of Planning

Planning is based on the theory of “thinking before acting”. Planning is an integral part of our life.
We make plans in each and every step of life whether it be to go to school or to buy household
goods during shopping. We make plans according to the limitations of our budget and resources to
get maximum satisfaction and to fulfill goals from our activities.

source:www.dreamstime.com

Planning is the most basic and primary function of management. It is the pre-decided outline of the
activities to be conducted in the organization. Planning is the process of deciding when, what, when
where and how to do a certain activity before starting to work.

It is an intellectual process that needs a lot of thinking before the formation of plans. Planning is to
set goals and to make certain guidelines achieve the goals. Also, planning means to formulate
policies, segregation of budget, future programs, etc. These are all done to make the activity
successful.

All other function of management is useless if there is not a proper planning system in an
organization. So, planning is the basis of all other functions. Thus, planning is the map or a blueprint
for the organization.

According to Theo Haimann, “Planning is deciding in advance, what is to be done. When a manager
plans, he projects a course of action for the future, attempting to achieve a consistent, coordinated
structure of operations aimed at the desired results.”

According to Alford and Beaty, “Planning is the thinking process, the organized foresight, the vision
based on fact and experience that is required for intelligent action.”

According to ME. Hurley, “Planning is deciding in advance what is to be done. It involves the
selection of objectives, policies, procedures, and programs from among alternatives.”

(Sharma, Surendra Raj; Jha, Surendra Kumar; 53-60)

