Who says planning your day down to the last second is the only way to live a productive and fulfilled life?
To-do lists are supposed to be amazing productivity boosters.
Somehow, they’ve never worked for me. When I reach the final task on my list, something new pops up that extends for the rest of the day or even spills onto the next week, making me feel like I’m stuck in a never-ending loop.
It’s infuriating. Overwhelming.
But we’ve been told the only way to beat this overwhelm is to write what else needs to be done. In short, make another to-do list. So many studies have been conducted that prove people perform better when they’ve written down what they need to do.
But what about the people who struggle to schedule their day?
What about the ones who feel guilty looking at all the unchecked boxes on their to-do lists and feel even less inclined to work towards meeting the rest of their goals?
If you’re like me, the good news is that scheduling your day down to the last minute is not the only way to live a productive life. You don’t necessarily need to stick to a daily routine to build an amazing repertoire of skills and achievements.
As Stephen Covey explains in The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People, the real key is to schedule your priorities, and not prioritize your schedule by checking off items on a to-do list. This post is about how you can do that and turn your inability to stick to a schedule into your superpower.
People often wrongly assume that productivity means getting more things done each day. In truth, productivity is getting important things done consistently.
Embrace the Uncertainty
What if you’re someone who thrives on change and doesn’t enjoy being tied down? Does this mean you’ll have a less fulfilling life than the rest?
Not at all! Those who embrace their freedom and lack of schedule are often the most productive people around. They know how to take care of themselves when they don’t meet their expectations at the end of the day.