A calendar/planner is a tool to use to help us accomplish the things we really want to do, not a master to enslave us with guilt and regret!
Many people object to using a planner because they believe that it prohibits spontaneity and creativity. In reality, the very opposite is true. Not using a planner to see where our time goes may be keeping us from accomplishing the things we would really like to be doing.
However, first we must see what is actually capturing our time. We do this by penciling in the things that we do instead of our scheduled activities. As we learn where we really ARE spending our time we can either choose to add those things to our routines or learn to keep them from sabotaging our efforts.
Just like any other new skill, learning to use a planner effectively takes time. It starts by “just showing up” — in other words, we begin using the calendar to schedule the things we want to get done. We then learn to follow that schedule by taking baby steps.
A calendar/planner ought to be a tool to use to help us accomplish the things we really want to do, not a master to enslave us with guilt and regret!
What are your biggest challenges in using a calendar? Share them in the comments!
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