In this mentoring session, the mentor will guide the mentee to organize a structured schedule, which may include activities that will drive them closer to a goal, such as starting their education or finding a new career path. Creating structure in life post-military is another challenge military members face. It is difficult to move from a lifestyle that is organized and planned to a lifestyle that is completely open-ended.
In return, this may impact one’s mental fitness, which can be maintained by building foundational skills. Some important foundational skills are time management, planning and organizing a schedule, physical activity/healthy eating, and self-awareness. There are plenty of resources out there to help build these skills.
Tasks:
- Create schedule/routine
- Create “I Love Me binder” (see tips for more info)
- Watch this video to understand the “I Love Me” binder
Tips:
- It may be helpful to have a weekly schedule written. In the “Materials” tab above, we have attached a weekly agenda that could be helpful if you do not have a planner.
- A I Love Me binder will consist of any documentation you have ever touched in the military (i.e. awards, evals, civilian education, DD214 copies). This does not need to be in paperback form, you can create a PDF folder on your computer and back it up to your hard drive. This will help you stay organized for your transition, and give you a single place to access documentation needed for education, family, or medical benefits.
Resources for creating structure:
