Throughout history, calendars have played a practical and essential role. Centuries ago, by following the sun and the moon, calendars were used to predict weather changes so that people knew when it was time to plant crops and harvest them. Suffice to say, calendars were needed for survival. Today, even in tech, calendars are necessary for productivity and survival.

As the years went by, calendars weren’t just used for agricultural purposes. People used them to know when to celebrate specific days, such as a religious holiday, and to keep their daily lives organized. Some of the first paper calendars included planners and diaries, making the calendar an essential tool.

More recently, however, most calendar software products have gone through a digital transformation. As a result, calendars aren’t just essential; they’re a part of our daily lives. We rely on them to book appointments, remind us when to check-into a hotel, plan events, and assign responsibilities to others.

Even better, calendars are readily available. They’re pre-installed on your phone and are part of any digital suite of tools that tech-giants like Google, Microsoft, and Apple provide. And, they can even be placed on your website — also if you have zero coding knowledge.

In this guide, we’ll go over the reasons why you should have a website Calendar and how to add a calendar to your site. We’ll also cover common guidelines and give you a list of what we believe are the best web calendars.

Advantages of Having a Website Calendar

Do you need to place a Calendar on your website? Well, you’re not going to like this answer. But it depends.

Let’s say that you’re in the service industry. Having a website Calendar would be a smart move. The main reason is that if someone wanted to book you for a specific time, they could simply visit your site, see when you’ve available, and book an appointment with you.

Additionally, business owners of all sizes could also benefit from having a web Calendar. If a client or employee wanted to schedule a meeting with you, they could do so directly from your site. What’s more, schools, non-profits, religious organizations, families, and businesses can use a website Calendar to promote and manage upcoming events.

But, if you’re still not convinced, here are the other perks of having a website Calendar.

Your calendar can be accessed from anywhere.

Arguably, the main advantage is that a website Calendar can be easily accessed. Whether if it’s a smartphone, tablet, or computer, your audience needs to head over to your site. Once there, they’ll be able to access your Calendar with them ever even asking.

Keeps visitors updated.

No matter how organized and great of a planner you are, the unexpected is always lurking around the corner. For example, if you had a fundraiser scheduled, and it was outside, impending weather may force you to move to the event to your rain date. It only takes a couple of seconds to adjust so that there isn’t any confusion. Some programs will also automatically notify attendees of the new date.

Painlessly schedule meetings, appointments, and events.

In the not so distant past, scheduling could be a stressful and time-consuming process. Coordinating paper calendars, playing phone tag, and lengthy email threads were the norm. That’s not the case with website calendars. Once Calendar is on your site, anyone can see when you’re available and not. From there, employees and clients can block out a specific time to meet with you directly from your site. You’ll get the notification, and the event will be added to your personal Calendar.

Furthermore, if you have recurring events in your schedule, then you can schedule them as a recurring event right on your Calendar. That may not sound overly important. But, when you do this, it will lock out those dates and times on your web Calendar automatically so that you don’t have to this manually.

It helps you engage and interact with your audience.

Having a web Calendar provides fresh content for your site. You could even create and publish blog posts or videos about upcoming events, like what to expect or where visitors should attend. You could also poll or survey the audience regarding future events. For instance, you could ask them when and where it should take place.

As if that weren’t enough, through your web Calendar, we can collect RSVPs, manage reservations, and sell tickets.

Consolidates tools.

The final advantage of having a website Calendar is that it consolidates the number of tools and apps that you use. That’s because most website calendars come packed with all the features you need to use when scheduling events.

At the minimum, this includes the online calendar itself, as well as scheduling capabilities, RSVP tracking, and automatic reminders. Most web calendars can also handle booking locations and facilities. Some of them even allow you to process payments and promote events through techniques like email marketing.

How to Add a Calendar to Your Website

While the exact process may differ depending on the online Calendar that you’re using, as well as the website builder you’re using, placing a Calendar is straightforward. It’s so easy that in most cases, no coding experience is required. The reason? Then, Calendar will automatically generate a code for you. That is, to put it succinctly, pretty sweet.

Step 1

If you don’t already have an online calendar, then now is the time to find one that meets your needs. Typically, you don’t go wrong with the big three: Google, Microsoft, or Apple. Now we have Calendar. You’re probably already using one of these services. So, why not get the most of them?

However, if you’re stuck, then check out our handy guide to choosing the best online calendar to point you in the right direction. It should also be noted that there are third-party calendar services like Tockify, Localendar, CalendarWiz, and Bravenet that are designed just for this purpose.

Also, if you’re looking for a calendar just for a specific event, then check out apps, plugins, and widgets like The Events Calendar or Amelia. Every website builder offers a Calendar application that you can embed on your site. Merely conduct a search until you find the one that works for you.

Whatever calendar you decide to roll with, make sure that it works across multiple platforms so that it can be synced and accessed by any device.

Step 2

After settling on Calendar, make sure that sign-up and log into your account. Now you can start creating and customizing your Calendar however you like. For example, you can alter the colors and fonts of Calendar so that it matches your brand. If you’re creating Calendar for an event, don’t forget to include relevant information like the date, time, and location of your event.

Step 3

After you’ve created your Calendar, embed it onto your site. Most tools will allow you to do this through a standard cut and paste code. Just copy the HTML code for Calendar, go into your site’s HTML editor, and click on the page where you want the Calendar to go. If you like, you could create a new page just for your Calendar.

Go ahead and paste the code on your desired page, click “Save, and then “Publish” that bad boy. And, that’s it. Go ahead and pat yourself on the back. You just created a web Calendar.

