In many parts of the world, the idea of planning ahead might revolve around official appointments or scheduled meetings, but in Germany, it’s a way of life that extends far beyond the confines of the workplace.

Germans are renowned for their meticulous planning, evident in every aspect of their lives, even down to the minutest details of a casual meeting or a future holiday. Don’t be surprised when you find Germans know their vacation plans till the end of next year, and you’ll be met with a meticulously crafted itinerary already inked into their calendar. I’ve seen that a lot here!

I am so fortunate to have a couple of German friends and I would take them as an example here. Taking a casual meet-up isn’t just a spontaneous coffee catch-up. It involves a pre-determined appointment made weeks in advance. The plan list spans from the exact date and time of the meeting, the logistics of who’s going where, a weather forecast to ensure preparedness, and a structured plan outlining the day’s activities. Such detailed preparation might seem excessive or stifling to some, stripping away the excitement of spontaneity.

A friend once told me that it would be boring for him to neglect the element of surprises – it’s not a friend meet-up anymore! It’s an office meeting!

However, I totally love it!

The comprehensive planning we have, offers more space to enjoy the day and bring our good vibes so we all can enjoy the day without going out and still figuring out what to do!

Another interesting thing to mention; receiving a confirmation call a day before a meet-up might be a norm elsewhere, but in Germany, it’s all sorted well in advance…

Your German friends will not call you to confirm on the go-out day. NO. They will simply show up at the exact time and venue you agreed upon few days/ weeks ago. And they EXPECT that from you TOO. No back-and-forth calls! Schloos. Punkt.

Isn’t that stress-free?

I remember that at the end of August, I wanted to plan something so I went to a bookshop to get a monthly planner, but I couldn’t find anything for 2023 left! It‘s gone 🙂 They don’t see 2023 by the end of August 🙂

Instead I started seeing everything related to 2024 everywhere you look, calendars, planners, and notebooks for the following year in libraries, supermarkets, and gift shops, inviting individuals to mark their forthcoming events.

Even in the library where I go study at, I stumbled upon rolls of large wall calendars available for free, encouraging everyone to embrace their planning endeavors.

So here is a picture of me having my big wall calendar in my backpack like Robinhood who is going to hunt his 2024 goals like Germans.

So now, how skilled are you at planning, from 1 (best) to 5 (worst)?