Hack Your Schedule

Challenge: Overbooking

There are many reasons why our schedules become incredibly jam-packed. I have noticed these top three reasons tend to be the most common:

1. Our schedule revolves around others in our families (like children)

2. We are “yes” people which causes an overabundance of commitments (whether at work, personal, or both)

3. We avoid other things, so as a coping strategy we book as much as we can as a distraction

For me, number 2 is my weakness. My other problem is that I enjoy sharing with others, making it tricky to peel back layers to create boundaries. SPOILER ALERT: It is necessary for your well-being to set boundaries.

I was feeling a sense of anxiety every time I would reach for my phone and realized that the crazy color-coding was getting out of control. Something needed to change—can any of you relate?

Solution: Hack Your Schedule

In my “quest” to find a solution, I began to do what I call “hack” my schedule, and it has been a helpful guide in a better balance. I am curious how it works for you with other reasons for overbooking (please share out how this goes on social media, I’d love to hear from you!)

1. List out EVERYTHING (yes, EVERYTHING) that you do or a commitment that you have (like your children’s extracurriculars). Remember sleeping, eating, “me time”, family time, etc.

2. Reflect on your list and honor the superpowers that somehow you are making it work

3. Estimate how long each of the tasks take and write it next to the list item

4. Notice any patterns or items that go together

5. Create categories of your “to dos”

6. Ask:

   1. Do any of these need to be done daily?

   2. Could I block off times on my schedule for designated categories?

   3. Could there be certain days for certain tasks or life roles?

   4. Can anything be cut or reduced?

7. Designate colors for the different task categories

8. Map out your new schedule with these categories and create a set of boundaries for what you can/not do during those times (it is very tempting to give in to other tasks…don’t do it! You must resist!)

9. Set a start date for your new schedule, and begin to breathe again!

My Schedule:

My list had well over 30 items listed…definitely celebrated the superpowers. After consolidating I came up with my main categories broken down per day (along with my daily to dos):

Mondays = Main Work Prep Day (planning—anything work related for the week to pre-plan)

Tuesdays = COSEM/Mindvalley/Volunteer Day (creating tools, emails, documents, etc.)

Wednesdays = Writing Day (Anything revolving around writing, work, blogs, curriculum, resources, books, social media, etc.)

Thursdays = Passion Project Day (Anything connected to my passion project and The Butterfly Within)

Fridays = Personal Focus Day (personal social media, personal emails, self-care, family)

Saturdays = Open Day (and can do one or two “commitments” if necessary, and resist when possible)

Sunday = Clean/Errands/Church/Relax/Me Day

The Butterfly Within me sees, honors, and values The Butterfly Within you,

Lindsey