So, you plot your Default Calendar...
And then you suddenly find that you are still not completing all the things you said you would. At this point, do NOT beat yourself up about it.
Firstly, if it is a one-off, it is okay to move things around on a weekly basis. The calendar is there to be a guideline and reminder which highlights what is important to YOU (rather than the things you HAVE to do!)
So if it needs to move one week, that is fine! Move it!
However, if you find that you are regularly moving the same slot then you need to investigate further....
Ask yourself:
How important is this activity to me?
(Do you want to do it?)
How important is it that this activity is done specifically at this time?
(Can you do it at a different time instead?)
What outcome am I trying to achieve? Is there another way I can achieve the same result?
It is the outcome you are trying to achieve and often there is more than one way to gain the same outcome! Think about the result you want rather than the specific action. Then brainstorm other ways you can achieve it.
Once again, the aim is to free you up for the things you want to do - rather than tie you down to doing things that you feel you have to do! A good rule of thumb is if you find yourself regularly unhappy about a certain activity several times in a row, it is time to look at whether that activity is really something you want to do.
Sure, you might have to put up with it for a while - but having the awareness helps you to plan to eliminate it and makes it easier to bear! It also helps you to plan fun things around that time that makes the activities that are not so much fun, more bearable for you!
Ok, so off you go - create that Default Calendar and create the life you want to have!
Let me know if this was helpful by linking this training and writing a comment below. I hope that you enjoyed the training!
Sarah :)
Reply
This creates an awareness and it also helps us to check in that we are really doing what we say we want to do - and to get rid of that stuff that's neither important nor necessary!
And as you mention, it helps you to work out a strategy that works for you.
I know that I only want to work a maximum of three days. (My preference would actually be 4 x mornings but that isn't an option right now). So if a client asks me to work on one of my other days, I ask myself a series of questions to determine if I do it. If I feel the benefits are too important to miss then I move my week around to make sure I still give sufficient time to my family. (Or I chalk it down to a one-off!) but it can also help me to say "no" to things as well or at least, to rearrange it within my usual times.
It's important to remember when we say "yes" to something, we are saying "no" to something else. So if I say yes to meeting a client during my planned time with my daughter - or I spend time answering messages on WA then I'm saying "no" to my daughter. Usually that ends with her vying for my attention and me labelling her as naughty, when all she is doing is reacting to my lack of attention!! :)
Sarah
The colours do help you to get a visual overview of your week and the types of activities you'll be doing on a daily/weekly basis. (As well as being pretty!!!!) ;-)
Hope you are well! Feel free to share your findings with me or on this thread once you have implemented it!
Happy Default Calendar Creating!!
Sarah :)
