Journal & Articles
Productivity
Create a
Schedule
Creating a Workable Schedule and Sticking to It
Creating and following a schedule is the best way to use all of your time
as efficiently as possible.
Working on a schedule helps you meet deadlines, keep appointments
and stay focused on the task at hand.
But, following a schedule can be difficult -
especially if you aren’t used to planning out your day.
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Here are some things to keep in mind while making and maintaining your schedule.
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Make a To-Do List
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The first thing to consider when setting up a schedule is knowing what you need to accomplish. Make a list of everything that you need to get done in a day, as well as a list of leisure activities or other things that you would like to do. Once you’ve made your lists, you can decide how much time you need for each activity and use this to develop a schedule. Schedule high-priority activities first and work everything else in around them.
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Use a Planner
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Record all of your scheduled events in one organizational tool like a planner. You can use a physical copy or an app on your phone, but it’s important to use the same planner for all your scheduling. This ensures that all of your appointments and meetings will be in the same place and easily accessible, and that no conflicting schedules are made. The simplified scheduling will keep you on track and relieve some of the stress associated with the scheduling process.
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Stay Realistic
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Don’t plan out a schedule that you won’t be able to keep. Be sure to give yourself plenty of time in between activities, especially if you have to travel from one to the other. Also, make sure you allow yourself breaks throughout the day to rest and recharge. Planning a schedule that is too busy will leave you feeling tired, and may affect your performance as well as your health.
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Keep At It
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Like any habit, good or bad, you have to keep at it in order to truly make it stick. The same applies to learning how to properly manage and maintain a workable schedule that you can consistently follow each day. The scheduling process will be less stressful and easier to follow through with each time you plan out your day. Persistence is key!
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Expect the Unexpected
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More often than not, things don’t quite go according to plan. Don’t be stressed out if things don’t happen exactly like you were expecting them to. Be prepared to make adjustments to your schedule if the situation calls for it. If something comes up that you hadn’t scheduled for, make sure you will still have time to see to everything on your schedule.
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These tips cover the basics of managing your time.
After you’ve worked out and followed your own schedule, you can adapt your organizational style to suit your needs.
Try out different methods or techniques to see which ones you like.
There is no perfect method for scheduling, so you have to find the method
that works best for you.
Small deeds done
are better than
great deeds planned.
Peter Marshall
