Scheduling is one of the biggest pain points in my life right now. I have known about the deadline for this blog post since Saturday, and here I am again doing it at the last minute. I always tell myself that I am going to get ahead and give myself some breathing room, but I get overwhelmed in my own schedule and end up doing most things on the day of the deadline.

Working with events, I spend a good portion of my day scheduling events, classes, workshops and parties. I have been working with this company for six months and occasionally I still overbook myself to absurd amounts. When I am looking at something that is two months out, I tend to be unrealistic with how many events I can handle in one day. Then I get to the day of, and I want to kick the version of myself that determined that schedule.

I’m sure that I am not the only one with this problem. A lot of us tend to believe that we can take on the world. Whether you are scheduling your day, your month, or your five-year plan, remember to be realistic and manage your own expectations, as well as the expectations of other people in your life. Setting a realistic schedule and not overbooking yourself will help maintain your sanity and will set you up for more success than if you are scrambling to fit everything in. On the days that I am overbooked, I tend to get sloppy with small details and I let some things slip that I would normally have taken care of.

When I am responsible with my scheduling, and I give myself enough time to conquer everything.  I feel in control of my situation. It’s incredibly easy to over-commit ourselves. Remember to give yourself some breathing space. Not everything is as urgent as it might seem. Schedule down time and days off and activities that make you happy. It is great to schedule the important things in your life, but it is important to include rest time in your schedule as well. We are getting to the point of the year that many people experience seasonal depression. With this comes anxiety and a feeling of overwhelming stress, merited or otherwise. Get ahead of this feeling and create time to relax and recover. It is okay to take the time to put your well-being first. Keep up on your schedule, but between meetings and appointments, schedule yourself an hour to watch your favorite television show or to take a nap. This approach will make everything seem more manageable.

-       Bria