1. What is Big Rock Planning?
Big Rock Planning is a simple yet effective way to set goals and achieve them. The idea is to focus on the most important things you want to accomplish and then break those down into smaller, more manageable tasks. This helps you to stay focused and on track, and it also reduces stress and overwhelm.
2. Why is Big Rock Planning effective?
There are a few reasons why Big Rock Planning is so effective. First, it forces you to think about your priorities. When faced with a jar full of rocks, you can’t just put them all in at once. You have to decide which ones are the most important, and then put those in first. This is the same way with your goals. When you use Big Rock Planning, you’re forced to decide which goals are the most important to you, then focus on those first.
Second, Big Rock Planning helps you to break down your goals into smaller, more manageable tasks. This makes it easier to get started, and it also helps you to stay motivated. When you have a big goal, it can be easy to feel overwhelmed. But breaking that goal down into smaller tasks makes it much more achievable.
3. The Benefits of Big Rock Planning
There are many benefits to using Big Rock Planning as below.
Increased Productivity
One of the biggest benefits of Big Rock Planning is that it can help you increase your productivity. When you focus on your big rocks, you’re more likely actually to get it done to get them done. This is because you’re not wasting time on less important tasks.
For example, you have a big rock to write a report. If you start your day by scheduling time to write the report, you’re more likely to finish it. But if you start your day by checking email or answering phone calls, you’re more likely to get sidetracked and never actually write the report.
Reduced Stress
Another benefit of Big Rock Planning is that it can help you reduce stress. While you have a complete plan for your day, you’re less likely to feel stressed. This is why you know what to do and when to do it.
Let’s say you have a big rock to finish a project by the end of the week. You might feel stressed as the week progresses if you don't have a plan. Find out precisely what to do and when to perform it. This will help you stay calm and focused when you have a plan.
Improved Focus
Big Rock Planning can also help you improve your focus. Focusing on your big rocks makes you less likely to be sidetracked by less important tasks. This is because you know that the big rocks are the most important things that you need to get done.
Say you’re working on a project, and you keep getting sidetracked by email or phone calls. If you use Big Rock Planning, you can schedule time to check email and phone calls at specific times of the day. This would help you stay focused on your project.
Greater Sense of Accomplishment
Finally, Big Rock Planning can help you feel a greater sense of accomplishment. When you check off your big rocks, you’re reminded of how much you’ve achieved. This can also boost your motivation and self-confidence.
4. How to Do Big Rock Planning?
Identify your big rocks
The first step is to identify your big rocks. What are your most important goals for the week, month, or year? To identify your big rocks, you can ask yourself the following questions:
What are the most important things I need to accomplish next week/month/year?
What are the things that will have the biggest impact on my life?
What things that I’m more passionate about?
Once you’ve identified your big rocks, you need to write them down. This will help you stay focused and make sure that you don’t forget about them.
Break down your big rocks into smaller tasks
Once you know your big rocks, you need to break them down into smaller tasks. To break down your big rocks, you can ask yourself the following questions:
What are the specific steps that I need to take to achieve my big rock?
What are the smaller tasks that I can break my big rock down into?
How long will it take me to complete each task?
Once you’ve broken down your big rocks into smaller tasks, you need to write them down. This will help you stay organized and make sure that you don’t forget about anything.
Prioritize your tasks
Not all tasks are created equal. Some tasks are more important than others. Prioritize your tasks to focus on the most significant ones first. To prioritize your tasks, you can ask yourself the following questions:
Which tasks are the most important?
Which tasks need to be done first?
Which tasks can I delegate to someone else?
Once you’ve prioritized your tasks, you need to write them down. This will help you stay on track and make sure that you’re actually getting things done.
Schedule your tasks
Once you know what your tasks are and how important they are, you need to schedule them. This will help you stay on track and make sure that you’re actually getting things done. To schedule your tasks, you can use a calendar, to-do list, or project management software. You can also use the Eisenhower Matrix to help you prioritize your tasks and schedule them accordingly.
Take action
The most important step is to take action. Once you have a plan, you need to start working on it. Don’t procrastinate!
To take action, you need to set aside time each day to work on your big rocks. You should also be flexible and willing to adjust your schedule as needed.
Looking for a convenient paper sheet to do your big rock planning? Download the simple Big Rocks printable sheet that we use.
5. Examples of Big Rock Planning
Here are some examples of how other people have used Big Rock Planning to achieve success.
Big rocks for Personal achievements:
A student who wanted to get into a top university used Big Rock Planning to create a plan for studying for the SAT and ACT. She broke down her big rock into smaller tasks, such as studying for a certain number of hours each week and taking practice tests. She also scheduled time to work on her big rock each day. As a result of her planning, she was able to get into her dream school.
A stay-at-home mom who wanted to lose weight used Big Rock Planning to create a plan for eating healthier and exercising regularly. She broke down her big rock into smaller tasks, such as meal planning for the week and setting aside time each day for exercise. She also scheduled time to work on her big rock each day. As a result of her planning, she was able to lose weight and improve her health.
Big rocks for Professional achievements:
A business owner who wanted to launch a new product used Big Rock Planning to create a plan for developing the product, marketing it, and selling it. He broke down his big rock into smaller tasks, such as conducting market research, creating a prototype, and developing a marketing plan. He also scheduled time to work on his big rock each day. As a result of his planning, he was able to launch his new product successfully.
A manager who wanted to improve employee morale used Big Rock Planning to create a plan for implementing new policies, providing training, and recognizing employees for their work. She broke down her big rock into smaller tasks, such as creating a survey to assess employee morale, developing new policies, and scheduling training sessions. She also scheduled time to work on her big rock each day. As a result of her planning, she was able to improve employee morale and productivity.
6. Conclusion
Big Rock Planning is a simple but effective time management method that can help you achieve your goals. By following the steps outlined in this blog post, you can learn how to identify your big rocks, break them down into smaller tasks, prioritize your tasks, schedule your tasks, and take action.
If you’re looking for a way to improve your productivity, reduce stress, and boost your sense of accomplishment, I encourage you to give Big Rock Planning a try. It’s a simple method that can make a big difference in your life. Here are some additional tips for getting started with Big Rock Planning:
Be realistic about your big rocks. Don’t try to set too many big rocks for yourself, or you’ll just end up feeling overwhelmed.
Be flexible. Things don’t always go according to plan, so be prepared to adjust your schedule as needed.
Celebrate your successes. When you check off a big rock, take a moment to celebrate your accomplishment as this would help you stay motivated.
At Better Lives, we encourage our team to do Big Rock Planning every week. We’ve seen great results in their productivity, and they’re motivated by their personal and professional achievements. If you’re looking for a way to improve your team’s productivity, I encourage you to give Big Rock Planning a try.
Download the free Big Rock Sheet for your week.
We hope this blog post has been very helpful to you. If you have any questions regarding Big Rocks planning , please feel free to contact Better Lives.