The Five Tools You Need to Take Back Control of Your Calendar
Hello friends! Welcome to the first episode of the What You Do Matters Podcast. This week we are talking all about our calendars! Yes. And more specifically, how do we take back control of them? I cannot tell you how many conversations I've had with friends, family, coworkers, and people I don't even know, who have all said in one form or another, how much they struggle with their calendar and how they feel like their calendars are controlling them. They all say that they don’t have the time to do the things they want to do. Or they feel like their life is living them, and they’re not living their lives. I’m here to tell you that those thoughts just aren’t true. There are ways to take back control of your calendar. Learn how I have done it, and how you can do it too on the first episode of What You Do Matters. Let’s go!
Listen to Episode One here.
Notes from the show:
The five tools you need to learn in order to take control of your calendar:
The number one principle (and I think the most important), is to change your mindset. We get into a pattern in which we believe that we are not in control. This needs to change! You are truly in control of your own calendar.
“Anything, and I mean anything that is on your calendar, has been put there because you allowed it to be put there. Let me say it again. for the people in the back. Anything on your calendar has been put there because you allowed it to be put there.”
In order to get into this new mindset, you need to take full ownership over the fact that you can choose what is on your schedule. You get to choose what you put on your calendar.
Number two is alllll about the morning routine. Do you have one? If the answer is no, I’d love for you to try it. However, you need to create a morning routine that you love. That’s the most important part.
If you want to make journaling part of your morning routine, I would recommend these: Rachel Hollis’s “Start Today” Journal, and Brendan Bouchard’s “High Performance Planner.”
Number three is mapping out your month. Make sure you plan your calendar in advanced. Plan ahead for fun activities with your partner, travel for work, exercise, and of course white space.
The number four principle is to vet before you accept. This relates back to the mindset piece, on how we think that we need to say yes to everything. I want you to start thinking about this everyday. When someone sends you a calendar invite, consider these things:
Can my team take care of this for me?
Does this even need to be an in person meeting, or can we solve this over email?
Can this be solved in a ten minute meeting, rather than an hour?
Number five is the you pick two mentality. I hear coaches on the internet, on podcasts, on books, telling everyone that you need to just pick one thing. I disagree with this. I think the magic number is two.
You might be working a 9-5, but still want to start your own side hustle. That’s okay! You can have more than one thing, but I wouldn’t recommend more than two. When you start to do too many things, you don’t end up doing any of them well. So, stick to the magic pick two.
Those are my five tools for you! I hope they will help you take back control of your calendar so that you don’t have to do the whole waterworks thing on a Sunday night. Trust me, I’ve been there and it’s not fun. Instead, practice these tools.
Have you tried any of these? I’d love to hear! Send us a message on Instagram so that we can get the conversation going!
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Thank you for listening!