Even better, once it’s on your site, updates that are made to the Calendar in real-time.

It should be noted, however, that depending on the calendar that you use, you may have to tinker with the settings. For example, if you use Google Calendar and want to place it onto your site, you’ll have to make your Calendar public so that anyone can view it.

Furthermore, not all website builders integrate with all online Calendars. And, that process may be slightly different for each. To address this, here are some other resources you can refer to if you’re having a problem:

• How to Add an Event Calendar to Your WordPress Website
• Embedding a Google Calendar
• Adding a Calendar – Wix
• Using Calendar Blocks – Squarespace
• Adding a Google Calendar to Your Weebly Portfolio

What Should Always Be Included on Your Website Calendar

If you’ve gone through the trouble of creating a website Calendar, then visitors expect something to be on it. That’s like walking into a grocery store and finding only bare shelves. Not only is this disappointing, but it also makes you feel just a bit deceived.

With that said, what exactly should be included on your web calendar? Well, that is totally up to you. But, we suggest including the following.

Compelling and Relevant Information

If you’re hosting an event, then you must have the basics on your Calendar, such as:

• The date and time of the event. Ideally, you should also mention when doors open, a schedule of activities, and the time the function is expected to conclude.
• The name and address where the event will be located. Either include a map or a link to the venue’s location, as well.
• How to attend to the event. If tickets are required, mention how much they cost and where they can be purchased. If only an RSVP, include a link so that visitors can easily do this.
• Company and contact information so that if there are any other questions, visitors can get in touch with you.

Other information you may want to include would be the dress code or no-show policy. If you’ve scheduled a meeting, then don’t forget to attach an agenda.

You don’t need to go overboard. But, you should at least include the critical information listed above.

Strong Call-to-Action

What do you want your visitors to do after they’ve landed on your calendar page? To guide them along, make sure that there’s a clear CTA so that they know what actions to take. It could be as simple as “Click here to book an appointment.”

Customized Calendar

As already mentioned, you should customize your calendar so that it aligns with your brand. You could also add visuals, like highlights from previous events or the venue, or use color-coding. Just remember the calendar isn’t too cluttered and is easy to read.

Add-to-Calendar Button

Make life easier for your visitors by including an add-to-calendar button. Now they can click on the button and add the event to their calendar with just one-click.

Other considerations:

• Social media links.
• Time buffers in-between scheduled events.
• Multiple time zones.
• Set when you’re available and when you’re not.
• Integrated events from Facebook, Eventbrite, or Slack.

Finally, if hosting a significant event, you may want to include an accompanying webpage. Here is where you would create an impactful landing page and provide frequent updates. You may also want to have pages for a registration form, FAQ, testimonials, and post-event updates.

What not include on your website calendar:

• Too much information. For example, never put any personal details, like when you’re visiting the dentist. You can also reduce the amount of information included on the calendar by sending out emails or attachments with more specific details.
• Last-minute changes that may lead to confusion or double-bookings.
• Do not accept automatic invitations — unless you want to get spammed.

The Best Embeddable Calendars

Google Calendar

Google Calendar needs no introduction. Since 2009 it’s been one of the most successful time management and scheduling tools available. Mainly because it’s easy-to-use, works seamlessly across all devices, and connects with other Google tools like Gmail and Docs. It also has an unbeatable price, so it’s free. Even if you upgrade to the business option, it only costs $5 a month.

You can also easily embed your calendar onto your site just by copying and pasting it. And, it also integrates with smart scheduling tools like Calendar to unify your work and personal events.

This also made our best calendar apps post earlier this year.

Tockify

Tockify is a free calendar that works on platforms like WordPress, SquareSpace, and Weebly. It also syncs with Google Calendar. It’s also a perfect option if you’re planning an event since it’s super-customizable and comes with features like event submission. Social sharing is also built-in, so you can promote your event on Facebook, LinkedIn, or Twitter.

Timely

Timely is another embeddable calendar explicitly designed for events. You can create a new calendar in just a couple of minutes. Or, if you prefer, you import events from other calendars or your social channels. Timely also makes it a breeze to promote your event via social media or email. You can even use this tool to sell tickets.

Timely is free to use; there’s also a WordPress plugin. But, for more robust features, you may want to try out the $9/month plan.

UpTo

Here we have another platform that’s perfect for embedding an event calendar to your site. The calendars are easy on the eyes and interactive. What this means is that visitors can share your event and then add them to their personal calendar.

Perhaps the unique features are that UpTo allows you to not only manage but create, a web calendar though it’s app. Oftentimes with solutions like Google Calendar you would have to do this on your computer. The downside is that there is no free option, and plans start at $9/month.

CalendarWiz

While not free, pricing starts at $9/month, CalendarWiz is a complete calendar solution. You can easily create a customized calendar and then place it onto your with an easy cut and paste code. It works with WordPress, Weebly, Wix, and most other leading CMSs.

CalendarWiz also lets you engage with visitors by offering features like suggest an event and email list forms. You can even have the option to place a mini-calendar on your homepage if you want.

The Events Calendar

If you use WordPress, then The Events Calendar is a plugin you should use the next time you plan an event. Not only is it free, but it’s also ready to use right-of-the-box after installation. With The Events Calendar, you can quickly create recurring events, add custom details, and venue information; Because it’s a WordPress plugin, there are add-ons so that you can accept payments and import data from Google Calendar, Apple Calendar, or Meetup.

Events Calendar

Don’t use WordPress? No worries. Events Calendars is available for platforms like Wix, Weebly, and Shopify. It also syncs with Google Calendar, is multilingual, and easily customizable. And, if you want to embed it onto your site, just add a short integration snippet.

