planner or last minute person?

September 9, 2008 12:48pm CST
i used to always plan well ahead (too early) when come to birthday parties, Christmas or any event..But i have to say i dont so much now. Although i couldnt leave until last minute as i would worry and hate being rushed as can easily forget something important For instance Christmas, i will probably start getting serious with it around November time, but i suppose i find it much quicker and easier to sort out with shopping online When come to vacation, i plan a little ahead and buying wash kit etc to put in suitcase 2 weeks ahead because that's one thing out of way hehe.. do you plan well ahead or dont you worry and not problem to just leave until maybe few days beforehand depending on how big the event is? I known people that would leave Christmas shopping 2 days before christmas or even christmas eve.. I would panic much if me
11 people like this
45 responses
@dawnald (85135)
• Shingle Springs, California
9 Sep 08
Last minute... Very last minute...
2 people like this
9 Sep 08
hahaha.. you hate organising or cant be bothered until its upon you then all systems go and pronto thanks for sharing
2 people like this
• Philippines
9 Sep 08
I used to have an event organizing business, so that makes me more of a planner. However, as an artist, some inspiration pop during the last minute of some event. So i sometimes make these "last minute changes." And when it comes to some writing assignments, i tend to procrastinate then i notice that when it's the last minute, there is that pressure of time which makes me more efficient. You know, like the cliche "i am more effecient when pressured."
9 Sep 08
Some can work good under pressure some cant.. suppose if had event organising business you be used to doing things at last minute and not panic.. its when you panic you basically loose your cool and it all just flops thanks for sharing
2 people like this
@sunshine4 (8703)
• United States
9 Sep 08
I am definitely a planner. I am a list maker. If going on vacation, the list starts way ahead of time. For birthday parties or Christmas, I have a folder that I use to keep it organized. I have to plan ahead or I can't sleep at night worring that something will go wrong.
2 people like this
9 Sep 08
Thats how i am, id worry if leave to late. when November comes most Christmas be sorted by end of November Then it gives me time to make sure i got everything.. I hate to rush and i hate stress. Well christmas not so much of a problem for me, as its always only me and 2 teenagers, no other family. end up with too much due to planing ahead lol thanks for sharing
2 people like this
@shymurl (2765)
• United States
9 Sep 08
I like to plan ahead for events and such. When it comes to my kids birthday party, I plan two to three weeks in advance. I like to shop early, like in November as well for Christmas. I do this to make sure I don't forget anything. I also try to plan out my week a week ahead of time. Like appointments, and errands that need to be done. The only thing that is last minute is if the kids have to go to the doctor or something that can't be helped.
2 people like this
9 Sep 08
You are organized,, Other reason need to shop little earlier for Christmas is so can get the things you want, especially when comes to console games etc, as can have shortage and may not get it, if leave it too late. I have 2 specially birthdays this year to think about, my daughter be 21 end this month, so be going over to hers in Scotland, and my son 18th end October yikes So yes i wait until after his birthday before can think about Christmas thanks for sharing
2 people like this
@yadav8797 (1211)
• India
9 Sep 08
friend.you are doing right by plan well ahead.it will does not create the last minutes dazzles and jiggling.the planning of before is always better than last minute.because in last minutes you does not have the time to do the work in well manner and work is does not done properly.friend, i am both type of person. but from today, i will get the moral from you that always plan ahead .to do work in a better way or in a nice manner.
9 Sep 08
Also though, when plan ahead rather then leaving to last minute, rushing around, panicking will only stress you out. And stress is not good for the health.. thanks for sharing, take care
2 people like this
@chinniR (661)
• India
9 Sep 08
hi mandy.when i plan to go for any vacation or out of station i plan a lot and make sure that i have made the necessary arrangements so that everything is very much planned and to avoid panicking at the last moment. but when it comes to parties i don't do much of planning cause i have did it a lot of times and i find it easy to make the necessary arrangements well before hand.
