I’ve heard plenty of people say that by scheduling things in your calendar, they get done. But it’s just not true.
I had laid out plans for every day this week, and they even had contingency built in. But a list of appointments doesn’t show you your energy levels, or the plans of the people around you.
Plans are just that – plans.
Here’s what I reflected on about plans this week – see if it sparks any ideas for how you’re planning and adapting when things come up.
Is a change really as good as a rest?
One of the highlights of my month is playing at my ukulele club. But when the day came round for the next session, I was so tired.
I really, really wanted to go. Not because of fomo, but because of how it lifts my spirits and gives me a boost.
So I was torn.
Do I push through my tiredness and go? Or do I stay home and rest?
When you’re faced with a situation like this, the answer comes down to knowing yourself.
Sometimes, a change is as good a rest.
But sometimes it really isn’t.
One thing about motivational speakers that really gets to me is how they say things like, “The energy is in you!” As though when you’re really tired you can just conjure up some more.
This is dangerous advice.
If you keep pushing yourself when you know you’re really tired you’re just stealing spoons (energy) from the next day. Do that for long enough and you burn out.
How you know the difference between whether you can perk yourself up or you just need to rest will be unique to you. But for me it looks like this:
- I start getting ready to go out or do the thing. If I feel myself getting more energy by taking action, then I go. If I feel no change in energy, then I don’t.
- I look ahead to plans for the next day. If I can use some extra spoons today and rest more and do less tomorrow, then I’m more likely to go.
- I put some music on, play with our dog, or go outside for a few minutes. The things that usually give me a bit of a boost of energy, if they don’t work, then I know need to rest.
This week, I cancelled on my ukulele club night. I needed to rest. And while I missed it, I’m looking forward to the next one even more!
What truly matters
I had a message this week from a close friend saying that they were unexpectedly free on Friday.
I already had other plans for the day and because I was tired on Monday, I was behind with chores and work. But I hadn’t seen them for ages and I really wanted to see them!
So I had another choice to make. Do I rigidly stick to my plans or do I move things around to see my friend and push my tasks back into the weekend?
Why do we make schedules in the first place? Usually to stay on track, get things done, or bring some order to life. So it’s easy to think that sticking to a schedule no matter what is the key to being productive. But sometimes, that mindset just gets in the way of what actually matters.
I know I have a tendency to overly focus on work. But since I started trying to make more time for hobbies and relationships I have been much more content overall.
Here are the questions I asked myself this week to see if should move my plans or not.
- What is within my control to reschedule?
- What plans will I be cancelling on the weekend to make room for this? We only have a limited amount of time. Due to other plans later today, rescheduling to see my friend on Friday means I’m writing this newsletter on Saturday morning. So I’ve missed out on the long walk with my partner and our dog.
- Do I value meeting my friend more than my other plans? This is where you have to be honest with yourself. And there is no easy answer, I value a walk with my partner and dog just as much as seeing my friend. But I hadn’t seen her for a while, so in this case, that’s what I chose. In an ideal world, I’d have done both.
- Are the tasks on Friday actually that urgent? A lot of deadlines are self-imposed, and shifting them around usually isn’t a big deal. Sometimes you can just message people to move deadlines and check how urgent something is.
- Will adjusting my plans actually help me in the long run? Taking a break or moving things around can give you more energy and focus later.
I don’t regret the decision to meet my friend this week. But it did come with trade offs.
We only have so much time and energy and it’s up to us how we spend it. The trick is trying to get that balance right. Sometimes you will and sometimes you won’t.
Knowing how you really feel about your goals and what you value will help in making scheduling choices that lead to an overall fulfilling life, not just a productive one.