“Sloth, like rust, consumes faster than labor wears, while the used key is always bright.”

- Ben Franklin

Rust never sleeps

Get what you want to do on your calendar and into a routine. A solid routine will focus your energies and provide scaffolding to your days. A routine is a protection from being at the mercy of moods and emotions.

“Have you somewhat to do tomorrow, do it today.”

- Ben Franklin

Most of us don’t have the discipline to follow through by merely stating our goals. We procrastinate. Napoleon Hill said, “A goal is a dream with a deadline.” Set a deadline. Now we need a schedule of steps to get there.

“Often, what seems like an impossible climb is just a staircase without the steps drawn in.”
― Robert Brault

A schedule is the drawing in of the steps. To achieve goals, make a schedule to operate by, instead of relying on a deadline to perform by.

Use a journal to measure and document progress. There are lots of great journaling methods that can help calibrate your efforts.

A schedule will help you consistently work towards your goal. Consistency is crucial. Bruce Lee said, “Long term consistency trumps short term intensity.” Carve out time to continuously work on your goals. If your goal is vital to you, make that time sacred and non-negotiable.

Become the master of your daily schedule. Balance the urgent with the important. Use the Eisenhower Box to evaluate and prioritize tasks.

“What is important is seldom urgent and what is urgent is seldom important.”

- Dwight Eisenhower

Respect your priorities. Use your calendar and journal to make life better and more productive.

Make every minute count.

Take some reflective time to understand what you want out of life. Know what is right for you. You know all the good habits that will make you happy, efficient, and live life to the fullest.

Now plan and block out time for them. Life is too short to wait for the perfect day to start.

Financial freedom is a perfect example. If you want to save more money, invest it, and become rich, you have to put it on your calendar. Writing it down is the initial commitment. It improves your chances of getting started and sticking to the plan.

Commit to it and respect that time

You don’t need to schedule everything in detail. Make the blocks of time and focus on one thing during that block. Make the blocks long enough that you can focus and accomplish deep work. Switching between tasks is cognitively debilitating.

Have a rough plan of what you want to get done.

Don’t panic when things don’t go according to the plan. It’s not about perfection, its about consistency.

Take Control

Get the important things that mean a lot to you onto your calendar before anyone else takes control of your day.

Schedule the important stuff before everyone else lays claim to your day as they see fit.

“Life has a practice of living you, if you don’t live it.”

- Philip Larkin

It takes work. The alternative is having your life controlled by people or buffeted around by forces that don’t have your best interests in mind.

“If you don’t have a plan, you become part of somebody else’s plan.”

- Terence McKenna

Scheduling is not the only way to get things done, but it’s a way. A schedule will reduce your tendency to procrastinate.

Sticking to a daily schedule ensures that you are the one prioritizing your life. Take control of your life. Grab hold of the steering wheel.

A daily schedule empowers you with purpose and focus. It’s the roadmap for a successful life.

If you’re too busy to spend a few minutes planning for tomorrow, you are precisely the person who needs to schedule.

Schedule your tasks and do more consistently. Don’t race towards a deadline without planning. It’s not the plan that will be so useful but the planning process itself.

These are small tweaks. If you are mindful, they can add up to significant change.

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