2 people like this
9 Sep 08
i love planning when comes to vacation, that is part of the fun for that, if going to be week or more, id start packing the suitcase few days before, normally with few new things and it to make sure no last minute washing etc thanks for sharing
2 people like this
• United States
11 Sep 08
It depends. I was different before children and now with children I am a bit more of a procrastinator. It also depends on what we are talking about. casual get togethers with friends, I might show up late. For an appointment, I am early. Talking about Christmas, I shop all year round. I don't like to shop last minute because I don't like the crowds. I also like to make gifts so that takes some planning ahead of time. Vacations are usually planned long time in advance both Fall and Spring break are already planned and booked. I guess I am a planner with a few quirks.
11 Sep 08
i used to be more of a planner when my children were young and shop for christmas in summer if i saw something i thought one would like.. As you able to with young children but as older its more difficult, as its all console games and latest cell phone lol.. Now i can mostly shop online so that saves all the queues and rushing around shops when very cold.. Plus saves money but i never found it easy to be somewhere on time when they younger, as children could be so unpredictable, looking for shoes, or need toilet or make mess of their clothes and so on and on haha. thanks for sharing and take care
@cupid74 (11388)
• Pakistan
10 Sep 08
in simple i would say, friends think alike i dont want to rush in panic in last minute and spoil the event
@cupid74 (11388)
• Pakistan
11 Sep 08
i do agree with u every thing must be planned and organised so atleast u know when u have to do anything unnecessary panic is not good for health as well as for Mood Take care and Enjoy
10 Sep 08
Thats nice.. ex boyfriends i have had, never planned ahead.. Basically all got left to me because i couldn't be the same and would panic as the event be approaching unless i was organized. I need time to think, as to what needs to be done so it goes smoothly.. Panic and stress is no good for health thanks for sharing cupid, and have a great day
• United States
9 Sep 08
Oh mandykaren I am soooooooooooooooooo last minute. I think it's a disease I have because it is just so ridiculous. You know, my boys are getting older now so I think to make things easier, I will just give them a nice gift certificate to someone's store and let them get what their little hearts desire. Take care and God Bless!
1 person likes this
9 Sep 08
it is my daughters 21st end September and my boys 18th October but too worried, my boy likes money now, to buy he own clothes and not want party as plans go out with mates to clubs.. So now they older, i become lazier and organize less in advance.. Well suppose now older, can think of me a little more thanks for sharing
@mimico (3617)
• Philippines
10 Sep 08
I'm very much a planner. I always make plans for the day and for the week. i like to see my schedule ahead of time so that I won't be pressed for time. I guess I don't work so well when under pressure. I might snap at my co-workers or go crazy. Planning ahead gives me a lot of room to handle situations that pop out of the blue. For example, if a family member gets sick and I have to stay home and take care of chores then it's okay because I would have accomplished my day's assignments already the day before.
1 person likes this
10 Sep 08
yes when think like that and if family then can understand how that is better to be wel organised.. think you could work under pressure if had to, as long as everyone kept their distance haha.. thanks for sharing and take care
• United States
11 Sep 08
I try to be a planner, but if others are involved its hard to do, becaus most of the people i know, are last minute..do everything spur of the moment kind of people. If i dont plan things out, i feel rushed and then i dont enjoy whatever it is we are going to do.
11 Sep 08
meaning if others suddenly say come on we going concert or some other function and you have to rush and get ready with hardly any warning.. I not mind being surprised like that, but do at least like make sure i have something to wear etc.. Understand that, i not like to be rushed either, becuase then you feel stressed out. thanks for sharing and take care
• Philippines
9 Sep 08
i plan ahead most of the time. i want everything organized and properly laid out, otherwise i cant sleep,LOL. Call me a freak but I have a notepad and excel spreadsheets on weekly menu, on vacation plans, and on special events. SOmetimes even, with lots of planning, things dont work oout the way we want them to be,but at least in my case, its better when I plan....just like you I hate being rushed. I planned for our 4th anniversary. That was way back May. But I started planning around Feb. By end of March, menu for the party was all set, the grocery list was done, I also asked a friend to buy the LCD TV which will be my surprise gift for my husband. After the party, we will go on a Florida trip. Even the luggages are filled and ready a week before the flight...I am such a "plan ahead" freak!Lol....But everything turned out Okay!
