Simple scheduling system for those who are tired of time management, goals and to-do lists

2024 Author: Malcolm Clapton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:44

Especially suitable for people who work for themselves.

To do something important to yourself, you need a conscious intention. But intentions and plans limit our freedom. On the other hand, when there is too much freedom, it is difficult to force yourself to do something. Inspiration rarely visits. It is not enough to achieve significant results.

Therefore, it is imperative to structure your day. But many cannot work within a strict imposed system. Blogger, author of the book "" Stephen Guise advises to create the rules yourself. His approach to planning combines simplicity, freedom, productivity and flexibility.

What is the essence of the system

Most scheduling systems are rigid, boring, and time consuming. Even David Allen's hugely popular Getting Things Done strategy is overwhelming and costly in practice. It takes more time to manage the system than to complete the tasks themselves. Guise's approach is simpler and more flexible. Its scheduling system consists of two components: a large calendar and a whiteboard.

We use the calendar to track the progress in habits. For example, suppose you want to read two pages of a book every day and meditate. Once done, put a check mark on the calendar.

We write everything else on the board, from one-off tasks to repetitive tasks. Guise suggests breaking them down into four categories.

1. Repetitive tasks. Useful things to do often, but not necessarily every day. For example: exercise, clean up, answer emails.
2. Things to do for today. One-time tasks that need to be completed in a day. For example: send a parcel, call someone. Guise does not refer to them as specific times of execution, such as appointments and appointments with the doctor. He records them in the calendar on the phone.
3. Do it soon. Cases for the next month that do not require your immediate attention. For example: update the website design, take a passport photo.
4. Do it someday. What you want to do in the next 5 years. For example, to visit some country.

Your list might look something like this:

Often	Today	Soon	Someday
Workout	Write mailing text	Update site design	Greece
Cleaning	Call Masha	Take a passport photo	China
Reply to emails	Pick up the parcel at the post office		New Zealand

What to do every day

• Two or three mini habits. They should be simple. Then you will not postpone them, even if you are tired or have little time.
• Two items from the list of recurring tasks. For example, work at the computer and exercise. In addition to or instead of them, on any day, you can work on things from the "Soon" and "Someday" lists. This approach takes into account your main goals, but gives you the freedom to change plans.
• Mandatory one-time cases, if any.
• Assessing yourself at the end of the day.

On any given day, you can skip to-do items from the lists on the board. Guise calls this "treat yourself." Every day cannot be equally productive. Life doesn't have to be rigidly structured and predictable. It is dynamic, unless it is artificially forced into a framework.

What does such a system give

Intention

Every day starts with deliberately setting goals. Without it, a lot of time is wasted while you decide which of the many ideas to tackle today. When everything is written on the board, it's easier to decide.

Direction

Anyone can achieve a great result once. But success only comes when you do cool things consistently. Think of each day as another step. Consider if your steps are in one direction or if you are walking in circles. Four lists on the board and mini habits will help you see where you are going.

Possibility to choose

Conventional planning systems are turned into slaves. When a task is scheduled at the same time every day, you are deprived of your freedom of choice. This approach is useful for developing new habits, but it gets tiring when extended to multiple areas at once. A list of ideas to choose from will keep you from feeling like a hostage.

Control

With this system, you will turn into a general who examines the battlefield in the morning before the battle and determines the next steps. Of course, force majeure cannot be ruled out, but freedom of choice will give you a sense of control.

Process visualization

In the morning, you define the tasks for the day and immediately imagine how to do them. For example, today you need to write an article, go to a workout and send packages. Knowing your intentions will help you allocate time and effort effectively.

What is the secret of the system's success

Its flexibility. Any day you can pamper yourself and take a day off. That is, do not do things from the lists on the board, but complete only mini-habits. To some, so much freedom will seem problematic. But Guise thinks it is necessary.

Stephen Guise blogger, author of MINI Habits - MAXI Results

I’m unlikely to take 20 days in a row. Only if on a trip. When I'm at home and feeling good, I want to do something productive. I want to control my life myself and rest not once a week, but when I need it.

Imagine you have a cool boss who lets you take as many days off as you want. You will, of course, do this often. But wouldn't you want to be more productive the rest of the time? With this system, you are that boss for yourself.

No other system provides this capability. Most are aimed at maximum results in a minimum of time and do not take into account your well-being.

Why is it important to evaluate yourself

This is the most reliable way to motivate. At the same time, you are accountable to yourself and inspired. At the end of the day, just give yourself a grade of 1 to 5. Complex math systems will only create confusion. And so you say: “I slept badly today, but still did X and Y. I'll put myself 4+” or “I did a little work, but I know I could have done more. Today I put 3.

This is a clear demonstration of your success. Take an honest look at the past day. If you are happy with how you spent your time and effort, then you are on the right track. If not, you know what and how to change.