Localendar

Localcalendar is another popular free embeddable calendar that would be great from teams, schools, families, and non-profits. You can create a new calendar in just a couple of minutes and then use the helpful Publish Wizard to add it to your site. You also have the option to color-code events, create repeating events, and upload your own images.

Additional features include multi-language support, location information, and events reminders. You can also let visitors suggest events as well.

Teamup

If you manage teams, then you definitely should give Teamup a spin. In a nutshell, it’s a handy tool that helps you schedule work, manage your team’s availability, and share upcoming events. After you’ve created your calendar, you can embed it onto your site using the Embed Wizard.

Bravenet

Finally, Bravenet is another free calendar that’s fully customizable and can be placed onto your site. There are some other useful features, like being able to set reminders and recurring items. The downside is that the free version is limited and ad-supported. But, a premium version is an affordable $3/month.

No matter how old you are, take a second and think what your life would be like without technology? While I’m sure that there’s a minority who would welcome this, I think a majority of us would freak out. How could we contact people? How could we entertain or inform ourselves? And, how are we supposed to run our businesses without being connected? But how does technology influence productivity? And, what can you do about it?

Believe it or not, it wasn’t all that long ago that life was like this. Even though complex phone systems, fax machines, and connected computers have been around for decades, it wasn’t until the end of the 20th Century that technology completely reshaped the workplace.

Overall, this was a positive and exciting development. But, there was a cause for concern.

As Phil Kotacka recalls, when email was introduced to this former company in the ’90s, “everyone was working with a 20th-century mentality.” What Kotacka means was that people “lacked the maturity to use this new technology responsibly.”

“Suddenly, employee productivity was shot as people were using e-mail for personal use, sending obscene attachments to the entire corporate mailing list and spreading debilitating viruses of the electronic kind,” continues Kotacka. And, as you can imagine, leaders were cursing this new technology.

Of course, technology is now an essential part of daily life. But, that doesn’t always mean that we treat this great power responsibly.

Instead of focusing on your work, you’re busy scrolling through your social feeds. You and your colleagues embark on lengthy digital conversations that aren’t always work-related. You take precious time out of your day to clean out your inbox. And, like Pavlov’s dog, you instinctively reach for your phone when a notification goes off.

In short, technology has a significant impact on productivity — both good and bad.

How Technology is Increasing Workplace Productivity

There’s no denying that when used correctly, technology can increase workplace productivity. While I’m sure that you’re already well aware of this fact, here is how technology has dramatically improved output:

Brings the team closer together.

No matter when and where you and your team are working, technology has made it possible to collaborate and communicate with each other. You can share and edit documents together. You can exchange ideas or feedback via email, instant messaging, or project management software. And, you can track the progress of each team member.

Technology has made scheduling meetings a breeze. Just share your calendar with your team, and they can see when you’re available to meet, as opposed to playing a game of cat and mouse.

Also, besides saving a ton of time, that’s good for you financially. After all, it’s been found that companies with less than 100 employees lose approximately $420,000 per year due to miscommunication.

Access to information.

Let’s say that you just purchased a new dresser from IKEA. If you’ve ever purchased a piece of furniture from here, then you know that you need instructions. And, in some cases, you’ll also need additional items, like screws and tools. Without these, then there’s no way that you can put together your new purchase.

The same is true when you assign work to your employees. If they don’t have the correct information and tools, then how can you expect them to get the job done? Thankfully, you can easily share this information with them through word documents, spreadsheets, Wikis, or videos.

And, if they do have a problem, they can quickly get in touch with you. They can even take a screenshot to make troubleshooting less as painless as possible.

Automates repetitive tasks.

Gone are the days wasting precious time on trivial, tedious, and repeating tasks. By harnessing the power of automation, you can handle customer service inquiries, schedule social updates, and create automatic office replies.

With artificial intelligence, this will only get better. For example, Calendar uses machine learning to make smart suggestions on when and how to schedule meetings. It will even recommend what type of meeting to plan and who to invite. It can also analyze how you spend your time so that you know how to spend it more productively.

It makes project management seamless.

With project management software like Asana, Basecamp, or Wrike, you can outline projects, assign deadlines, and see where everyone is at. There’s no excuse for anyone to claim that they didn’t start on their part of the project because they were waiting for a colleague to let them know that they were done with their part. The employee can see who is working on what and how far along they are.

Conducive to remote working.

Thanks to technology, remote work has become more commonplace. And, that’s a good thing for the following reasons:

• Those who work remotely are more productive.
• It increases employee retention.
• Remote workers rarely take sick days.
• It reduces costs from employers and employees.
• Remote work increases diversity.
• It can improve mental and physical health.
• Promotes a healthy work-life balance.
• Not only does a majority of people want to work from home, but it’s also become a “standard operating procedure.”

The Darkside of Technology

While technology has improved productivity, it can also have the opposite effect. Mainly, that’s because of the following five reasons:

It’s distracting.

There’s no need to beat around the bush about any subject nowadays. Smartphone notifications, cleaning out your inbox, surfing the net, and talking to others through messaging apps are some of the most common workplace distractions. Considering that Americans check their phones every 12 minutes, it’s a wonder that we get anything done at work.

We’re addicted.

It’s true. Research has found that the constant stimulation we get from our smartphones raises dopamine, which has turned us into bonafide addicts. Social media platforms “leverage the very same neural circuitry used by slot machines and cocaine to keep us using their products as much as possible.”

