Creating a schedule isn’t easy, but life gets a whole lot simpler once you do. Aside from obviously keeping your time-management intact, a daily schedule also offers mental health benefits as well. Choosing what to do with your time every hour of every day while you're doing it can lead to decision fatigue, which in turn will worsen your mental health and attention to detail in the work you do. Here are a few tips to help you make a daily schedule for yourself:
1. Find your constants and single-out what is most important to you
This means your job, classes and anything that has a uniform time. Blocking out the times shows you how much free time you truly have. Afterwards, add anything you find most important to you. Want to get to the gym three times a week? Practice your guitar for an hour everyday? Things like these belong with your constants, since they will be done every week as well.
2. The earlier you can get things done, the better
Inevitably, there may be things you want or need to do that you may not enjoy. If possible, schedule these things as early as you can. As the day goes on, your fatigue and motivation may wear down, making it feel easier to disregard the latter half of your schedule.
3. Keep in mind the entirety of your schedule
It is always good practice to know when your day officially starts and ends. This will help you with your timing of certain things like dinner, for example. Keeping this in mind will help you find your correct travel times and wait times, to ensure you will not be late or forget anything you have going on.
4. Accept that you won’t always be able to follow the schedule you made
The point of making a schedule is to follow it, but that doesn’t need to happen every day. It is ok to wake up and not feel adamant on going to the gym or going to an event. Balance is about moderation, and you can’t balance everything if you are feeling burnt out. When you need to, ditch the schedule and take an off day to focus on yourself.
Creating a schedule can be a daunting task, but it doesn’t have to be. Plan accordingly, find your rhythm, and don’t be afraid to take time for yourself!