Fix My Life - Scheduling and Time Management
Getting my life in order, or attempting to, takes effort. Time is the most important thing to me. I try to budget it wisely, and I try to get the most out of each day. Lately, I began to pay attention to how I spend my time because I suffer from procrastinating and using time as an excuse for not attempting things or not reaching goals.I decided that in order to make my healthy journey a success, I had to get some things together. So, to move forward with any of the goals I have set for myself, I had to develop a system of time management. Having a visual layout of my days helps me to better plan, tackle, and accomplish my goals. There are a few things to consider when getting life in order via scheduling.Here are 4 tips that helped me with my life schedule:Tip 1 - Know thyself, plan accordingly. Find a method that works for you to make your schedule. I use an excel chart, whereas some may find planners, journals, and binders more helpful. I prefer the spreadsheet because of how it comes together for me, even when I fall “off schedule” & slip into my old habits (of putting things off), I have a visual representation of my day. I like to use my “life schedule” to block out what I should be doing; I don't get too specific because I do use my phone calendar and reminders to remember events, programs, lunch, you know...the important things.Tip 2 - Determine the end goal.Decide what you want to accomplish. What is your end goal? Once you begin to analyze your time & how you spend it, you may find yourself wanting to schedule more valuable things. For me, I wanted to set aside time for blogging and working on my brand. I do have a full-time job, in a completely different field and do not want to detract my focus from work BUT I do want to ensure I get the most value out of my 24 hours.
Tip 3 - Don't forget the small things (obstacles).Consider things that are a little beyond your control. Although it would be ideal, I can only work when I'm working and drive when I'm driving. No matter how much more valuable time I'd like to add, it's best that I give my 100% when on the clock and to pay attention to the road when driving. Also, consider the "people factor" many times, your family is somewhat of an obstacle. Be sure to remember them in your schedule and to let them know of the changes; no one wants to feel overlooked however, there is room for adjustments. I also practice "DND", my friends and family are aware of the fact that aside from emergencies, my phone is on do not disturb from 8 PM - 7 AM. I know that I have sleeping issues and plan accordingly; I schedule a time to wrap up or wind down so that I can ease my brain into sleep mode. I find that this helps me to get a more restful sleep as well as get a full recharge in 6-7 hours.Tip 4 - Be realistic & plan accordingly.Consider a realistic goal of your availability. When will you sleep? Ideally, we are supposed to get at least 8 hours of sleep, although studies have shown we can fully be recharged with 6-7. You'll need to know your body as well. You should also know what times are better for you; I know that I have sleep issues and that I accomplish more in the mornings so I scheduled my workouts in the mornings. I function decently with at least 7 hours so I plan accordingly. Also consider what time you will wake up, what time you work, your travel time, and how much time you will need to accomplish whatever goals you need to accomplish.I hope that these tips and pointers help you on your mission to fix your life via scheduling. Here is a link to my basic schedule template, that you can modify to your liking, as well as a few points to remember - TAN Daily Scheduler - blank. Thank you for reading and please share any steps and advice that you use to better manage your time and accomplish goals!