It’s gotten so bad that “we sometimes feel our phones vibrating in our pockets when they aren’t even there.” I don’t know about you. But, it’s almost impossible for me to be productive when I always believe that I’ve gotten a text or social media notification. That’s because I’ll stop whatever it is that I’m doing and check my phone to make sure.

It’s not good for your physical and mental health.

When you’re not in peak physical and mental health conditions, you can kiss productivity goodbye. After all, it’s difficult to focus when you feel like crap. But that’s exactly what technology is doing to us.

• The way we hold our phones, tablets, and computers is terrible for our posture. As a result, this can lead to neck and back issues. It can also influence our mood and assertiveness.
• Spending too much time on our devices can cause eye strain and headaches. This can also make it difficult to concentrate.
• If you’re on your device too close to bedtime, it can delay your body’s internal clock and circadian rhythm. In turn, this can lead to insomnia.
• Technology is encouraging us to lead a more sedentary lifestyle. As a consequence, this can lead to obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease.
• Social media usage can cause anxiety and depression.

Limits creative thought.

Don’t get me wrong. Having an endless amount of knowledge at your fingertips is incredible. But it also makes us less self-sufficient. Instead of us working through a problem or recalling a piece of information, we search for it online. Some people would go as far as to say that technology is making us dumber.

We’re connecting with technology, not people.

Again. It’s great that you can communicate with anyone in the world whenever you like. But face-to-face communication is still essential.

For starters, it allows you to pick-up on non-verbal cues like body language. It’s also more effective and efficient. Just think about all the times you needed clarification on something. Wasn’t it just faster and more practical to discuss this in-person instead of a lengthy email thread?

And, communicating with others in-person adds that personal touch. It may not sound all that important. But, it allows you to interact and engage with others. In turn, this builds trust and strengthens relationships.

How to Prevent Technology From Inhibiting Productivity

Obviously, we need technology in our professional and personal lives. But, it can also hinder your productivity. Thankfully, there are some easy ways that you can prevent this.

Don’t look at your phone when you first wake-up.

“After turning off your alarm in the morning, take some time before looking at your phone,” recommends Graham Young in a previous Entrepreneur article. “The light from your screen triggers your brain to go into a reactive mode.”

As a result, it “becomes almost a fight-or-flight state.” In other words, your brain has learned “that when the phone is on, potential threats may be coming your way, like emails, text messages, and notifications.”

That’s not the best way to kickstart your day. Instead of focusing on your morning routine, you’re worried about whether or not you received an email response or if anyone liked your social media update.

Turn it off.

I don’t think we need to elaborate too much on this. Turning off your phone when you don’t want to be interrupted is the most effective way to prevent notifications from distracting you. If that causes you too much anxiety, at least put it on an airplane or do not disturb mode.

Block schedule your day.

Definitely block out times for undisturbed work. But, also schedule breaks throughout the day. Ideally, this should be a 17-minute break following 52-minutes of work. If you don’t take a break, then it will be more difficult to resist temptations like checking Facebook or watching a pointless YouTube video.

Additionally, set aside blocks of time to check your email, texts, and any other electronics notifications. If you don’t, you’ll become anxious because of FOMO. To combat this, check your phone during energy, like right before starting work, after lunch, and when you’re wrapping up work for the day.

Impose limits.

I’m not going to lie. For some people, this may seem unimaginable. But, if you follow with the rules and boundaries that you’ve set, eventually, this will become a habit. Even better, this is something that you could do with others. For example, you could designate “tech-free” zones in your home like the dining room. You could also make it a rule that you and your spouse will not look at any electronic devices an hour before bed.

At work, you could implement something like no-email Fridays. Instead, go over and talk to your colleagues in-person. If you have a virtual team, then schedule a call with them. In most cases, however, whatever you need to discuss isn’t an emergency. So, you can wait and send out that email on Monday. Just save the messages as a draft so that you don’t forget.

And, if possible, create a “tech blackout” day at least once a week. For example, on Saturdays, you could completely unplug by spending the entire day outside. If you do need to check your phone, do so sparingly.

Call the productivity police.

Of course, there is no literal productivity police. But, if you’re struggling with time management, then you may want to check out tools like RescueTime, SelfControl, Anti-Social, StayFocusd, or Cold Turkey. They can help you see how you’re spending time on your devices. From there, you can use this data to optimize your time. Better yet, these tools will block distracting websites, apps, and games when you want them to.

Use the 4Ds of time management.

Digitally communicating with others can be a waste of time. Mainly this is because we keep touching each piece of communication more than once. For example, you receive an email. You read it, but then don’t act. You save that for later. Instead, you probably should have just replied or deleted the message when you first interacted with it.

One method to help you with this is the popular 4Ds of time management, which is as follows:

• Delete anything that either doesn’t serve a purpose, or you no longer care about the item.
• Delegate requests to the right party.
• Defer, or delaying, are important messages that you shouldn’t delete. But, that can be addressed when you have time.
• Do is for any messages that take under 2-minutes to respond to.

Growing up, there was an unwritten rule. Put your stuff away, or it’s going to get tossed by mom. Make your bed, or you’ll get called home from school to do that little chore. I’m sure these were lessons in taking responsibility. But, I honestly think that mom didn’t like clutter. Here are twenty ways to declutter your life, reduce stress, and clear your mind.

As I’ve gotten older, I’ve found myself agreeing with mom. For example, I cringe whenever I visit someone’s house or office, and they have stuff thrown all over their dining room table or desk. Obviously, I keep this to myself because I firmly believe people should live how they want to live.

Personally, clutter is stressful and distracting. It’s almost impossible to find items when you need them. And, it occupies your mind from getting stuff done. How can you focus on your work when that stack of paper is screaming for your attention?

