Principles of Scheduling

What gets scheduled usually gets done.

What gets postponed usually gets abandoned.

Here are six suggestions to consider when scheduling appointments and activities.

1. Place deadlines on all appointments and meetings. If you call an open-ended     meeting, how will you (or anyone else) be able to judge when it will come to a conclusion.
2. Make appointments back to back. It’s easier to stick to a deadline when another person is waiting.
3. Schedule a definite time period to work on a task for yourself. Making an appointment with yourself will guarantee that you will progress on your projects.
4. Always schedule tasks to be completed ahead of the deadline date. This allows for any unseen problems or emergencies.
5. When scheduling time for a task, always allow more time than you think it will take. This will provide time to accommodate those interruptions that invariably occur when engrossed in a task.
6. Schedule your goal-related activities, as well as appointments, directly into your planner. Doing this will help keep you focused on your goals.