Planning is an essential part of our cognition. It refers to the cognitive ability that enables humans to set goals, create strategies, and execute actions to achieve desired outcomes. From everyday tasks to long-term aspirations, planning plays a pivotal role in shaping our actions and guiding us toward success. On this page, we’ll delve into the concept of planning, exploring its significance, how it works, and real-world applications.
This cognitive skill can be defined as the mental process of envisioning desired outcomes, and devising a series of actions or strategies to achieve those outcomes effectively. It involves a complex interplay of executive functions such as problem-solving, decision-making, goal-setting, and inhibition control. Planning requires individuals to analyze a situation, identify obstacles and opportunities, make logical decisions, and take logical actions to accomplish their objectives.
As an example, let’s say that you have a goal of getting all A’s on your report card by the end of the school year. Once you have your goal defined, the other components of planning come into play.
In our example of trying to get all A’s by the end of the school year, you may anticipate challenges such as time constraints on school projects, difficult subjects that you may have to spend extra time studying or getting tutoring for, or navigating your schedule between social events and school work.
In the example, you may have to make tough decisions about how you are using your resources of time and energy. Getting straight A’s could require allocating more time to studying so that less time is available for other events or hobbies. At the same time, you don’t want to overwork and get burnt out. So, you would need to find a good balance in how you use your resources of time and energy.
Other resources that could be relevant are study guides, a tutor, or extra credit work. By using the cognitive skill of planning, you can imagine which resources would be helpful to you and seek them out.
A sequence of actions can also be thought of as a sequence of short-term goals that will help you reach a long-term goal. In the example of aiming for straight A’s, a list of actions could look like this:
In our example, let’s say that there’s a ski trip that you really want to attend the weekend before a big test. Attending the trip will throw off your homework and studying schedule, however you can adjust your plan in order to work around this. Instead of your usual 3 hour study session on Sunday, you can spend an extra half hour each weekday before the trip to ensure you’re caught up on studying for the test before the weekend. Other workarounds could help as well, such as asking a friend to quiz you during some down time on the trip.
Neuroscientific research has shed light on the areas of the brain underlying the process of planning. Through research, the prefrontal cortex has been identified as the primary region responsible for planning. Individuals who have experienced trauma to this area of the brain have been found to experience difficulty performing sequential tasks. Tasks that require sequential planning, such as Towers of Hanoi, have shown to activate the prefrontal cortex in neuroimaging studies.
Planning permeates virtually every aspect of life, from simple daily tasks to complex endeavors.
We plan in ways that we don’t consciously think about, such as going through a morning routine before school or work or keeping a calendar of what we need to do during the month.
In professional settings, individuals engage in strategic planning to achieve objectives, allocate resources efficiently, and navigate dynamic environments. In academic pursuits, students use their planning skills to manage study schedules, prepare for exams, and pursue long-term educational goals. In personal life, planning helps us attain personal aspirations, such as lifestyle changes, travel plans, maintaining relationships with loved ones, and developing skills.
Cognitive impairments can affect planning skills. This can occur due to a range of conditions, such as a stroke, brain injury, or psychiatric illness. The good news is that there are ways to exercise planning skills, which may help to rebuild this function.
For example, digital cognitive exercises such as Towers of Hanoi, Writing in the Stars, and Basketball in NY all exercise planning skills along with other executive functions such as decision-making, cognitive flexibility, and impulse control.
Other cognitive exercises, such as worksheets and bridging activities, can help individuals work on improving these skills.
Whether completing digital, paper, or in-person exercises, working with a clinician who can provide cognitive therapy will offer individuals the best methods to rebuild cognitive skills that have been affected.
In the intricate world of cognition, planning stands as a cornerstone of function throughout life. It enables individuals to transcend immediate circumstances, envision future possibilities, and chart a course toward their aspirations. By harnessing the power of planning, we can navigate the complexities of life with clarity, purpose, and resilience, transforming ideas into reality one plan at a time.
Pulling from our decades of experience in Cognitive Therapeutics, we aim to help you enrich your practice through the use of digital and paper tools.
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