It turns out that research has got my back on this. One study shows a link between clutter and procrastination. Numerous other studies have also found that clutter increases stress, decreases productivity, and makes it difficult to unwind. Moreover, clutter can encourage bad habits, such as unhealthy eating and sleep problems.

Too much clutter can signal a lack of control. And, most worrying to me is that clutter can clog neural networks. As a result, you’ll be slower and less efficient in processing information.

Overall, clutter can negatively influence your health, work performance, and possibly even your relationships. Thankfully, there are simple and effective ways — like the following 20 ways — to get rid of clutter in your life once and for all.

1. Create a decluttering checklist.

I think decluttering is a problem for most of us, maybe because of fear. What if I throw away that pair of pants and (horror), regret that decision — even though they were uncomfortable, looked hideous, and I hated them? What if I need to troubleshoot a problem someday, but I tossed the manual? You get the point.

One way to alleviate fear is to realize that removing the clutter from your life doesn’t mean living a life without any possessions you cherish (well, unless you move, then all bets are off). You’ll be reducing the number of things you own. For example, do you need to have a closet full of blankets? I need many quilts in the closet, but do you? You probably only need a lighter one for when it’s warm and thicket comfort for the colder months. You may even want to keep a throw on your couch. But, you probably don’t need much more than that.

To help get you started, create a decluttering checklist. It can help make this process less frustrating and give you a visual representation of what needs to be reduced. I love the book, “essentialism,” by Greg McKeown. You can also follow The Essential Declutter Your Home Checklist or use it as an inspiration to create your own.

2. Don’t overwhelm yourself; start small.

Let’s be real here. How likely are you going to clean and organize your entire home, office, or life in one day? That would be so ambitious it would overwhelm you, and likely prevent you from ever getting started.

Instead, take baby steps. Maybe set aside five minutes each day to straighten up a small area like a desk drawer or your car. After building up some momentum, set aside more time. Dedicate a Friday afternoon to get your office back in order.

Use this Saturday to declutter your kitchen, then next weekend work on a different home project. I have to break up cleaning binges with art binges. TV binges of old Christmas movies while ditching out my old stuff works pretty well. Listening to podcasts while you clean works quite well (you can’t go wrong with Tony Robbins on any subject he covers).

3. Does it bring you joy?

If you’re familiar with Marie Kondo, then you already know this tip. But, for those who aren’t familiar with her, it’s pretty simple.

Whenever you’re cleaning your home or workplace, physically hold or touch the item that you’re deciding about. Next, ask yourself, “does it spark joy?” Okay. You may not have to ask that literally. But, the idea here is to consider how you feel as you hold the object. For example, Kondo didn’t want to throw away an old and ragged t-shirt from an event she attended because when she held the shirt, it brought back good memories.

What if the object doesn’t invoke such feelings? Toss it — part ways with it. I admit to a “shitshow-box.” There are some things that I cannot part ways with, and I no longer force myself to go through those items. I only allow one small-ish box, and I only open this box if I want to “cry over spilled milk.”

4. Conduct a calendar audit.

Clutter isn’t just the items taking up physical space. It can also be the entries you’ve added to your calendar. Usually, Calendar clean-out includes minute activities and anything that you do automatically, such as brushing your teeth. Other examples would be unnecessary meetings, committing to too many social events, and recurring events that no longer fit into your schedule.

Review your calendar and remove these tasks and events from it. Going forward, start saying “yes” to less and use a scheduling assistant. You should also share your calendar with others to avoid double bookings and scheduling conflicts.

5. Adopt a no-freebies policy.

We’ve all been here before. You attend a conference or festival and come with a ton of free swag. I mean, who couldn’t use a new, and free, t-shirt, pen, water bottle, or beer koozie?

It may seem like a good idea at first. But, in reality, it’s just more stuff adding to your clutter — and it’s stuff you really don’t need. While this definitely takes some will power — stop stockpiling on all these freebies. I found some kids in the neighborhood that dig on that stuff. Let their parents worry about my trash.

6. Reconsider your routine.

Routines provide structure to your life. In turn, this reduces stress and makes your days less chaotic.

Establish a morning and evening routine. Jot down all of your daily and weekly obligations and add them to your calendar. Batch similar tasks together. And, only commit to what you can realistically achieve in a day.

In short, establishing a routine brings order to your life. It will also help you become more productive and prevents you from muddling your day with unimportant activities.

7. Unsubscribe and remove.

Struggling to keep up with your inbox isn’t just a serious waste of time — it’s a distraction that’s impairing your productivity and cutting into your enjoyment of life. With that in mind, one of the easiest ways to address your inbox is to unsubscribe from the emails that you never read. The same concept applies to newspapers or magazines that you never opened.

Speaking of digital distractions, remove any unused apps from your phone. As an added perk, it will help keep your device running at peak condition. You may even want to uninstall apps, like Facebook or Twitter, from your smartphone (I’d die, but you could probably handle it). The reason is that this will prevent you from looking at your phone every time you receive a notification.

8. Don’t get sentimental.

We all have items that we have an emotional connection to. You don’t necessarily have to throw away all of these items. But, again, the goal is to reduce them.

If you’re having difficulty with this, there is a simple solution. Just take a picture of the item and put it on the cloud. Not only will this help you let go, but it will also preserve the memory and not the possession.

9. Automate.

Here’s a simple way to clear your mind; embrace automation. Examples include setting up auto bill pay, scheduling social media posts, or creating out-of-office auto-responder emails.

