When I was young, I had a pink piggy bank on my dresser—and a very important goal to buy a shiny, red bike. Each time I earned money on chores, I ran to the piggy bank. Over time, thanks to my small, consistent habit, my coin collection wasn’t just spare change any more. I finally came up with enough money to buy the bike.
What my piggy bank was then to me, my daily schedule is today.
We all have a vision for the future, and it can feel overwhelming to stare it down from afar, especially without a plan. The best way to accomplish goals is to break them down into smaller, daily habits. That handful of coins might seem trivial today, but what you do repeatedly ultimately creates the quality of your life.[1]
Everyone’s personal routine will look different based on their individual goals and values. But applying a few general principles to your daily schedule can help maximize your effectiveness and productivity and, over time, help you accomplish your goals.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
What Is a Daily Schedule and Why It’s Important
Humans are creatures of habit. We crave daily routine and function best when we have clear guardrails on our time.
A daily schedule puts you in control of your day. It gives you the structure and discipline you need to make the most out of the hours of a given day. When you have a plan to stick to, you get more daily work done and ultimately inch closer to your goals.
As the father of productivity, Paul J. Meyer, put it:
“Productivity is never an accident. It is always the result of a commitment to excellence, intelligent planning and focused effort.”
What’s more, a daily schedule is predictable, so it reduces decision fatigue. You’re not wasting brain space deciding what task to do next. That means you can keep your mental energy level for the tasks that really matter.
So set your day up for success by planning your day and organizing your daily time.
7 Practical Tips to Create a Daily Schedule
Here are 7 practices to help get you started in creating a daily schedule.
1. Prioritize Your Values
“Success” is as unique as the person pursuing it. But all successful people have one important thing in common: They strategically design their lives to align with the things they care about the most.[2]
Practically, that means before you can create a daily schedule that helps you accomplish your goals and live the life you want to live, you have to define what you value. An understanding of these things will help you pinpoint priorities that make sense for a work life balance and, ultimately, organize your day accordingly.
As a first step, carve out some time to think about what’s important to you. Make a list, in order. Then, find ways to incorporate those things in your daily and weekly routines in time blocks that honor how important each value is.
For example, if your biggest goal is health and fitness, then you should prioritize working out and healthy eating before other, less important hobbies. If your top priority is family or friends, then you’ll want to make sure you carve out time each day to connect with people you love before you jump into your daily work.