We are in the middle of summer, or at least the middle of a traditional three-month summer break for those who are in school during the other nine months of the year.
At the start of summer, if you are like me, you are beaming with optimism for the endless possibilities and opportunities that summer can bring. And now, as we are in the middle of it, it can be an impossible challenge to find the 82 hours to fit in our tasks within the 24 hours we have!
If you find yourself feeling overwhelmed with your amount of time and the tasks on your to-do list, within your personal or professional arena, anytime of the year, perhaps revising how you schedule yourself could be helpful.
I am inspired by author Jay Shetty. He suggests creating a fixed productivity schedule. This means determining how much time you have FIRST and then filling in what tasks you can fit into that time frame. Having a fixed time block helps to optimize our schedule, with a determined focus of presence and engagement, as well as sparking an excitement and a healthy dopamine hit when we achieve the itty-bitty things we intend to do. Even setting timers can enhance our efficiency while preserving our crystal clear, timed boundaries.
When planning ahead, Shetty suggests listing out everything you think needs to get done. Rather than starting with the list to schedule it all, first start with the specific day and time frame that you have designated within your day/week and THEN pick the high priority items of what is most important to achieve from your list. Schedule only what you can likely get done within the desired timeframe. Then, reserve another block of time for the rest of the items on your list.
Sticking to the non-negotiable time boundaries creates a balance between working and not working, or within the varied tasks and activities that can overwhelm us.
Dialing in on what you can actually achieve when creates confidence in scheduling our self.
Doing only and exactly what you said you would do creates integrity.
There will likely never be enough time to accomplish everything, but if we can be more realistic in the time we have available to plan accordingly, we can help our brains to enjoy achieving realistic expectations, while feeling proud of the progress to cultivate a balanced life.
“The reality is, we cannot do it all. When you focus on time first, and tasks second, can you make sure you have space for what matters most.”
- Jay Shetty
Life is all about choices and trade-offs. This strategy of scheduling our time invites us to really make decisions that feel right to us, while seeing the bigger picture. With healthy boundaries, we can master our time, compared to being a master to our tasks.
For me, at this point in the summer, I have not cleaned out my basement storage room, nor have I written as many stories as I had originally intended on. I have, however, fit in time to reconnect with myself and my family and friends. Spending precious moments to breathe in the countryside of Wisconsin and laugh with my sassy 91-year-old grandma feels really good.
As you look ahead to your upcoming week to craft your ideal schedule, I encourage you to see if this method might be helpful to create more balance, confidence, integrity and goodness within your life.
This is a non-paid endorsement, supporting you as you protect your most precious gift, your treasured time.
These pictures were taken in my home state of Wisconsin this summer, when I chose to prioritize connection, over completing tasks, with a slower schedule.
P.S. If IT is just too much sometimes, that is okay, too. We all can relate and support NO scheduling. Check out a prior writing:
Is it time to deepening your connections, or be a treasure to our community by giving back? One local organization can help:
3/14/24 – Twin City Area Optimist Club “NOW…New Optimist Welcome” Meeting