10. Remove toxic people from your life.

Several years I befriended someone who I genuinely enjoyed spending time with. They were just a lot of fun and always wanted to explore any area when we could. The problem, unfortunately, was that they could also be a handful. There were several times when they would call me up after having a bad day. And, to be clear, it wasn’t just a quick synopsis. They would go on and on (which I love to hear), but soon, I was depressed. Sometimes I felt worse about their situation that they did.

But, if I ever needed to talk to them, they either didn’t listen or wouldn’t respond. Eventually, I decided to end the friendship because it wasn’t just one-side — it took a giant chuck out of my soul.

Evaluate all of the people in your life. And then, remove the people in your life who aren’t worth the time or energy.

11. Shred, recycle or trash anything outdated.

Do you have receipts from a decade ago? Is there a jacket in your closet that no longer fits you? Are there outdated medications eating up space in your bathroom cabinet? If so, don’t hesitate to shred, recycle, take to good-will, or trash these outdated items.

In a recent move, I filled an entire black garbage bag with old receipts, bank records, homes purchased and sold, etc. I should have shredded them — but I hadn’t kept up with that chore. Also, I had written down every expenditure I’d ever made in my life (including cash) from the time I was 15 years old. I gave it all away to my friend — the large blue recycle bin.

12. Simplify your goals.

There’s nothing wrong with setting goals. Goals give you focus, aid in motivation, and allow you to measure your progress. However, targets are only possible if you’ve established a small number of specific goals and objectives.

Review your goals to make sure that they’re not too broad or unrealistic. From there, develop an action plan on how you’ll follow through with them. Write all of your steps if you need to do that.

13. Tidy up your workspace and vehicle.

When you think of decluttering, you probably assume that’s getting your home or personal life in tip-top shape. But, it should also involve your workspace. The main reason is that your messy desk is killing your productivity. The process works for women, too, by the way.

Instead of continually putting this chore off until “tomorrow,” schedule a time in your calendar to tidy up your workspace. Ideally, this should be a time during a productivity lull, like in the middle of the afternoon. And, at the minimum it should involve you:

• Clearing and cleaning the top of your desk, as well as your drawers.
• Assigning a home for all of your stuff and trashing anything you don’t need.
• Filing paperwork using the standard alphabetical filing system. However, you can go further and scan these files so that you have digital versions. Now you can shred the original documents if they aren’t required.
• Removing unnecessary files or programs from your computer.

Additionally, take the time to tidy-up your vehicle. It’s better for your health, preserves the interior, and can improve fuel efficiency. It will also give you some peace of mind, like not having to worry about finding your insurance or registration if you ever got pulled over. Stick like items together. I have a small bag for make-up, a ziplock with some power bars and a water bottle, and a notebook and pen.

14. Use the four-box method.

The four-box method is an effective and painless way to help your conquer clutter. Just found four boxes and label them with the following categories:

• • Trash: These are items that you no longer need or want. But, they’re also not worthy of donating or selling.
  • Give away/sell: For the things that may have value to others, donate or sell them.
  • Store: Seasonal clothing is a perfect example of this. There’s no need to keep your Tommy Bahama shirt hanging in your closet when it’s 30 degrees outside.
  • Keep and put away: For the things that you use regularly, detonate a home for them and put them away when not in use.

15. Don’t buy anything unless it serves a purpose.

Just because there’s a fantastic sale doesn’t mean that you have to purchase it. For example, I recently got an email notifying me that there was a buy one, get one deal on sunglasses. It was a bargain. But, I already have two decent pairs of sunglasses, so there was no need to add to the collection.

16. Make it a social event.

Sometimes it’s just fun to do things with others. And, that’s even true when it comes to decluttering.

Besides giving you an excuse to spend time with your family or friends, they can also help you determine what to get rid of and what to keep. Just remember to offer to return the favor. You could even make this game with your children.

17. Stop multitasking.

Despite what you may believe, multitasking doesn’t work. It’s impossible.

“People can’t multitask very well, and when people say they can, they’re deluding themselves,” neuroscientist Earl Miller told NPR. “The brain is very good at deluding itself.”

“Switching from task to task, you think you’re paying attention to everything around you at the same time. But you’re actually not,” Miller said. “You’re not paying attention to one or two things simultaneously, but switching between them very rapidly.”

That means that multitasking isn’t just counterproductive. It also causes your brain to struggle as it attempts to figure out what’s going on.

The better alternative is to focus on one thing at a time. When it’s time to focus on deep work, then that’s the only thing you should be focused on. When it’s time to clean out your closet or inbox, that’s the single task that deserves your attention right now. Everything else will have to wait until later.

18. Practice mindfulness.

One of the best ways to clear your mind, as well as decrease stress and anxiety, is to practice mindfulness meditation. The reason that mindfulness works is that it redirects your thoughts and attention to the present, You will stop being consumed by the past, future, and negative self-talk.

19. Unplug and unwind.

Your brain needs time to rest and recharge. As a result, you’ll be more productive and less stressed.

Schedule frequent breaks throughout the workday and get away momentarily. Go for a walk, read, or look out the window for a couple of minutes. At home, establish boundaries. For example, when it’s time to eat dinner, don’t look at your phone. During the weekend, go out and do something that you enjoy that’s not related to work.

Besides giving you a chance to decompress, disconnecting allows reduces the amount of media that you’re consuming. Obviously, you want to learn new information and skills. But, too much can clog your brain.

20. Make decluttering a priority.

Finally, there’s more to decluttering than just cleaning and organizing. It also about staying committed to living a clutter-free life. The easiest way to do this is to schedule frequent cleaning sessions in your calendar.

For instance, you could block out from four p.m. to five p.m. on the last Friday of every month to tidy up your office. Every Saturday morning could be reserved for household chores. And, so forth.

The idea here is that by scheduling these sessions, you’re committing to follow through with them. You keep your word — like you would with an appointment with a client or doctor. Also, because you’re staying on top of this, cleaning and organizing your life won’t be as overwhelming.

There will be times in life when you choose to keep certain information to yourself. For example, let’s say that a doctor informs you that you may have a serious illness that could require surgery. You’ll have to undergo a series of tests to determine if this is the right course of action or not. The transparency process and issues are similar in business. There are about ten things leaders can do to promote transparency in the workplace.

With your health, you wait to share until you have all of the information.

You wouldn’t want to tell people that you’re going to have surgery. It’s not that they can’t handle it. It’s just that — why concern them or yourself until you have a definitive answer?

You wouldn’t boast that you’re launching a new product or acquiring another company until it’s official.

If you do ahead of time, it may jeopardize your future plans. On the flip side, if sales were lower then anticipated the last quarter, you wouldn’t assume that you’re business is in dire straights. If so, your employees might panic — watch The Office episode, “The Alliance,” to see how downsizing rumors can impact the workplace.

For a business to succeed, you’ll want to promote transparency.

For your business to succeed, you should promote transparency. After all, transparency establishes trust and expands relationships. It can also foster happiness, boost morale, strengthens innovation. What’s more, transparency can create a flatter hierarchy and help establish realistic goals.

Ultimately, transparency is one of the best ways to increase productivity and your bottom line.

But, as the captain of the ship, it’s up to you to make your workplace more transparent. You can do so by using the following ten techniques to promote transparency in the workplace.

1. Hire transparently.

Want your business to be transparent? Then the first place to start is when hiring employees.

On your end, this means clearly stating the job responsibilities and expectations for open positions — both when posting positions and interviewing candidates. If they applied for a specific job, and it’s not what they signed up for, then your relationship is instantly built-on mistrust.

Additionally, you should also hire transparent employees. These are people who hold themselves accountable, are honest about their past, and have integrity. You can find these facts out by checking their references or social media activity. During the interview, watch their body language and how detailed their answers are to your questions.

What’s more, you want to bring on people who are excited about your business. But, more importantly, they should be a good culture fit. You can determine this if they’re willing to buy into your mission and philosophy.

2. Give employees access to information and context.

Critical information should always be readily available. Company intelligence would be anything related to projects, such as deadlines and what parts each person is working on individually. Project management software and shared calendars are both easy and effective ways to do this.

You may also want to share company financials and operational changes. You don’t want to disclose anything too sensitive. But, providing an overview lets others know how your business is performing. And, differently, don’t hold off sharing personnel changes, or anything that affects the daily lives of your team. Be upfront especially with pertinent changes to benefits or pay.

When sharing information with your team, however, don’t forget to provide context. “The key thing people forget in transparency is it’s not about opening up the Google Drive and making sure that everyone can read everything,” Des Traynor, Co-founder of Intercom told Know Your Team. “It’s about the transparency of context as well.”

For example, when sharing revenue numbers also include profit margins and expenses. When you do, you’re letting others know where the business is spending money and how the revenue supports your business.

3. Make face-to-face interactions a priority.

Technology has most definitely broken down the barriers of communication. Thanks to email, Slack, or Skype, you can check-in on how your team members are doing, get everyone on the page, or get to know each better. And, while that’s awesome, nothing beats face-to-face communication.

Walk around the office and strike up conversations with your staff when they’re not focused on their work. Have lunch with them. And schedule one-on-one meetings with them. Not only does this build up your rapport with your employees, but it also allows you to discuss sensitive issues or exchange ideas in a safe and private environment.

4. Hold “ask me anything” sessions or town halls.

I know that you’re time is limited. But, holding these types of events makes you more approachable. It also allows your team to ask important questions and provide unfiltered feedback. And, town halls and “ask me anything” sessions are also perfect platforms to share updates, reinforce your values, and promote collaboration.

To get the most out of these events, though, you should encourage attendees to share their perspectives. For example, you could send out a survey following the event to collect feedback.

5. Act on feedback.

Speaking of feedback, you need to do more than solicit it. You also need to act on it. The reason? It shows that you’ve listened to your employees. And, even better, it lets them know that you’re actively taking measures to improve processes, systems, or even your leadership style.

Even better, get your employees in on the decision-making process. Discussion about decisions a great way to empower employees and keep them engaged. You will make better business decisions if you listen to additional information form your team before making your final determination.

6. Encourage ownership.

When assigning or delegating responsibilities, you can motivate your team by granting them autonomy. For example, instead of micromanaging your team, let them work however they prefer. If possible, allow for flexible schedules and the opportunity to work wherever they like. It’s a simple way to show that you trust them. And it also lessens your workload.

The key is to ask them what they need to get the job done. It’s then up to you to get them this information and resources and coach them from the sidelines.

7. Share the ups and downs for transparency.

I don’t think that most of us enjoy being the messenger of bad news. As a result, you may be tempted to share only the good news like accomplishments, milestones, and how your business is moving forward.

At the same time, you’re also responsible for sharing challenges, setbacks, and obstacles that your business is facing. The last thing you want is to have your team get caught-off-guard when there are a series of layoffs. That’s not great for morale for the remainder of your staff.

However, as I mentioned in the intro, you don’t want your team to panic. For example, you may have a terrible quarter financially. Let your employees know the information and use the stats as an opportunity for you and your team to improve your business before declaring the quarter a failure.

