Set Your Schedule

After last weeks post I thought this was an important one to share. Piggybacking on intentionality and planning it all starts with a schedule. Enjoy this post from about a year or more ago.

Today was one of those days, took a little longer to get myself moving, read the Bible, grabbed breakfast and jumped right into work around 7AM this morning and that didn’t stop until about 4:30, with the exception of a workout break during lunch time. Which resulted in me not showering until after 4:30 and missing lunch completely. I’m sure many of you can relate to days like this where it seems like you just keep going. At least I had the workout break, but other than that my mind and body were moving all day. By the time the last meeting ended I was wiped and after a shower, retreated to my couch…

Thankfully not all days are like this and really they should not be. I’m pretty diligent with my schedule, on a normal week (pre-COVID19) I’m up at 4:15, read the Bible, collect my stuff and head off to workout by 5 AM. By 6 I’m done with the workout, showered dressed and at my desk by 7:15/7:30 where I eat a pre-packed breakfast most days, take some time to journal and get into the work week. Most days I take a break for lunch time and work till about 5, not strict on time there, but I try to end and head home by then as I have an hour commute. Now I recognize this puts me at about typical workday maybe a little bit longer in most cases if you total up the hours, but I take what I need to put my best foot forward each day and complete my work. Many people that I mentor know that I tell them to end their day! If I open my laptop at night or a weekend it is very rare and only when absolutely necessary, as home to me is time for me and my family.

My schedule is not everyone’s though. What works for me does not work for everyone, but you should have a schedule. What is your schedule? What keeps you on task, on point and in the right frame of mind? If you are going to be the best you can be each day you have to have some kind of schedule. No matter where you are in the organization you have to be clear about your priorities and keeping those priorities. If you take lunch at 11:30 because you have something going on that you need each day or on certain days then take it. When you do not set your schedule and your priorities you are setting yourself up for failure. You will grow to despise your work, be overworked, lose out on what matters to you and so much more.

I cannot recall the book now (having one of those moments, if you remember please put it in the comments), but it lays out how our brains are all wired differently. Many different personalities out there, night owls, morning people, and those somewhere in between. I’m clearly a morning person, that is when I am most productive (even though I’m writing this after 8PM), but I know many people that do their best work at night. So figure out what works for you, set your schedule and be bold in telling people your schedule.

After I got saved over 10 years ago I began going to a Bible study at work with other Christians. It was 12-1, bring your lunch, gather around, read a chapter and discuss. It was a refreshing break mid-week and a great time to spend with God and fellow believers. I loved the time so much that it was the only lunch hour I ever blocked on my calendar. Did people try to book over it, of course, but in most cases I held my ground and would tell people sorry I’m booked, or sorry I have Bible study can we pick another day. I set my schedule, held to it and was bold about it. I don’t think it has hurt me one bit in my career, it more likely benefited me as it helped me to be the best I could be.

Where have you been too flexible with your schedule? Have you allowed yourself to get pulled away from the things that are important to you? What haven’t your started because when you did the schedule got away from you? Or are you trying to meet everyone’s demands of your time and not finding that time to break for yourself?

In the midst of a work from home culture, you have to learn to set boundaries (See one of my early posts). Be committed to your schedule and those important breaks. Does that mean you cannot flex? Absolutely not, but if you flex too much you will break. We are not meant to work 12+ hour days, 5 days a week or even 10, set time for you, set your schedule and let others know you are booked.

Book Recommendation

A quick book and one that is a must read - Make Your Bed by Admiral McRaven. This gets into accomplishments and one that you have to read. Now I still don’t make my bed :) But I do other things that give me accomplishments each day. No matter how bad a day.

Podcast - EntreLeadership - https://www.entreleadership.com/blog/podcast If you are not subscribed, I highly recommend. Always great advice no matter whether you are an entrepreneur, aspiring leader, leader or contributor. Very few episodes that I would say I regret listening to.