PRACTICAL WAYS TO ORGANIZE YOUR
THOUGHTS
When it comes to organizing your thoughts, you can’t go wrong
taking a practical and step-by-step approach. Sometimes, the
sheer process of turning a collection of thoughts in your head
into a few notes jotted down on some paper can literally make
things as clear as black and white.
There’s absolutely no doubt whatsoever when it comes to your
thoughts; you can clearly see all the items that are of concern
to you at this very moment.
The techniques that follow are great for those times when you
need take stock of the thoughts in your mind. Simply transfer
thoughts from your mind onto sticky notes, index cards, or a
piece of paper, and you’ll be able to analyze, evaluate, and
manipulate your thoughts and ideas as needed.
ASSEMBLE STICKY NOTES ON A WALL.
For this exercise, you’ll need a stack or two of sticky notes, a
writing implement, and a clean area of wall space. Write down
one thought on a sticky note and stick the note on the wall.
Continue the process, making sure to write only thought per
sticky note.
When you’ve emptied all thoughts from your mind, take three
large steps back from the wall. What do you see? What don’t
you see? You can then start placing sticky notes into groups.
Feel free to create whatever groups or groupings you’d like: this
exercise is all about making sense of the thoughts in your mind.
DRAW A MIND MAP.
A mind map is a simple way of connecting different thoughts
together. You’ve probably seen mind maps before in one shape
or another. They have one main thought in the center and are
surrounded by related thoughts and ideas.
To create a mind map, you’ll need a sheet of paper or a
notebook. In the center of the paper, write down your
predominant thought, and draw a circle around it. Next, you’ll
want to draw a line from the circle radiating outwards towards
the sheet of paper. At the end of this line, write down a thought
related to your predominant thought. Continue adding thoughts
to your map as necessary.
As you work on your map, you may find it helpful to create sub-
maps of related thoughts to help further organize your ideas.
TAKE NOTES ON INDEX CARDS.
Index cards are a classic way of keeping track of your thoughts
and ideas. For this technique, you’ll need a stack of index
cards, blank or lined, along with a writing implement such as a
marker or pen. You can organize your thoughts in one of two
ways.
The first option is to write out one thought per index card, which
is quite similar to the technique described above using sticky
notes. Once you’ve transferred your thoughts to index cards,
you can shuffle and reorganize them as you please to uncover
new ways of looking at information.
The second option is to use the top of an index card for a main
thought. You’ll then want to list out related thoughts underneath
the main thought. Again, you can shuffle and reorganize index
cards as needed for a new look at your ideas.
CREATE A LIST.
One of the easiest ways to organize your thoughts is to capture
them in a good old-fashioned list. Your list need not be
complicated: you’re just capturing information so you can
process it in a little bit.
Here’s what to do: grab a piece of paper or a notebook along
with a writing implement. Write down one thought per line.
Keep writing down your thoughts until you can’t think of
anything else. When you’re finished, take a bird’s eye view of
your list. You should be able to see some similarities and
connections in your list.
You can use this moment to draw connecting lines to your list
items, or create a brand-new set of lists based off of your
original list.
MAKE A PIE CHART.
You’ve probably seen pie charts before. These are visual
charts created in the shape of a circle, or pie, with each shaded
area representing different amounts of anything and everything,
from a budget, food, survey results, to winning sports teams.
For this technique, you’ll need a piece of paper or a notebook
and a pencil. Draw a large circle in the center of the piece of
paper and then write down your thoughts in different areas
inside the circle. As you collect your thoughts, consider their
relationship to one another. For instance, are some thoughts
more important, pressing, or timely than others? Make sure you
mark your thoughts as such in your pie chart.
CREATIVE WAYS TO ORGANIZE YOUR
THOUGHTS
Are you looking for a fun and exciting way to organize your
thoughts? Why not use your creativity to organize all those
incredible ideas, aha moments, and genius thoughts?
Unleashing your creative side can allow your mind to view your
thoughts and ideas from an entirely different perspective.
What’s more, taking a creative bent to organizing your thoughts
can be a lot of fun, too.
Try any of the following techniques the next time you want to
shake things up when it comes your thoughts. Some of these
ideas may seem a bit unconventional or silly, but hey, what
have you got to lose? You may be pleasantly surprised at what
you discover when using these techniques!
HANDWRITE A LETTER.
The art of letter writing is a true skill. Why is this the case? You
have to think about what you want to say, or write, in an
organized and coherent manner. If you haven’t written a letter
in ages, consider this your wake up call! Here’s how to get
started…
Pull out a blank piece of paper and a pen. Turn off your cell or
smart phone and put your desktop, laptop, or tablet to sleep.
You’re going to spend the next few minutes writing a letter to a
dear friend. Keep in mind, you won’t actually be mailing this
letter to a friend, it’s just a way for you to think about and
organize your thoughts.
Given all the thoughts swirling around your mind at the
moment, how would you describe your thoughts to your friend?
Which thoughts are connected to one another and which
aren’t? Take as much time as you need and write the letter.
If you’re finding it difficult organize things in your mind, you can
simply write a stream of consciousness letter. All you have to
do is write down what comes to mind as you think about it.
There’s no need to edit, correct, or fix errors. Just write and
keep on writing until you decide to call it quits.
MAKE A COLLAGE.
Are you a visual person? You can create a collage of your
thoughts using a variety of different pictures and images. This
process is a bit more intensive than others, so you’ll want to
make sure you have sufficient time at your disposal.
Begin by collecting any magazines, newspapers, flyers, cards,
and other printed materials from around your home. You’ll also
want to round up a glue stick, glue, or rubber cement, as well
as a pair of scissors, and a piece of poster board or sturdy
sheet of paper stock.
Leaf through your collection of print materials and find items
that catch your eye. These could be pictures, words, images,
colors, or shapes. Whatever interests you is fair game. Once
you’ve finished cutting out items, take time to group and
arrange on your poster board. When you’re finished arranging
things, glue items down as needed and review your handiwork.
CREATE A TABLE OF CONTENTS.
Does it feel as if your thoughts could create a weighty tome of
information? Why not take things literally and try your hand at
writing a table of contents? This method forces you think about
ideas and thoughts, and how they should be presented in a
logical fashion, from start to finish.
Grab a piece of paper or notebook along with a writing tool.
You can also use a word processing program for this exercise,
should you wish.
Now, imagine you’re writing a table of contents for a book.
Which of your thoughts should come at the beginning of the
book? Which of your thoughts should come at the end? What
items should take up the middle? Construct your table of
contents as you see fit.
DEVELOP A TIMELINE.
Seeing your thoughts listed in a timeline or calendar format can
give you some much-needed perspective. It’s like you’re seeing
your ideas, thoughts, experiences, or activities through the
ages! For this exercise, you’ll need some paper and a writing
implement. In a pinch, you can use an old or unused calendar
or planner to organize your thoughts.
Here’s what you’re going to do: start by choosing one timeline
method for your needs. You could use a calendar using the
months of the year, days of the week, hours of the day, or
chronologically by year. Once you’ve decided on your method,
you can write in a single thought in each slot. The idea here is
to organize your thoughts by what comes first, second, third,
and so on.
Feel free to organize your timeline and ideas in any way you
see fit, just make sure to include ample notes for yourself so
you won’t forget how you developed your timeline!
MAKE A RECORDING OF YOURSELF.
An incredibly easy way to hear what you’re thinking is to simply
record your thoughts. This gives you a unique look at not only
what you’re thinking, but your tone of voice when you’re
recording your ideas.
For this technique, you’ll need an electronic device that is
capable of recording sound. This could be a dedicated voice
recorder, audio software, or voice recording app on your phone,
desktop or tablet. When you’re ready, make a recording of all of
your thoughts and ideas.
Put the recording aside for a day or two and come back to it in
a few days’ time. You’ll have a completely different perspective
and insight into your thoughts when you listen to your recording
of yourself.
THOUGHTFUL WAYS TO ORGANIZE
YOUR THOUGHTS
Organizing your thoughts may seem like an activity that has to
take place when you’re fully-awake, focused, and present. You
may even believe you have to actively think about your
thoughts to create some semblance of order and structure.
While this may be true for some of the time, it’s not completely
true for all of the time.
You may not have realized it yet, but you can “organize” your
thoughts through a variety of less active methods. These
approaches wholly encourage you to take time off from actively
thinking about ideas, thoughts, issues, and concerns, and let
your subconscious mind take control. If you’ve never used any
of these methods, then you may want to give these methods a
try. It’s a completely different way of organizing your thoughts!
WORK ON A REPETITIVE TASK.
Repetitive tasks can help you sort out the thoughts in your
head. While your hands are busy, your mind is free to sort out
all the details and considerations floating around your head.
All you have to do is identify a task or tasks that don’t require
much effort or thought on your end. This could be as simple
as entering business card data into spread sheet, ironing
clothes, sewing a button, shredding old paperwork, dusting
furniture, filing papers, or tidying up your desk or room.
Choose your preferred task and get to work! Your mind will
organize your thoughts in the background while you work.
SIT QUIETLY OR MEDITATE.
Meditation can calm both the mind and body. It can also help
you gather and organize your thoughts. This approach asks
you to relax and just be…and let your mind do the work for you.
How can you get started? You can turn off the lights or draw
the blinds in the room in which you’re sitting. Next, you’ll want
to sit quietly in a chair, on a bed, or on a pillow on the floor.
Whatever position makes you comfortable is a good choice.
The next step is one that is really simple: just sit quietly.
Breathe slowly and calmly. Sit and relax and enjoy the moment.
If you practice meditation, you can use this as opportunity to
meditate for several minutes.
SLEEP ON IT.
That which seems incredibly chaotic and puzzling now, will look
a whole lot different in the morning! There’s just something
about the power of sleep when it comes to clarifying and
clearing up your thoughts. This process can be incredibly useful
if you’re trying to make a decision or coming to some sort of
agreement or terms.
What do you need to do for this technique? Change into your
pajamas, climb into your comfy bed, and go to sleep as you
usually do. You’ll awake with some fresh perspective in the
morning. Try it…I think you’ll like it!
PHYSICAL WAYS TO ORGANIZE YOUR
THOUGHTS
As we talked about in the previous section, organizing your
thoughts is sometimes best left to the wisdom of your mind and
body. Sometimes you have to “get out of your head” so you can
find the answers which you seek. This may involve you raising
your heart rate, spending time with other people, or challenging
yourself to interpret your thoughts in a physical manner.
The methods that follow are some great ways for you to
organize your thoughts on a physical level. They force you to
step out of your mind and express your thoughts through body
movement and interactions with others. The next time you need
to get your thoughts in order, try putting your body in motion!
GET SOME EXERCISE.
It’s time to move your body and get your heart pumping. Not
only is getting regular exercise good for your body, but it’s good
for your mind as well. What activities can you perform to get
some exercise?
How about making a visit to the gym, going for a walk with
friends, playing fetch with your dog, going for a jog outdoors, do
a spot of active gardening, or play tennis with a neighbor.
As I mentioned earlier, the change of pace will give your mind a
break, and allow your subconscious to work on your puzzle in
the background.
SPEND TIME IN NATURE.
When’s the last time you spent some quality time outdoors?
This is a great opportunity to explore the world around you, be
it five minutes away, or fifty minutes away.
Think about all the natural areas you could visit near your home
or office. For instance, you could sit in the park on a bench,
hike a trail in a nature preserve, or gaze at a beautiful green
pasture. A little bit of research online will give you some great
ideas on places to visit.
So, put on those sneakers or walking shoes, get out of your
head, and let your eyes take in all the beautiful sights.
TALK TO A FRIEND OR FAMILY MEMBER.
No matter how many times you’ve turned around ideas and
thoughts in your own mind, sometimes it helps to talk things out
with another person.
You’ll feel a whole lot better getting things out of your head, and
off your chest. An added bonus is that your friend can help you
find patterns, clarify your thoughts, or give you some new
perspective on your current situation.
Make arrangements to meet with a trusted friend or family
member for a one-on-one, uninterrupted chat. And of course,
offer to listen to your friend in future when they feel the need to
talk things out!
TELL A STORY.
Telling a story is a great way to organize your thoughts. It
prompts you think about what’s important to the story…and
what isn’t.
You can tell a story anyway you’d like: through storytelling,
through acting, through a puppet show, through a drawing or
sketch, through radio drama…whatever method you so choose.
Just start with one of your thoughts and take it from there.
“Once upon a time…”
How To Organize Your Thoughts (With
Helpful Strategies)
By Indeed Editorial Team
Published October 21, 2021

