The Magic of Scheduling

I didn't have time to practice this week.

Sorry, I didn't have time to get back to your email.

We should really get together sometime. Where has the time gone?

Ever have that old friend you've been meaning to get together with for a while? But, you never quite find the time?

Then you blink and 10 years have gone by...

There's no question, there are more tasks expected of us than there are hours in a day. But the reality is, a lack of time is not why we're putting these things off.

It's a lack of prioritizing time.

When it comes to practicing, a conversation with my students often goes like this:

Student: I didn't have time to practice this week.

Me: Did you have time to do your homework?

Student: Yes.

Me: Then why don't you just put piano practice in the homework time block?

Student: (Awkward silence...)

This is where the magic of scheduling comes in. Making a decision to intentionally use our time.

Instead of saying, "I don't have time to X," saying, "I'm making a decision to do X on Tuesday at 3pm."

Into the calendar it goes.

And, like magic, the task you didn't have time for...you suddenly have time for.

Stop saying you don't have time for that thing you've been putting off.

Schedule it instead.

Or, just be honest and say that it's not a priority.

At least then we're working our honesty skills in addition to our scheduling skills.