We all fall into patterns and routines, and not all of them for the better. If you want to be more productive and make the best use of your time, you need to learn how to plan your daily schedule.
When it comes to time management, there are two schools of people – those who over-plan and those who don't plan at all. Finding a happy medium is crucial if you want to make the most of your time and be at your most productive. A well-mapped schedule doesn't have to be rigid, but having a plan in place when you start the day will really help you keep on top of things.
The first thing you need to do is work out when you're at your most productive. Some people work better in the morning and others in the afternoon. Make a very rough list of what you need to get done during the day, then number each task according to priority, with one being the most important. Schedule that most important task for the time you know you're at your best, and work backwards from there.
The second thing you must do is factor in disruption. Over-planners tend to have rigid time frames, and that can make things stressful when something throws their neat and tidy plan off course. There will always be things out of your control, so factoring in disruption is a necessity. Knock a good forty-five minutes to an hour off your work schedule as a buffer. If you find you don't need it, you can always go back to the more minor tasks later in the day.
Finally, stick to the routine for a few days and work out where it does and doesn't work. With a little practice, you'll understand how best to plan your daily schedule.
Don't over- or under-plan
Work out when you're at your most productive
Make a list and prioritise
Factor in disruption
Explore what does and doesn't work
