How I Schedule My Day

Scheduling my day in detail has been such a helpful tool in my life & business!

I can confidently say I am more productive each day with a schedule than when I was just following a long to-do list.

It's so freeing not having to decide what task I'm going to do next, at what time or for how long.

I feel like I am more relaxed even! I put more effort in when I do a task because I can always see the "light at the end of the tunnel" [my break], and I choose to stick it out for the entire allotted time.

I've even been feeling like I could add more tasks because I'm getting things done at a quicker pace than I anticipated. I'm going to be sure to keep free time scheduled for myself each day though.

I always want to reward myself with time off for being so productive, not just keep going and going - which leads to burn out.

MY SCHEDULE

My schedule typically looks like this. [give or take some light procrastination, impromptu walks, and facetimes with my people - it doesn't change much day to day]

MORNING

• Wake up between 6:30 - 7:30 [only check phone for emergencies]

• Spend time with hubby [coffee, water, no phone]

• Shower

• Breakfast [still no phone]

• Clean 8ish-9:00 [music time - I like starting with worship]

• Read Bible & journal 9-10:00 [def no phone]

• Send good morning texts 10:00ish [yay phone!]

• Get ready, get dressed, makeup 10:00-10:45ish [little bit of phone here & there]

• “2nd breakfast” snack [phone is up & running with conversations]

DAYTIME

• Workday 11am to 4:00ish

This is the time I write & schedule blog posts, create & schedule emails, reply to texts between assignments/tasks/checkpoints, customer service follow ups, film & edit videos, create graphics for Pinterest, and other admin/business tasks.

• Each task is allotted a specific amount of time to be worked on.

This helps me stay focused & follow through, knowing the task's "time" is almost up.

• Add in FREE TIME

At the end of several tasks I schedule in some free time for myself. I can read, eat, paint my nails, do a mask, watch part of a movie, walk, or just melt away on Pinterest. It gives my brain a break from all that uncomfortable focus, and when I go back to my next scheduled task I've got a renewed energy.

END OF DAY

• Cook dinner

After my last scheduled task is finished, it's usually time to start dinner.

We switch off making dinner, depending who planned the meal we're eating that night. We almost always watch Jeopardy [are we old?], and end the night with a show, cooking videos, a movie, or just hanging out. And we go to bed pretty early - like 9 or 10pm.

• Guilt-free rest

Because I followed through with my schedule to the best of my ability during the day, I am able to spend time with my husband and not feel like I HAVE to be productive.

My tasks are scheduled for the next day and I'll be excited in the morning to take them on.

SCHEDULED BUT RELAXED

This schedule may look overwhelming, but I've never felt so relaxed and productive at the same time.

When I first started scheduling, I knew I would be overwhelmed if I told myself this was how things were going to be from now on.

So instead I just told myself I'd try it for 1 week no matter what, and then I would decide if I wanted to continue.

*Please note: I'm prepared to give myself grace every day, for any task that isn't perfectly finished, if I miss a task completely, or if I need to be flexible and work in the car while my husband drives, or maybe dinner takes way longer to prepare than anticipated.

The point of this scheduling technique is to build self trust.

ACTION:

Try some sort of morning routine first or a "mini routine". Feel free to shorten your time frames!

Even if the routine is different for every single day, or maybe just once a week! I think it's so important to show ourselves we care and get ourselves in a good mood for the rest of the day.

"I think it makes sense for a woman to try to have everything going for her." ~ Mary Kay Ash

Scheduling has created freedom rather than rigidness in my day.

Building self trust is a hard task and takes time, but I can tell I am getting much better at it the more I practice through scheduling & follow through.

I still fall into the procrastination trap of course [who doesn't?] but the more I become aware of it, the more I can consciously choose to continue on with my schedule.

I hope this post was helpful & insightful. Message me and share your morning routine or day time schedule, I'd love to hear your ideas!

Xoxo,

Allison

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