Are you struggling to get things done in your day? Do you feel like there are never enough hours in the day to do all the things you want to do? Well, today we’re going to talk about how to schedule your day for maximum productivity so you can cultivate your dream life!
I’m sure you’ve heard this before: The people we admire for being successful and on top of their game have the same amount of hours in the day as we do. So, how can we use our time as efficiently as they do? The key is setting up a daily schedule following effective time management tips.
The benefits of creating and sticking to a realistic daily schedule are endless: from identifying your clear goals, to increased productivity, laser-like focus and a sense of accomplishment at the end of each day.
We have weeks, months, years and even decades. Compared to such long stretches of time, a day may not seem like much. But they add up! Your future is the result of the choices that you make in one day, day after day.
Sound overwhelming? Don’t worry. We’re going to break this down into easy steps so you can schedule days where you get more done and work toward the life you truly want!
Here’s how to manage your time and schedule your day:
Identify your non-negotiables, top priorities and extras
Alright, let’s get started! Grab a journal, a sheet of paper or open up a doc on your computer. Now blurt out all of your plans, priorities, to-dos, etc. for the day you want to schedule. Don’t worry about structure. Simply write out a list of all the things you need and want to get done.
Now that you have your list, create 3 new sublists:
- Non-negotiables
- Top priorities
- Extras
Under non-negotiables, list all of the things that you MUST do in the day. This could be “class at 10”, “meeting at 5”, “work from 2-5”. Things like that.
Under top priorities, list the things that may not be a non-negotiable, but are very important to you and your goals. This could be something like “work on side hustle for an hour”, “go to the gym for 30 minutes”, “complete a module of an online course”, etc. I recommend sticking to a maximum of 3 top priorities to prevent overwhelm.
Finally, under extras, list all of the things you’d like to get done, but aren’t necessarily as important as your top priorities.
Now that you have your non-negotiables, top priorites and extras listed out, it’s time to add them into your schedule! Here’s how:
How to schedule your day
To create your schedule, you can use a planner, a calendar, or even just a piece of paper. Choose a method that works best for you.
If you’d like to use a personal daily planner, I highly recommend one that has an hourly planner like this one. I also have a free daily planner page on my blog that you can print out or use in a digital note taking app!
Now, let’s create your schedule in a few simple steps:
STEP 1: Take your non-negotiables and add them to your schedule next to the appropriate time slots. Always start with your non-negotiables so you can see exactly where you have free blocks of time.
STEP 2: Now that you can see where you have free time, schedule in your top priorities. Remember to allow enough time to prepare before you actually start your priorities, enough time to complete them and enough time to relax once they’re done.
When in doubt, it’s better to schedule in more time than you think you need! You can always fill free time with productive activities or use it as a time to relax.
STEP 3: Add in any extra things you don’t necessarily need to get done, but would like to get done.
You’ve now completed your schedule! Take a look at it and make sure it’s realistic.
Hint: I recommend color coding your non-negotiables, top priorities and extras! If you’re planning on paper, check out the Kaco gel colored pens. They’re my personal favorite for color coding.
Stick to your schedule!
Now comes the fun part! Put your schedule to the test by trying to stick to it for the whole day. Here are some tips that can help you follow your schedule:
- Minimize distractions by limiting your time on social media, turning off notifications and putting your phone on silent.
- Set short timers for tasks. Try your best to be productive and efficient until your timer goes off. Take a break, then start your timer up again and continue to work. Repeat until you complete the task you’re working on.
- Ask a friend to be your accountability partner! Tell them your plans for the day and report back to them once the day is over.
Don’t be too hard on yourself if you have trouble sticking to your schedule at first. Remember to allow for flexibility. Which brings me to my next point:
Reflect and adjust your schedule
At the end of the day, take some time to think or journal about your experience. You may have been able to get everything you wanted done and then some. If so, awesome!
But if not, don’t be too hard on yourself. Try ruminating on these questions: What worked? What didn’t work? Did you schedule too much time for a task that you got done quickly? Did you pick too many top priorities?
Use your experience and answers to make adjustments to your schedule. You may need to reprioritize some tasks, remove some tasks or take shorter breaks.
Remember… life happens!
Sometimes things come up that throw off our schedule. That’s okay! Don’t beat yourself up about it. Just evaluate your progress at the end of the day and adjust your schedule as needed.
Keep going and keep striving for progress, not perfection. Eventually, you’ll land on a general schedule that works for you.
Want more help creating your perfect daily schedule? Check out these free printables on my blog…
I hope this post inspired you to get productive! Let me know what you think in the comments. I’d love to hear from you!