The Indeed Editorial Team comprises a diverse and talented team of

writers, researchers and subject matter experts equipped with Indeed's
data and insights to deliver useful tips to help guide your career journey.

It's common to have many thoughts throughout the day, and learning how to
observe, recognize and prioritize those thoughts can help you stay focused on
important tasks. There are many strategies and techniques you can use to help you
organize your thoughts effectively so you can improve your productivity. If you want
to become better at organizing your thoughts, you can benefit from learning about
some steps you can take to achieve this goal. In this article, we explain why it's
beneficial to manage your thoughts, describe how to organize your thoughts and
provide some helpful strategies.

Related: What Are Organizational Skills? (With Examples)

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Why is it important to organize your thoughts?

Learning how to organize your thoughts can help you concentrate on important tasks
and motivate you to keep working toward your goals. It's important to organize your
thoughts and ideas because this practice can help you to:

• Improve your productivity: Developing strategies to organize your

thoughts can help you stay focused on the task you're performing,
which can help you improve your productivity.
• Prioritize important tasks: When you learn to organize your
thoughts, you can prioritize important tasks to ensure you're
completing those first before transitioning to other responsibilities.
• Create a work-life balance: Organizing your thoughts can help you
learn how to be more present at work and at home, which can help
you create a work-life balance.
• Maintain a positive attitude: Organizing your thoughts effectively
can help you become more productive and confident in your abilities,
which helps you maintain a positive attitude.

Related: 9 Tips for Being Positive at Work

How to organize your thoughts
Here's a list of steps you can take to help you organize your thoughts effectively:

1. Record your thoughts

When you notice your thoughts are becoming less organized, take some time to
document them. There are many strategies that can help you record your thoughts,
such as writing them on index cards or keeping notes in a journal. If you prefer to
document your thoughts visually, create a pie chart by assigning a category to each
thought and organizing them graphically. You can also vocalize your thoughts by
speaking them out loud. Use a voice recorder or mobile recording application as you
express your thoughts. Any of these methods can help you keep a record of your
thoughts.

Related: Learn How to Journal in 9 Steps

2. Prioritize your thoughts

Once you've documented your thoughts using a method that works well for you,
prioritize each thought to help you organize them logically. Consider each thought
individually and develop a system to help you prioritize them. For example, you could
assign each thought a priority ranking on a scale of one to 10, or you could
categorize each thought as low, medium or high priority. Use this system each time
you have a new thought. By prioritizing your various thoughts, you can determine
what ones require your immediate attention and what ones you can think about later.

