Creating a Realistic Schedule: Tips and Tricks
1. Realistically assess how much time you have available in a day
2. Prioritize
3. Build in time for deviations, or unexpected tasks and interruptions
4. Track your progress!
How many times have you made a New Year’s resolution to create and stick to a new schedule? How often has that actually worked for you? If you’re like most people, the answer is not very often. The reason most schedules fail is because they are unrealistic. They are impossible to stick to, and this leads to frustration and eventually giving up on them altogether. In this blog post, we will discuss some tips and tricks for creating a realistic schedule that you can actually stick to!
The first step to creating a realistic schedule is to realistically assess how much time you have available in a day. Be honest with yourself about how much time you need for work, sleep, personal activities and leisure time. Only when you have an accurate assessment of what your day looks like can you start building out your schedule.
Once you know the amount of time you have each day, it’s important to prioritize. Make sure that the tasks that are most important get done first, as this will help ensure that everything else gets completed as well. Don’t be afraid to move things around if necessary; there may be days where one particular task needs more attention than another.
When creating a schedule, don’t forget to build in time for deviations, or unexpected tasks and interruptions. These are unavoidable, so it’s best to plan ahead for them instead of trying to fit them in at the last minute. Additionally, be sure to give yourself breaks throughout the day. Even if you only have 15 minutes, taking a break will help refresh your mind and keep your productivity levels up.
Finally, don’t forget to track your progress! Writing down all of the tasks that you need to complete can help keep you organized and motivated. Plus, if something doesn’t get done one day, tracking your progress allows you to easily identify what needs attention tomorrow.
Creating a realistic schedule isn’t an easy task but with these tips and tricks you’ll be able to create a plan that works for you. Be honest with yourself about how much time you have available, prioritize your tasks and make sure to build in some flexibility. With the right planning and tracking, you’ll be able to stick to your schedule and get everything done! Good luck!