How do you keep a diary?
I am a journal girl through and through.
I have bought a dairy every single December with the full intention of using it on the first of January. It lasts a couple of days. Weeks if I am lucky.
It is so hard to do.
Planning.
I tend to over schedule, putting so many things on for the day I need more lines in the diary.
I seem to disregard the fact that tasks take time, some of them take hours.
That doesn’t matter to me, I just pop them in my diary.
And then I get frustrated that I couldn’t finish all the tasks for the day even though I would’ve needed a day consisting of forty hours and no breaks in order to get all of those things done.
I tend to pass tasks that seem too much right now or too overwhelming to the future version of myself. Like she will magically find the strength and energy to do those things that I don’t want to do now.
When I see the tasks the past version of myself left for me, it often makes me curse myself for dumping things on my current self day after day.
Obviously I don’t have the best relationship with diaries and scheduling.
Obviously something to work on.
But honestly, just because everybody does it, does that mean I have to?
No.
Diaries aren’t natural. They don’t grow on trees and our current calendar year and time keeping is a manmade issue.
Why do I have to follow it?
Perhaps I will make my own rules.
I already have been operating by the rules that suit me honestly.
It’s just that we are made to feel that everything is supposed to be done a certain way and truly what rubbish is that?
SO, here are the scheduling guidelines that work best for me:
No Monday to Friday rule. Make time for work, for joy and for rest. Don’t allow any of these to overpower your week. Try to balance it out with the knowledge that complete balance is impossible to maintain.
The day before, write down everything that you’d like to get done (I call this a ‘To-Do Blurt’ - just get it all out of your head!
Then in your journal (on a blank page of freedom), write the date, and times that you plan to do certain tasks. Prioritise the ones with the most urgency.
Check it over, making sure you've got some work, some play and self care. Be super realistic with how long things are going to take, allow extra time.
Nature time, nourishment time and Yoga practice (peace practice) time should always be scheduled.
Go about your day, tick things off as you go (it feels amazing).
Exceptions:
On my bleed, sick, injured, etc (sometimes you need a day or two or even a whole week). Self care comes first.
When overwhelmed, sit and prioritise your self care.
Holidays.
If you’re on an inspiration energy train, ride it as best you can but stop before you think you should so that you don’t go too far and drain your cup.
I will never buy a dairy again.
Blank journals all the way.
It’s my life, my time and my energy.
I’ll plan, schedule and spend it as I choose.
Thanks for reading, I hope this inspires you to think about your own scheduling.
Scheduling and planning is essential, but HOW you do that is YOUR call.
with love,
Madison Mindset x
