A Schedule: Restricting or Liberating?

A to-do list. A plan. A schedule. A calendar. 

What are the differences between the four?

Each can be completed only in succession.

 

First, you must have a to-do list. Then, you incorporate your to-do list into a plan. After finishing your plan, you make a schedule. After completing a schedule, only then will you be able to create a calendar.

Inspired by a conversation I recently had, I decided to dive into the perks and a preconceived notion about having a calendar.

First, I’ve heard come across plenty of people who believe that having a schedule stunts spontaneity. In a way, they said it’s restricting as it prevents them from doing all the things that they want to do, from being free, and from living in the moment.

I cannot disagree more.

I think having a schedule is liberating.

 

There is no better feeling than doing what you want, when you want to, and completing it.

 

There are plenty of caveats for it to be liberating, however.

In order for a calendar, a schedule, and even a plan to work, it must be self-imposed. A to-do list doesn’t qualify as there are some things you have to do that won’t always be for yourself. In order for you to take solace in these things, you must be intrinsically motivated. In order to become intrinsically motivated, well, I think reflecting about what you want to do and where you want to be is a good place to start. Furthermore, when creating a schedule, you must take into consideration all the contributing factors such as your state of mind, the people you’ll be around, and the difficulty of the task.

Some of the perks: you know exactly what you’re supposed to be doing at any given time and you can easily see how you’re spending your time, which increases your self-awareness and mindfulness.

 

Give it a shot. Make a to-do list. Then put that into a plan. Then incorporate your plan into a schedule of your day. At the conclusion of it, reflect. Repeat. Repeat. Repeat. Next thing you know, you have a calendar.

 

If you need advice or guidance, set a meeting and I’ll gladly help you out!