Having recently returned from my trip up the Great Glen Canoe Trail, I wanted to share the lessons and real-world examples of the importance of planning and organising outside of the world of work.

Not only on an individual level but for the group as a whole and for the ultimate success of the trip.

Individual Preparation

Getting There and Back: Yes I got there, despite further delays to the replacement coach, a broken down train and missed connection.

Packing with Purpose: Packing for the trip required careful planning, organisation and the need to fit it all into one rucksack.

The pre-trip kit-list covered everything we’d need on the water and in camp each day helped but there were still decisions based on unpredictable weather and being prepared for anything.

• Pack ahead of time, so you can …

• Layout everything you need. Then cut it back by a third.

• Layer up with thinner, lighter layers.

• Fold and roll. Takes up less space and is easier to pack (and unpack), whether it’s a rucksack or suitcase.

Minimise: Even though I pack light, I still had several things I didn’t wear, although it might have been a different story if it had been cold and wet every day. We often have too much 'stuff' and need less, not more.

Group Preparation

Teamwork: This was definitely a team effort. Transporting and feeding 8 hungry people with enough food and drink, 4 canoes and wild-camping over 5 days.

While much of the pre-trip planning had been covered by our trip leaders, transporting all the equipment we’d need from canoes to cooking and camping equipment was no mean feat.

Food Planning: Starting with a menu plan for the week, from our arrival and meeting up to the final meal at the end of the trip.

• Creating a shopping list for the trip.

• Splitting into groups to save time gathering supplies in the supermarket.

• Sorting all the food into evening meals; snacks and drinks.

• Packaged up and labelled, so it was accessible when needed.

A couple of mishaps but we had some amazing campfire meals and certainly didn't go hungry.

Routines

Creating routines also helped the smooth running of the trip.

• Organising us into canoes and tents for the trip.

• Dividing up cooking responsibilities each day.

• Morning routine for breakfast, pack up the tents, load up the canoes and get us on the water each day.

• Afternoon/evening routine - unload the canoes, put up tents, prepare supper, tidy up and bed.

Communication

As part of planning and organising, good communication is key.

Knowing what to expect ahead of time. While you don’t necessarily need to know every detail, knowing what’s coming next helps to ensure you work well together when it happens.

This started with the pre-trip planning, what to take, where and when to meet and continued each day. Where we hoped to get to. What time we’d start, finish and take breaks. What our options were.

Because of the unpredictability of the weather, which as luck would have it was pretty good all week, we did have changes to the plan and needed to be flexible.

Having options if the weather and more importantly the wind, changed for the worst meant a few early starts but it’s something we were all committed to and wanted to give ourselves the best chance of completing the challenge.

Planning and Organising Lessons learned:

• Plan ahead - a little forward thinking saves time and effort and creates less stress.

• Delegate. Allocating tasks to different people or groups also saves time and is more efficient.

• Have a system to organise what needs to be done and a simple process to follow to avoid making things too complicated.

• Effective routines and teamwork are not exclusive to the workplace. They apply at home, on holiday and in all aspects of life.

• Let people know what's going on, even if you don't have all the detail yet. Some communication is better than none.

Whether at work, in our personal lives or during an adventure, skills such as planning and organising will always stand you in good stead and give you the foundations to success.

How could you apply these lessons in your life?