Top 5 Reasons to Start Creating Daily Schedules
Starting Today!
There are 24 hours in a day. That means that we are blessed with a fresh batch of 1,440 minutes each day and we are responsible to manage and maximize each one. One of the most effective ways to maximize time is by creating and following a daily schedule. A mentor of mine introduced me to the idea of scheduling around 2013. My mentor instructed me to create a schedule as a way of staying accountable with my time. The idea was that I would create the schedules and send them to him. Admittedly, I did a terrible job at sticking to my schedule and it was more of a chore than anything else.
Over the years, though, I’ve noticed that having a daily plan for the day greatly increases my productivity! I must admit that I often times go long stretches of time without creating one. However, when I do I see a difference. By “daily plan” I am referring to having a detailed (down to the minute) schedule of your plans each day. To begin creating a schedule, do the following 3 simple steps:
1) Create a to-do list
Example:
- Pay electric bill
- Update Budget
- Prepare to go to the grocery store
- Leave home
2) Estimate how much time it will take you to complete each task
3) Plug each task into a time slot
Example:
- 9:00 am-9:20 am: Pay electric bill
- 9:20 am-10:00 am: Update budget
- 10:00 am-10:15 am: Prepare to go to the grocery store
- 10:15 am: Leave home
4) Complete the task, check it off, and move on!
Creating a minute-by-minute schedule may appear to be overkill, but it yields results!
In this article, I will share some of the benefits of scheduling. Below are my Top 5 reasons why you should consider incorporating a detailed, daily schedule into your life.
- Schedules help you see if/when you’ve been spending too much time on a task.
I’ve found that there are plenty of things we do every day that don’t require the amount of time we give them. If we don’t place time limits on each task, we never realize that we’re wasting time and make the adjustment. For example, it wasn’t until I started placing a time limit on doing laundry that I realized I could wash, dry, and fold my clothes in 1 & ½ hours. Before evaluating my schedule, I spent multiple hours at the laundromat unnecessarily.
2. Schedules help see where you’ve been misdirecting your time.
Misdirecting time is very similar to the results of not having a budget for your money. Have you ever gotten a raise on your job, but never seem to actually see the extra amount you’ve received? In theory, you know it’s there, but in all actuality you don’t experience the savings you thought you’d have. Time works the same way. When you finish a task early and have “extra time,” having a schedule gives you the power and clarity to see what task you can direct your “savings” to, even if that means applying it to the next item on your schedule and having more time to do it.
3. Schedules help manage new and unexpected tasks, as well as people’s expectations.
We’ve all experienced going throughout the day and receiving a phone call, email, text message, or face-to-face request/directive that caused us to make adjustments to our plans. Having a schedule allows you to assess your day, input the new task, and see (at a glance) which task(s) will need to be done at a later time. When these last-minute schedule changes happen, having a detailed schedule helps avoid double-booking yourself. It also signals when you need to inform those in your life that you’re unavailable to meet their request/need to reschedule.
4. Schedules are living documents and can be adjusted to fit your priorities.
Whether it’s when you get married, have children, start new hours at your job, or begin serving in a new ministry, sometimes life priorities need to shift. When adopting a system for managing your time, it’s important that whatever you choose be capable of doing the same. The beautiful thing about a daily schedule is that it’s flexible. Schedules can be adjusted to accommodate the things you consider important for any given day or week. Some days are very busy, while other days include more free time to work on your business, spend time with your family, read, hike, pursue a hobby, serve your church, or whatever else you choose to give your time to.
5. Schedules help reduce stress and make your day feel more manageable and less overwhelming.
Honestly, I’ve found this to be the #1 benefit. For those who have weeks that are jam-packed and busy, having a schedule makes those weeks feel more doable. Having your days planned out in advance allows you to free up your mental space and direct your attention to one task at a time, plugging in new ones as needed. By creating and implementing a detailed schedule, you’ll be able to think more clearly without being bogged down with the stress of planning as you go.
Simply put, following a daily, detailed schedule will help you maximize your time and maintain your mental health amidst the many things you need to get done. I always advise starting with a solid morning routine and taking it from there. I guarantee you will see the benefits!
With that said it can be tough to stay on top of it. I certainly have not been the most consistent. So lets make a change and manage our time better!