Schedule

In the globe, there are two categories of people:

1. Those who adhere to a strict daily regimen

2. Those who despise schedules and prefer to enjoy life on their own terms

Yes, that is an exaggeration, but you get the idea. If you've ever tried to stick to a schedule, you're well aware of how easy it is to overbook your days. This frequently leads to dissatisfaction and eventual abandonment of a daily plan.

The truth is that sticking to a plan can boost your productivity dramatically, and it's feasible to build one that works without committing to every minute of the day.

We'll go over why a daily schedule is important and how to put one in place in your own life in this piece.

Why Is It Important To Have A Daily Routine?

In his secluded Prussian hamlet, German philosopher Immanuel Kant lived an almost mechanically regimented life. Villagers stated they could set their watches to his 3:30 pm walks since his daily routine was so well-organized.

Kant's busy schedule allowed him to publish some of the most important philosophical writings of the Age of Enlightenment, many of which are still taught in universities across the world today.

You probably don't want to conduct your life as slowly and meticulously as Kant did. For the vast majority of individuals, this is not possible nor desirable.

However, even though his approach was a little excessive, the message should be that a well-structured/scheduled day eventually leads to a higher level of productivity and success.

How To Make A Daily Routine That Is Beneficial To You

Scheduling is, in theory, a rather straightforward concept. It entails devoting time during the day to specific chores or events. You're scheduling when you promise to show up for a dentist visit or a medical check-up in three weeks.

Despite the fact that the concept of scheduling is basic, most people lack the necessary tools, strategies, or mindset to establish an efficient, well-functioning daily schedule. So, what tactics can you employ to create a timetable that is actually beneficial to you?

-          Make a schedule for the day ahead of time.

Most people use their calendar reactively when it comes to scheduling, which means they jot down commitments as they arise. When a coworker asks a meeting next week, for example, you schedule it in your calendar.

While it is true that living a reactive-free life is impossible, there are drawbacks to this method, the most significant of which is that you frequently lose control of your schedule. It's difficult to focus and complete meaningful work when your day is filled with various and unconnected chores and obligations. You're jumping from one commitment to the next instead of focusing on your most crucial duties.

What's the best way to deal with this? Blocking of time. Time blocking is a method of dividing your day into small, discrete time blocks, which are usually 30 minutes to an hour long. You should only work on the allocated assignment within each time period.

Blocking is the polar opposite of the open-ended approach to life that most people take, in which they work on activities as they have time, with no clear goal or deadline.

Of course, everyone's daily routine is different, and sticking to the planned schedule can be difficult at times due to unforeseen circumstances such as traffic and job delays.

-          Deep Work should be scheduled.

Blocking for the first time goes hand in hand with conducting deep work.

Cal Newport defines deep work as a state of mind in which you are completely concentrated on a single activity and have blocked out all distractions, according to his best-selling book Deep Work: Rules For Focused Success In A Distracted World.

While you may complete your project, these distractions divert your attention away from the task at hand, affecting focus, productivity, and the quality of your work.

When it comes to scheduling, it's ideal to do your deep work chores first thing in the morning while your mind is still fresh. This not only allows you to get started on a task before becoming distracted, but it also helps to set the tone for the remainder of the day, as you can go about your day knowing you've completed something significant.

-          Make sure your schedule corresponds to your energy level.

It's a good idea to plan your day in such a manner that it corresponds to your energy levels as much as feasible.

You want to organize your day as much as possible so that you're focusing on critical chores when your energy levels are high and taking breaks or doing less demanding jobs when your energy levels are low.

This method of matching labor to energy is in direct opposition to how much of the Western world operates. We try to maintain high levels of productivity throughout the day, relying on coffee to keep us going when our energy levels begin to wane. While there's nothing wrong with a good cup of coffee, our bodies aren't built to be productivity machines.

Don't try to power through the entire day if you want to be most effective. Instead, work in short bursts and take pauses as needed.

Take a week or so to note how you feel at different points of the day if you've never paid attention to how your energy levels rise and fall during the day. It may be beneficial to scribble notes in a notebook so that you may review them at the end of the week.

-          Be honest with yourself about how long tasks will take.

When it comes to creating a daily plan, one of the most common mistakes individuals make is being overly optimistic about how long things would take. A task that you estimate will take 30 minutes usually takes more than an hour. If you want your daily schedule to function properly, you must be upfront about how long things will take.

It's usually a good idea to overestimate how long something will take you when planning your day. At the very least, multiply the time you estimate it will take to complete a task by 1.5, if not twice.

-          Include Time for Buffering

It's critical to allow for buffer time between tasks. You can't expect to move from one work to the next without interruption. You'll need to factor in time for interruptions, such as getting a drink of water or using the restroom.

If you don't factor in buffer time, your timetable will soon become out of whack when something unexpected happens. Short buffer periods between jobs and a lengthier buffer period during the day where you can cope with unforeseen items that arise during the day can be beneficial.

-          Distracts should be avoided.

Distractions are one of the most effective ways to disrupt your schedule. After all, what good is it if you set out 90 minutes for deep work just to waste half of it on Reddit? When working on vital things, you must filter off distractions to be fully effective.

You can establish times when you won't be able to access distracting websites or apps with Freedom. If you're afraid about succumbing to temptation and turning off Freedom, you can even "lock" yourself out, making it impossible to succumb to temptation even if you wanted to.

-          Irresponsible Requests Should Be Rejected

Accepting spontaneous requests will soon throw your schedule into disarray. It may not seem like a huge thing when a coworker asks you to attend a meeting for them. And, in truth, a single request isn't that big of an issue. The trouble is that “small” requests throughout the day quickly build up, and your day quickly becomes consumed with doing things for others.

Clearly, you don't want to be a jerk. There are instances when doing what someone asks of you is appropriate, especially if that person is your boss! However, try to avoid saying yes to unplanned requests as much as possible.