Back to Time Management Index Time Management

3 Smart Scheduling

Secrets

by Maria Gracia Updated October 13, 2023 Join our newsletter to be notified when new content is added to our website. Scheduling can be a snap when you follow these 3 smart scheduling secrets: • Don’t overbook or underbook. There is a fine art to setting up an effective schedule so that it is just full enough of the most useful activities. Too full and you're liable to exhaust yourself. Too loose and you're wasting precious time. Schedule realistically for the most important people in your life, your priorities, goals, and most important commitments, while leaving yourself time for relaxation and self-care. • Pad your time. If you think something is going to take 15 minutes to complete, pad the time you schedule for that task by an additional 15 minutes. Most people grossly underestimate the time it takes to do things. For example, if you schedule 15 minutes to get across town, but you run into traffic, a) you're going to be late, and b) you're going to throw the rest of your schedule off. Pad your time. If you finish the task early, you're free to start something else or simply take a break. • Use the time of day that works best for you. Whenever possible, schedule those appointments, projects, and tasks that require your undivided attention at the time of day when you're most alert and energetic. For some people, this time is first thing in the morning. For others, it may be later in the day. Back to Time Management Index