How to Become Proactive

"Proactive" is defined by Dictionary.com as "serving to prepare for, intervene in or control an expected occurrence or situation, esp. a negative or difficult one; anticipatory." Often we are caught in a reactive mode. We find ourselves responding negatively to a negative situation, which can lead to stress. That stress can be minimized by learning to be proactive.

Instructions

• 1

  Make a list of outstanding tasks. For this example, assume that the front yard needs to be landscaped.

• 2

  Document the steps necessary to complete the task: Purchase azaleas, roses, mulch and pre-emergent, for example.

• 3

  Document the resources necessary to complete each step. Necessary resources for these steps are: money, a sunny day and a friend's pickup truck to haul the items. To be proactive, set aside the money for the items, check the weather forecast for the closest sunny day and call to get the date when the friend's pickup truck will be available. Reactive would be calling the night before to ask to use the pickup truck.

• 4

  Put a completion date beside the task based on the steps and resources necessary. The completion date for the task example, let's say, is three weeks from today.

• 5

  Document anything that could cause the completion date to be missed. For example, the money set aside may be needed to pay the water bill or it may be drizzling all day instead of sunny or the friend's pickup truck is in the shop. This is known as contingency planning. Document a later completion date if all does not occur as expected.

• 6

  Start the project. Begin work as if the day will be sunny, the friend's truck is available and the money is available to purchase the items.