Monthly Planning

A new month begins today.

So, I revisited my annual billable-hour goal.

This month, I want to stay ahead, as we welcome a new puppy next month (which will, you know, consume some time).

I also have to plan around some travel.

This month is long (at least compared to February).

I see 23 billing days on the calendar.

But, one of those days I have a conference, so I'll chalk that up as a zero-billing day.

On two days, I have early-afternoon flights, so those will be half-billing days.

This brings me to 20 full-billing days and 2 half-billing days.

Based on the number of hours I want to bill this month, I then break it down:

The monthly goal, turns into weekly goals, which turn into daily goals.

I chart this out on a paper calendar.

I calendar the daily goals in Outlook.

At the end of each day, I ask: am I ahead or behind?

I then adjust tomorrow's goal accordingly.

At the end of each week, I ask: am I ahead or behind?

I then adjust next week's goal, and break it down into new daily goals.

This allows me to know where I stand.

I make constant adjustments, sometimes freeing up time and creating space.

Other times, it means I have to work weekends (or bill more the next month), but I can better plan for that.

I also have the confidence that I'll meet the goal.

And, now: I can make the most of the last four months of my associate year.

I can make the billable hour work for me, instead of being subject to its demands and whims.

You can do this too.

#lawyerwellbeing #productivity #gettingthingsdone #law #strategy