If you’re like most people, you probably think of scheduling as something that only applies to businesses and corporate types. But the truth is, scheduling is essential for anyone who wants to be successful.

Think about it: if you don’t have a plan or goals then how will you measure your success or failure. Take time out to think about what is important to you your family, and your future. Once you have a clear idea of what you want and how you would really like to show up you can then start to plan on how to achieve it.

Scheduling may seem like a lot of work but it’s not. And the benefits far outweigh the effort required. Here are five tips to help you get on top of yourself

Set weekly and monthly goals. This will help you stay on track and motivated. Having something to work towards makes the process a lot less daunting.

1. Get it all down on Paper, all the dreams, hopes and plans of what you need to do and what you want to. Take the time to put it in your calendar, it doesn’t matter whether you use electronics, paper, or your phone. Just get it in there, so you will start to get a feel for how your week or month will look.
2. Make sure you have enough time set aside for both your job and your family. It is easy to over commit yourself and then end up feeling thoroughly overwhelmed. Most tasks take at least half as long to complete as you think they will so schedule accordingly. Leave a little bit of time between tasks so you can catch your breath. You will be more productive if you are not rushed.
3. Block out time for important tasks and don’t let anything else interfere. This is your time to focus on what is important. It can be difficult to stick to this but if you make it a priority you will have fantastic results. During this focus time limit distractions. Turn off your phone, the television, and anything else that stops you focusing on the task at hand. Make use of focus assist, pomodoro or the clock app in windows or anything else that helps you to focus.
4. Get organized. This may seem like common sense but often we forget that we don’t have the tools that we need to complete the job properly. When you mark a project in your calendar think about what you need to complete this project. Make separate notes if you need to buy something or collect information before heading into that meeting. Allow yourself preparation time so you can be as effective as possible.
5. If you are still feeling overwhelmed, break the task down even further into chunk size bits, so you grow your own confidence both in planning and executing, and your integrity with yourself (doing what you say you will). We have all heard of the 1%. If the absolute minimum, you can be 10 min on a project before you feel overwhelmed then great do the 10min. then tomorrow strive for 11min and by Friday you’re up to 15min. Break your task into 10min chunks. Be kind to yourself, remember you are your own best friend.

Finally, take a break. Once you have scheduled everything in, make sure to schedule some time for yourself. This is important to help you recharge and come back refreshed. It can be easy to forget about your personal life when you are busy with work and family obligations but if you don’t take time for you then you will eventually burn out.

By taking the time to schedule your week, you will be more productive, less stressed, and have more time for the things you enjoy. So, what are you waiting for? Get started