I stopped using to do lists about seven million years ago.
Instead, I schedule work and personal activities on my calendar. From a time, management perspective, if the task is worth doing, it is worth blocking time to get it done. Whether it is for work or personal, a digital calendar works for me.
Using a calendar also helps me manage the stress of everyday life.
Etymology of the word “calendar”
The word “calendar” has origins in several different languages. It is related to Old French “calendier,” meaning list or register. It is also very closely related to the Latin “calendarium,” meaning account book, as well as “calendae (kalendae)” (plural of “calends”) from the first day of the Roman month.
My Calendar Helps Me Manage Stress
Planning and using a calendar, are like a form of stress management.
I know it’s a bit of an illusion, but if I’m organized, I feel I have a little bit of control over my life. Instead of worrying about remembering to get something done, I assign myself a task on my calendar and time and an hour to do it.
I know that my best writing work happens in the morning, so if I need to write a blog post or a marketing plan, I schedule it for the morning. If I’m composing an important email, the morning is the best time for me to do that work.
I also know that I enjoy phone conversations or certain types of in-person meetings later in the day when I’m can get energized from someone else’s enthusiasm. So, if I’m networking or working with a colleague on a project, the afternoon is better for me.
Surfing the web for business research or idea stimulation is also something I like to schedule. If I need to find a conference about a specific topic or if I want to see some wild and crazy ideas on Kickstarter, I put it on the calendar so I have time to make it happen. Researching online is easier for me to do in the afternoon. Perhaps I’m less focused as the day goes on and it is a simpler task so I align it with my concentration level.
My first drafts of my blog posts tend to be written Saturday morning and finalized Sunday morning. Those blocks of time work best for me so it is blocked on my calendar.
I always pay bills Sunday mid-day after exercising. I’m a little less stressed at that time.
At 5:00 each evening, I call my 91-year-old mom, Bea. If you haven’t heard about her, check out her story. By making this a regular occurrence, it is a helpful reminder each day of what’s important to me.
Our topics are often the same, the weather, what’s for dinner and did you get the final Jeopardy question last night? But when my reminder goes off that it is almost 5:00, it helps me do something that is important without getting lost in work. By scheduling it, I don’t forget to do what I want to find time to do.
Little and Big Things
I have to change the filters on my AC every 3 months so that pops up once a quarter as a reminder. If not, I’d never think about it and would easily forget.
On my calendar, you’ll even find time for thinking and daydreaming or an hour to read.
I schedule blocks of time to take a walk or sit quietly so that I can think about a particular marketing challenge and how I should approach it.
Scheduling “thinking time” on a calendar helps me give structure and provides opportunities to solve problems or challenges without constraints. I like the discipline of knowing that from 3-4, I’m going to quietly think through a challenge, an issue or a problem and see if I can find a fresh approach.
My approach works for me and I’m not suggesting that it will work for you. In fact, my approach may not make any sense for you. A “to do” is a promise to do something, but putting it on your calendar is scheduling a time to get it done.
I love that my schedule can be on my laptop and phone in sync. It makes it easy to know what I need to do next. Planning helps me manage my stress and to make sure I’m doing those things that matter personally and professionally.
How do you organize your life and all the things you need to do?
Searching for help with marketing your product or service? You can set up a time to chat with me about your marketing challenges using my calendar. Email me jeffslater@themarketingsage.com Call me. 919 720 0995. The conversation is free, and we can explore if working together makes sense. Try my new chat feature on my site if you have a quick question.
