Formulate a realistic, motivating action plan

By Stella Cottrell
Edited image of a graduate running on bar charts.

A good plan is an important part of every strategy. 

  • It makes life easier if it lays out precisely the steps you need to take, giving you a path to follow
  • It reduces stress when you have a clear way forward and boosts motivation to achieve steps in your plan
  • It can take time, initially, to clarify your thoughts and work out relevant actions

However, a good plan saves time later, as you don’t have to keep working out what you should be doing.  

Birds eye view of a road in black and white imagery.

Aim to stay focused on the big picture – your overall vision and main goals. Remind yourself regularly why you are on this course and what you want to achieve.  
 

White arrowhead on a black background.

Decide your strategy

Consider what you need to do to get yourself through the course. This should inform your strategy. 

For example:  

  • What will you do to maintain motivation?  
  • What time will you block into your diary for study?  
  • Will you spend more (or less) time studying with others? For what kinds of activities?  
  • How will you personalise your study?  
  • What do you need from family and friends, so you can study the way you want and need?  
     
Yellow post it note being held by a person.

Draw it all together

When formulating your strategic action plan, draw on the thinking and evaluations you have already undertaken. Remind yourself of:  

  • Your purpose and vision
  • The desired outcomes or goals that will achieve that vision, in line with the expectations of your course
  • Any priorities you have already identified
  • The milestones, potential obstacles, and other actions you identify
     
Pen next to a page which says 'Yearly planner'.

Draw up an action plan

  • Decide the best order for starting to undertake each action. Set an end time for each
  • Draw up a plan or ‘roadmap’ that shows when you will undertake each of those actions. You could use a template to identify the actions you will take to achieve your goals
  • Check your plan is sufficient to achieve your desired outcomes/end goals
  • If relevant, check that the work you need to do for class and assignments is built into your plan

Useful apps for planning

Phone against a yellow background with a speech symbol on it.

MyLifeOrganised (iOS and Android) – helps you manage tasks across different aspects of your life, such as study, work and home. It helps you prioritise tasks and measure your progress towards completing these.

Microsoft To Do (iOS and Android) – helps you create, organise and manage ‘To do’ lists. It synchs across your mobile devices and computer.

Microsoft OneNote (iOS and Android) – allows you to gather your thoughts, notes, documents, photographs and other media in a single place.

Evernote (iOS and Android) – creates notebooks to store and search all your ideas, photos, documents, which you can access across all your computers and devices.

Black wall with white writing which reads 'Dream Big'.

Use your plan to:

  • Stay focused on what you want to achieve  
  • Pace your work throughout the course, so that you complete everything by the end date  
  • Have as a reference point when starting assignments
  • Check regularly to stay on track and to keep it up to date. If it is too demanding, or not sufficiently challenging, amend it to suit you better

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