I’ve changed the naming convention to “#” instead of Day because it’s quite obvious that I don’t blog everyday! I apologize for the false hope I gave to some, but I’m trying! lol
Anywho, #6 of Project Me is all about planning. Naturally a planner at heart, scheduling, organizing and prioritizing my life has always been a very simple process to me. I am never without an agenda (whether it’s Outlook, BB calendar, or notebook agenda) because for some reason I feel that it’s important to always optimize my day(mayble less now than before, but still)! But for those who aren’t very organized or like to think that you’ll remember it later, a month or even a year from now, let’s be honest – it’s not going to happen.
The reason why this post made Project Me is because I really have to get back on track and ’stick to it’ (#3 below). I haven’t been following my schedule simply because I think I have a lot of time. My tasks feel less urgent – i.e. job apps, studying CMA, etc. – but in reality, the more time I think I have is the more procrastinating I will do and the more cramming and regret I will later feel. So here I am, making my commitment and sharing it with you!
I hope this helps!
Four Tidbits to Planning (/Managing Your Time)
1) Write everything down!
It may seem silly to schedule in “Girls’ Night” or “Running errands” but the truth of the matter is that those things take up time, your time! Whether it is work, an assignment, a volleyball game, lunch or BFF’s birthday – everything that you do should be written down. That way, you know where the gaps are and exactly when and what you can reschedule, if need be. Writing everything down doesn’t mean you need to go into excrutiating detail, it just means you can refer back to it.
2) Be realistic
In reality, “shit happens” and sometimes you need to reschedule plans that you already made. A good friend/mentor once told me to leave Sundays open just in case things happen and need the extra day. Whether it’s Fridays for you or Saturdays for some, it’s good to leave a full day empty in your week. This way when something comes up on Thursday, you still have time to go to the gym on Sunday! And if all goes well that week, then you have yourself a day off!
3) Stick to it
The hardest part of planning isn’t the scheduling/organizing part, it’s the sticking-to-it-and-folllowing-the-schedule-part! Of course, appointments and fun events are easy to abide to but what about more daunting tasks like studying, or cleaning your room, or even cooking instead of take-out tonight night? Exactly. Following through with your plans is the deal breaker; if you don’t, there wasn’t really a point in planning now was there?
4) Make it fun
Now that you’ve been good and stuck to your schedule, why not have some fun with it? No one really likes routine, people are just comfortable with it (at least I think so). To get out of the grind, change it up and fill your weeknights after work with different activities. Whether it’s having dinner with friends at least once a week, or making time for the gym 3xs a week (without setting strict days) – whatever it is, change it up and make it fun! (Make it fun also relates to making daunting tasks fun, so that you will stick to it! For example, instead of just cleaning your room make it a project! Clean your room so that you can paint or redecorate, this way you have more of an incentive to complete the task!)
Later days!
