How I Consistently Study with a Full Time Job: My Scheduling Formula

TL;DR

Learn how to plan and schedule your calendar for a busy week, using evidence-based tips and personal experience.

Transcript

this was me in 2019 but much more interestingly this is my calendar in 2019 at the time i was working five part-time jobs and studying two and a half degrees all at once and actually it was quite a blissful time before i even knew that this productivity video sphere even existed so all of the tips and techniques that i was using to manage my time j... Read More

Key Insights

• 📅 The content discusses the speaker's personal experience of managing multiple jobs and degrees, and how she developed tips and techniques to manage her time effectively.
• 🗓 The speaker emphasizes the importance of understanding your energy levels and the power of temptation throughout the day when scheduling tasks. ⏰ The day is divided into three parts: high energy and high temptation activities, high energy activities, and low energy and high temptation activities.
• 📝 The speaker suggests using the "Mission Impossible" rule, which involves setting strict deadlines and utilizing the concept of primacy and recency to boost productivity.
• 💡 The "PR Rule" states that work expands to fill the time allocated to it. By setting shorter and stricter deadlines, individuals can potentially accomplish more in less time.
• 🌄 The "Morning Story" rule suggests starting the day with something enjoyable to create a positive mindset and set the tone for the rest of the day.
• 🎉 The "fun factor" is an essential part of the calendar, as it ensures a healthy work-life balance and personal enjoyment.
• 📝 Strategic over-planning involves externalizing tasks and to-do lists in the calendar to free up mental space and increase the likelihood of completing them.

Questions & Answers

Q: How can energy levels and the power of temptation affect productivity throughout the day?

Throughout the day, energy levels decrease and the power to resist tempting distractions weakens, making it harder to stay focused and productive. This can lead to lower productivity and increased susceptibility to procrastination. By understanding these patterns, individuals can schedule tasks accordingly, prioritizing high-energy and high-temptation tasks in the morning when willpower is stronger.

Q: How can the "Mission Impossible" rule help with task completion?

The "Mission Impossible" rule involves setting strict and unrealistic deadlines for tasks. This puts positive pressure on individuals to focus and complete the tasks within the allocated time. By creating a sense of urgency, individuals can often accomplish more than they expected. This rule helps avoid procrastination and encourages greater productivity.

Q: What is the benefit of using the "Pr Rule" in calendar scheduling?

The "Pr Rule" suggests that work expands to fill the time allocated to it. By setting shorter and more restrictive deadlines for tasks, individuals can increase their productivity. This rule encourages focused work within shorter time frames, allowing for more efficient completion of tasks. It also prevents tasks from lingering and taking up unnecessary time.

Q: How does incorporating enjoyable activities into the calendar improve productivity?

Incorporating enjoyable activities, also known as the "Fun Factor," helps maintain balance and prevent burnout. By including social activities or personal hobbies in the calendar, individuals have something to look forward to each week. This increases motivation and overall happiness, leading to higher productivity in other areas of life. Fun activities also serve as mental breaks and can enhance creativity and focus when returning to work tasks.

Q: What is the benefit of using a calendar to externalize tasks and plans?

Externalizing tasks and plans in a calendar helps declutter the mind and reduce the risk of forgetting important things. By scheduling everything, from work tasks to personal events, individuals can rely on the calendar as a comprehensive overview and reminder of what needs to be done. This frees up mental space for focus and reduces the stress of trying to remember everything. It also facilitates better time management and organization.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• The speaker shares their personal experience of managing multiple jobs and degrees simultaneously, leading to the development of effective calendar scheduling techniques.

• The speaker divides their day into three parts based on energy levels and the power of temptation, scheduling high-energy and high-temptation tasks in the morning, high-energy tasks in the afternoon, and low-energy and creative tasks in the evening.

• The speaker emphasizes the importance of setting strict deadlines, prioritizing enjoyable tasks, and using the calendar as an inspiration rather than a rigid structure.