PLAN with your ENDs in mind!Whether u call it an agenda book, organizer or planner, they all do the same thing: keep dates, times and you knowing your next move. One notion that I have taken on as a teacher is to plan with the end in mind! I've become a bit planner obsessed- everything has to have a plan! But as a teacher, this is my life. There are strands (think goals), and benchmarks (steps to take to reach goals), that the student must master by the end of the year; however, it's not an overnight accomplishment. If you were to compare learning to a video game, in order to move on you have to pass the level. Similarly, I have to plan out how the students will successfully pass my level (grade) in order to move on!
Now, apply this same theory: planning with the end in mind using strands and benchmarks to your natural hair journey. For example, view your strand as what length you'd like your hair to be in a year. Be realistic, remember hair grows at a rate of a half inch per month. So, stating that your strand is to grow your hair a full 6 inches will ensure that you are not defeated a year from now!
Your benchmarks are the steps you must take in order to grow your hair 6 inches. Possibly you want to improve your diet, work out more, wear more protective styles, or use sulfate-free products. Whatever you decide your benchmarks to be, you will need to make self-assessment throughout your year spans to ensure you are meeting those benchmarks. Also, it's important to be as specific as possible. When improving your diet state that you would like to increase your water intake from 2 cups a day to 4 cups a day.
The idea is small steps make a big difference. This is where the agenda, organizer, planner, whatever-you-wanna-call-it! comes into play! Some planners even give you the convenience of an at a glance year-great tool! Makes planning very simple. Create a "hair schedule" to include trimmings, straightenings, when you plan to wear protective styles and even when you work ot and how frequently.
Then each month complete a self-assessment of how you are meeting your benchmarks as they relate to your strand. Ask yourself: If I continue at this rate, will I be successful? This may be a time to revise your plan and make improvements or stick to it and wait to bask in your achievements. When you do create you "hair schedule" make the decision to be 100% committed! The outcome of your desire is determined by the amount of patience in your approach! (A LoveNWright Original!)
With love to last a lifetime, K!
(Although strands and ends were used quite frequently in this post, no puns intended!!)
