This may sound like heresy coming from a time management geek like me who writes religiously about goals and aspirations, but I’ve recently implemented a personal ban on planning and scheduling. Sure, I still have a calendar, but it carries only the bare essential appointments – meaning commitments to others. But what about all the other stuff I have to do like – I don’t know – work for a living? Actually, I’m getting way more done than ever before – all because I gave up on planning. Instead, I created what I like to call “Habits with Options”.
I figure there are 3 factors at play here:
- Habits
- Intuition
- Motivation
Creatures of Habit
We all have little segments of time where we perform the same series of tasks or find ourselves in the same place – like a morning routine that includes personal hygiene, breakfast and a commute. These are things we “show up for” without fail. They may be tied to the time of day, a specific day of the week or even being in a particular location. We may not plan it out consciously, but we almost always manage to show up for these moments because they are routines or habits.
Since my routines are fairly established, I just decided to add options to them rather than plan them out to the letter. For example: I already know I will sit down at my desk to work at around 8am – that’s a habit I show up for every day. Rather than planning out what to do during my “work time”, I just keep a list of options written down on paper and I crank through them as I feel best fits my energy level and mood at the moment. No pushing myself to do something I don’t feel like doing, but scanning my options and making the best choice. The same thing can be done with exercise. I make a habit of showing up to work out, then take look at my written options and make the best choice.
The key here is the best choice. I don’t like being told what to do – even if I’m the one telling me to do it. I like to choose. I want options. Choosing the task makes me resist it less and I often crank through projects much faster by getting into the flow and not clock-watching and stressing over my productivity level. Sure I have deadlines and crazy emergencies pop up, but I can also choose my response to those. And as strange as this may sound, since I stopped promising people I’d do things by a certain date, I’m actually completing the work much sooner than I would have if I had set a due date.
Step one is just showing up at the usual time. Now let’s talk about options.
Intuition is a Much Better Navigator
There are just too many factors that cannot be controlled no matter how organized and intelligent one may be. Our brains just cannot predict the future, leaving our best planning efforts at the mercy of the unknown. Intuition, however, is perfect for in-the-moment decision making. Intuition gathers up all of the present facts – my energy level, my commitments, my goals, my current priorities – and crunches all the data for me in mere seconds. Rather than planning out what I’m going to do when I show up, I rely on Intuition to help me make the best choice once I arrive. There’s that word again – choice.
Motivation Required
Even though my goals are firmly established, I need to get some kind of payoff just for moving them forward – some instant gratification. I don’t want to wait for the the end of the year to reap the emotional benefits of completion. I want that now! By keeping my list of options handy, I get the satisfaction of crossing things off my list constantly. It’s an addicting feeling that motivates me to do more and more so I can cross those things off my list as well.
Here’s how it works: Let’s say I have a new client project on my list. I choose to start the project by making a folder for all the documentation and labeling it. A simple task, but I did at least advance the project a tiny bit so let’s see some reward. I mark that task off my list and add a new one at the end called “Draft Client Logo”. That feels good – I made some progress!
When I do this with all of my tasks, I end up with a list of options to choose from at any given moment. I can see exactly where I’m at with the status and also whether it needs to be pushed forward again. The things farther back on my list are usually the ones needing the biggest push. By crossing them off and moving them forward, I see their progress and can judge – using my Intuition – when to pick them up and keep them rolling. I can also gauge whether it is safe to take on more client work or not based on the size of my lists. And there is nothing more satisfying than tossing a fully completed page of tasks into the trash. It motivates me to keep my lists simple and keep things moving. ;)
Do you think you can stop planning your day? Your week? Try it on for size and wear it around for a couple of days. See how it fits. Kind of roomy and comfortable like an old sweatshirt, isn’t it?
