There are also many digital calendars for your phone or laptop that can synch to all of your electronic devices so that you always have ready access to your calendar wherever you are. There are also a number of apps that can help you schedule your day with reminders and timers. [3] X Research source You might want to choose a digital or paper calendar that has some extra space so you can add notes to your schedule. This can help you keep track of not only what you’ve done but how you did it and/or how it made you feel. For example, maybe below the section “Go to the gym” on your calendar, you want to not only check it off but also note that you “Ran an extra mile today and felt great!” Adding notes can help you keep better track of your behavior. [4] X Research source If you are making the switch from a paper to digital calendar, you may find things a bit hectic for a day or two as you get used to the new system. Keep both with you for the first few days and check to make sure nothing has been left out or double-booked.
Organizing and color-coding your tasks will also help you visualize and understand where a lot of your time is going. You might see, for example, that there is a ton of red (work) and green (housework) on your schedule, but very little pink (exercise). Noticing the dearth of exercise might help you get motivated to try to schedule more time for it.
Ask yourself some questions in order to figure out what should be done first and for how long: Which task is due first? Which tasks will take the longest time to complete? Which tasks are most important, relative to their value? For example, how much are the tests, lab report, essay, and presentation worth in terms of your final grade? Which task will be the most challenging? Ultimately, you will need to decide whether the deadline, length of time needed or relative value of your scheduled tasks is your priority. You know yourself and your abilities best. Choose a priority system that fits you. [5] X Research source
Remember to incorporate travel time into your scheduling. For example, do you need to drive from the library where you are studying to the gym?
Always try to overestimate how long something will take by a few minutes. Try adding 25% to the time you allot for tasks in your schedule. For instance, schedule something that technically takes 4 minutes for 5 minutes, and tasks that technically take 8 minutes for 10 minutes, and so on. These extra minutes will add up and provide a cushion which can help you avoid being late or falling behind. Ask yourself whether there are any additional small tasks surrounding the bigger tasks that need to be factored into your schedule? For example, do you need to shower after the gym? Do you usually end up chatting with a friend for 15 minutes in the change room? Most people find that their scheduled one-hour workout is actually more like two hours.
Surveying and working on your schedule for a few minutes before digging into it can be a great way to start your day motivated! Use the alarm on your phone or computer to remind you of certain tasks or appointments. [6] X Research source Many doctor and dentist appointments are booked far in advance, for example. It can be helpful to set a reminder that will go off a week or so before the appointment. That way, you can plan accordingly.
However, be careful not to let your tasks pile up and spill over too frequently into the next day. If you find this happening a lot, try giving yourself more time for each task on the day scheduled, rather than having to rearrange the next few days.
However, if you’re finding that too many tasks often get pushed to the next day (and then the day after that, and so on) and that you feel demoralized, you should probably make some adjustments to your schedule. Identify problem areas by looking at your planner and seeing what is falling behind. You may need to reevaluate and re-order your priorities if the thing that is falling by the wayside is important to you (such as exercise). You also might need to reconsider the time allotted for each task. [8] X Expert Source Kathi Burns, CPO®Board Certified Professional Organizer Expert Interview. 31 December 2019. For example, instead of giving yourself 2 hours in the morning to get ready, consider reducing that time to 1 hour three days a week and schedule in a 30-minute jog with the extra time freed up. Be aware that re-jigging your schedule is common and totally normal. It takes time for people to develop a routine that works best for them.
Try setting your clock a few minutes ahead of the actual time so you have a buffer. [10] X Expert Source Kathi Burns, CPO®Board Certified Professional Organizer Expert Interview. 31 December 2019.
