Getting used to have plans and schedule was tricky for me, because I thought I value freedom. In reality lack of schedule or too flexible schedule is a way to avoid working on what’s important and what matters. After experimenting for a couple of years I came to the conclusion flexibility keeps to many gates open. These holes let focus, determination and energy evaporate. However, let me start from the beginning.
Since being a child I was running on a tight schedule. Spending around 7-8 hours at school and spending additionally couple of hours in musical school was making my schedule tight. Additionally commute. I’ve been doing these for a couple of years when I was around 14-15 years old. That was exhaustive, but I survived. The hardness of the schedule was coming from the schedules set by both schools. And I knew at what time I need to be somewhere and when I have to leave to get there on time.
After such a bumpy ride at a young age I was interested into getting more freedom. And I was living for many years having and approximate plan. Kinda keeping the main event times in my head and thinking what I can do in between. Usually I was doing my best to optimize the effort and group my tasks to reduce waste on commute or driving. This way I was easily ending up with doing completely useless things, having pointless meetings and actually wasting time. While trying to achieve completely the opposite effect.
When I understood it does not work - I gave up and give myself a while to flow. Without having a plan, without overthinking. Living the way it happens naturally. This was nice in the beginning, until I realized nothing happens. I’m not even near where I’d like to be. I’m not even going into that direction. I was finding myself in a completely wrong places among completely wrong people. Because I was doing what was convenient, approximately understanding how potentially may lead me to the goals.
And then I learned about a strict time management approach, that helped me a lot to deal with my anxiety and lack of focus. Literally planning everything. Most surprisingly - time for doing nothing was a must. I had literally plan time when I do nothing. I was skeptical about this approach at first. But when I tried and started scheduling day after day noting down the progress - I started to feel better. Not only I was able to accomplish tasks. I was literally feeling how I regain control of my life.
Additional rules around the schedule helped me to take care about my social life. I don’t have friends, or just a few I have occasion to speak to rarely. But everyone’s else turned out to be a noise. That got cancelled as soon as I had my plans and stopped being available for their convenience. Suddenly our relationships became unimportant. Like these were never important for them. And me. It was uncomfy for me to stay alone. But let’s get back to the schedules.
With strict schedules day becomes a breeze - there is a block of time to think about the plan. Time outside it is the time for execution. Go and do. Simple. No more “oh I think this is more important right now”. Nope. Not anymore. This started to work as soon as I took responsibility over my life and my days. When I accepted someone might be upset. This helped to build boundaries. I had to allow myself of being more important than the entire external world.
Maybe this is not exactly what you have expected of the scheduling article, but I would be really happy if I can encourage anyone to try. To reclaim your time and power. To build YOUR plan for YOUR life. This won’t come easy. Won’t come at no costs. And it’s not about absolute control - things may go wrong and plans may get derailed. That’s the beauty of the life. But having a plan - is the beginning of each good journey.
After all - time is money. If you plan your money spendings - why don’t you plan time spendings? If you never did - give it a try. That’s a fun game to play. You can’t loose with yourself!