3. Separate complex thoughts

When you're focusing on complex thoughts, it's helpful to separate them into smaller,
more manageable ideas so you can stay focused. For example, if you're thinking
about an important work presentation you're giving in one week, try focusing on
small steps you can take to prepare for it, such as researching the topic and finding
data to support your proposal. Separating complex thoughts into smaller ones can
help you focus on one task at a time and motivate you to keep working to achieve
your goals.

4. Reflect on your thoughts

After you document, prioritize and separate your thoughts, it's helpful to reflect on
them so you can establish a habit of organizing your thoughts. Review the record of
your thoughts and determine if there are any that still require your attention. If there
are, make plans to follow up on those items. If you've already worked through other
thoughts, you can remove them from your record. Begin by reflecting on your
thoughts once a day, and as you become more consistent, you may choose to do
this practice weekly to help you stay organized.

5. Develop a consistent routine

As you become more proficient at organizing your thoughts, it's important to develop
a routine to help you maintain your new habit. Choose a time each day that you can
concentrate on your thoughts and document them thoroughly. For example, you may
choose to write your thoughts at the beginning of each workday. At the end of the
workday, you may then spend some time reflecting on your thoughts so you can
evaluate your productivity and track your progress. Developing a consistent routine
can help you continue to keep your thoughts organized.

Related: How To Organize Your Day To Maximize Success

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Strategies to help you organize your thoughts

Here are some strategies you can use to help you organize your thoughts and
improve your productivity:

Take breaks

When you're working on job tasks, it's helpful to take breaks so you can stay
refreshed and productive. During your workday, try to take a short break every hour.
You can stretch, walk around or work on simple tasks, such as replying to emails. By
focusing on something other than your work, you can restore your energy and allow
yourself to reorganize your thoughts. Often, taking a break can help you be more
productive when you return to your tasks. They can help you clear your thoughts and
motivate you to keep focusing on important tasks.

Make to-do lists

Creating a to-do list can help you collect and analyze the various thoughts you have
each day. You can use a variety of methods to make a to-do list, such as marking
items in a calendar or using a mobile application. Each day, write your thoughts on a
to-do list so you can remember them. When you complete a task or finish a thought,
mark it as complete on the list. The process of making and updating a to-do list can
help you feel accomplished and encourage you to continue organizing your thoughts
this way.

Related: How To Create a Productive To-Do List (With Tips)

Organize your physical space

Working in a clean, organized space can help you focus on your tasks more clearly,
which can help you manage your thoughts. Take some time to assess your
workspace and determine how you can make it more functional and organized. Go
through old files and discard ones you no longer require for your work. Gather
important items, such as office supplies and documents, and find a space where you
can access them easily. It's also helpful to clean your workspace at the end of each
day so you can begin your next day organized and productive.

Speak with someone

Often, speaking with someone about your thoughts can help you understand why
you're having them. Seek a family member, a close friend or trusted coworker and
confide in them about your thoughts. For example, if you're having stressful thoughts
about a project at work, ask a coworker if they can look over your progress so far
and offer their opinions on your work. Getting this feedback from people you trust
can help you determine the reasons for your thoughts and help you organize them
more effectively.

Exercise regularly

Regular exercise can have many benefits for your physical and mental health.
Participating in physical activity prepares your mind to focus, which can help you
organize your thoughts. Choose an activity you enjoy so you're more likely to
maintain your exercise routine. For example, you can try jogging, rollerblading or
playing a sport, such as tennis. Going on walks can also be a good form of exercise
that allows you to get outside and enjoy nature, which can help you clear your mind.
Consistent exercise can also improve your mood and boost your confidence, which
helps you manage your thoughts.

Get enough sleep

Much like exercise, getting enough sleep also has many benefits that can improve
your mental health and help you organize your thoughts. Establish a consistent
routine so you can get the same amount of sleep each night. For example, you may
have a routine that you do one hour before bed so you can fall asleep at the same
time every night. Getting consistent and restful sleep can help you wake up feeling
refreshed and motivated, which can improve your chances of maintaining organized
thoughts during the day.