• Philippines
17 Sep 08
well i'm the other way around. i used to be the type of person who doesn't plan and just go with the flow but now, with my VERY busy schedule, i plan everything ahead and put memos on my phone just to make sure i don't miss doing anything.
17 Sep 08
I suppose in that case you need to be organized, i know with myself when i suddenly had busy lifestyle, i would forget events until last minute and then rushing around and panicking lol thanks for sharing and take care
14 Sep 08
i'm actually the last minute kind of person. i only get to plan out things when there's someone else who plans it with me.
15 Sep 08
Seems like you need to be motivated otherwise leave it until HAVE to do it self-motivation not always easy, and for this reason takes a lot, to start up own business or doing home courses.. thanks for response and have a nice day
@Ithink (9980)
• United States
10 Sep 08
Im a planned out person, I can now do things last minute to a point. I have found with a large family that it is easier and honestly schedules make it easier on kids as they know what to expect more in a day. Im so bad thou that there is only a few people that I dont mind just dropping by on a whim. Yep Im a planner for sure the more I think about it. I also plan months ahead for almost everything. I like things to go smoothly or at least as smoothly as possible with a full house. lol
10 Sep 08
i can do some things last minute but think as get older, like for christmas just find it easier as know what needs to be done anyway and how long will take to get sorted etc.. Even still, its good to get the bulk of what need be done sooner then later.. If leave until last minute then sometimes i not the time to do the extra little things id like to have done to make it that much better.. thanks for sharing and take care
@checapricorn (16061)
• United States
10 Sep 08
[i]HI mandy, I am the last minute person, lets say for Christmas, I start buying like 2nd week of December all the way until I can complete it! I hate it but I do know how to change, it's maybe part of my system already! LOL! This time, I am trying to change like October, I will start working on it, I hope I can make some changes because truly it's stressful! LOL![/i]
11 Sep 08
hehe well maybe you like the rush and atmosphere doing it so close to christmas and i suppose if that is what you been used to, you know what you doing where to go what to get etc etc and no from past you always succeed to get everything done in time, but yes very stressful for basically only 1 day thanks for sharing
• United States
10 Sep 08
I tend to lean toward the last minute planning with a lot of things. However, presents and shopping aren't one of those things. In fact, I stock up on various things that we will need and I usually get birthday gifts and Christmas gifts well in advance.
10 Sep 08
if lead a busy life as is, sometimes it is not always easy to plan ahead for things. maybe intend to but just not find the time or by time home, too tired.. And time fly's When comes to Christmas for me, gifts is the major concern.. thanks for sharing and take care
• United States
10 Sep 08
I am a little of both. It depends on what I am planning or what I am doing. Cause I like to plan for certain things, such as birthdays or anniversaries and valentines day. But other things like Christmas and doing Christmas shopping, I don't go shopping until like the month of December. I think I may try to do it sooner because waiting that long is crazy.
10 Sep 08
i can be little of both, especially now with umm this and other things i enjoy doing online BUT when comes to Christmas i can wrap it up in couple of days online with card, especially with amazon.. Suppose because not hunting for what want and no queues to deal with Of ocurse its good to shop in town also before Christmas because of the atmosphere.. But here can find unique gifts we can not find in shops.. thanks for sharing and take care
• Singapore
10 Sep 08
I heard these speeches from my principal before : " If you failed to plan , you planned to fail " . But so sad. I dont plan most of my things. I do them routinely so often that i dont have the habit to plan things. And i do not celebrate Christmas event or even birthday. How sad am I.
10 Sep 08
oh that is a good phrase about failing but there is many that can do things at last minute and succeed, because just good at working under pressure. Because of religion you don't celebrate? thanks for sharing and take care
@AamidMS (73)
• India
10 Sep 08
Yes I do plan, I plan perfectly with every aspect in it to be perfect, only thing left is the plan execution, which I am never able to do. I think a lot, I make things available, I will have kept ready all the required things ready but, atlast I would have to make a quick decision forgetting all my plannings and act at the quickest moment. This is me. Plans perfectly, executes the unplanned.