8. Eliminate job titles promotes transparency.

When there aren’t titles, it makes everyone feel that they are equals. As Jessica Yuen, at Gusto realized, titles “were not a measurement of someone’s contributions. They didn’t make us stronger, wiser, or bring us closer to achieving our mission.” They even suspected that titles were actually “adding extra layers and points of confusion.”

They got rid of titles. And guess what happened? It created a “no-ego” culture that attracted the right job candidates and promoted a more collaborative environment. But, the main takeaway was that ditching titles “was a constant reminder that we were on the same team, united by the same purpose.”

9. Don’t bury your head in the sand.

I already brought-up The Office before, so let’s keep rolling with the theme. If you recall, whenever Micheal Scott had to make a significant decision or confront conflict, he would hide. In some situations, like the health care episode, he would pass the buck to someone else, like Dwight.

Obviously, actions like these are not recommended. As a leader, you must address and resolve workplace conflicts and make tough decisions. When you do, it lets your team know that they can come to you with problems and concerns. It’s also another way to invite and listen to feedback while also giving you the chance to explain your decision.

10. Follow the Golden Rule.

Finally, treat everyone as you would want to be treated. That means not playing favorites or dismissing others. It’s also about honoring your commitments and being respectful of other’s time. That may not sound like much. But, again, when everyone feels like they’re on the same level — then they’ll feel more comfortable speaking up and listening to what you’re saying.

When you’re running a business, it’s common to feel like you have a never-ending to-do list and very little time. That’s life, but it doesn’t have to be your reality 24/7. If you’ve been reading this blog or exploring the options of trying a calendar tool, you know that you can maximize your productivity by utilizing the right resources and strategies.

We all have the same 24 hours each day, but it’s all about how you spend that time and set up your day. One of the best time management strategies for small business owners is the Pareto principle also referred to as the 80/20 Rule. Here’s everything you need to know about using this strategy to improve your focus and get more done in less time.

So Wais, What Exactly Is the Pareto Principle?

The Pareto principle was named after Vilfredo Pareto, an Italian economist who founded it back in 1895. Prior to defining the 80/20 rule, as it is popularly called, he studied how our effort and input yielded certain results.

Ultimately, he realized that pretty much every economic activity was actually subjected to this principle – in the sense that 80% of the Italian wealth of that time was actually controlled by as little as 20% of the population.

The Pareto principle may be applied to almost every circumstance. In essence, 80% of the outcome is actually produced by the 20% input. By understanding the principle, you also learn how to prioritize the tasks by the day, week, and month.

When it comes to business, the 80/20 rule is essential in relation to strategic planning. This is something that every team leader should know if they wish for the business to be fruitful.

How to Use the 80/20 Rule in Your Business

To put it as simply as possible, the 80/20 rule is a concept that will suggest that 2 out of 10 products or items (on any to-do list) will prove to be worth more compared to the other 8.

What is generally sad but true is that people tend to procrastinate on the 20% of the tasks that are actually important, the “vital few,” and tend to focus their energy on the remaining 80%, the “trivial many.” Indeed, while these may be simple to do, their contribution to business success is actually quite small.

Adding the Pareto Principle to Your Overall Strategy

Once you understand the basics behind the Pareto principle, you can easily use it to help your business. Here are the ways in which it can give your business a boost.

Increase Overall Productivity

The Pareto principle is a very effective way to help you determine the areas in which you need to focus your resources and efforts for maximum efficiency. By using this rule, you may prioritize the tasks in a way that you can focus on the vital 20% that is responsible for producing the 80% result.

Let’s face it, quite a bit of what we focus on during a typical work day is fluff. Some tasks will yield a much better return than others. Pareto teaches us that we should not be wasting so much of our time on trivial matters. It is time-consuming and it will not bring us enough value for the long-term goal.

This Pareto principle can also help you determine the reason why your business is unproductive. As a manager, you might actually use the rule to find the 20% of the reasons why your team is not being productive.

Increase Your Profit

If you identify which areas of your business to focus on for maximum results (20%) you’ll naturally increase your overall profit as a result. Think about it. In the past you might have focused more on areas of your business that didn’t yield much results.

With the 20/80 method, you can be more efficient and narrow down your focus. When it comes to your team members, you may find that only around 20% of them are yielding desired results. The Pareto principle may be used to determine if you want to improve the skills of that 20% staff even further – or if you have to place your focus on the other 80% that are barely getting through. When you know where to place your focus, your profitability will also get higher.

Improve Your Marketing

According to the 80/20 rule, the overview of your website analytics will suggest that 80% of the traffic will land on 20% of the pages. These pages usually tend to attract most of the viewers – being the pages that are critical to the servicing process of your company. The same goes with your marketing messages and ads.

When sending an email to your list, realize that the bulk of your audience may only process and read 20% of the message, especially if it’s a long one.

By utilizing the Pareto principle, you should be able to narrow down on your marketing and optimize your strategy in a way that makes it much easier for your audience to respond. This should also tell you which pages need to be worked on so that you may get the best of returns.

Identify and Fix Major Issues in Other Areas

Just as the Pareto rule can tell you where things are going right, it can also determine where things are going badly. You may prioritize the problems, and see which issues enter the 20% that is likely to affect your business the most.

This will not only help you identify the problem – but it will also allow you to find the appropriate approach so that you may fix it. Before long, your profits should be able to get a boost.

Enhance the Overall Customer Experience

Quality customer service and support is crucial. By using the Pareto principle to help improve customer support, you’ll know that 80% of the complaints are tied to about 20% of your products – which will further on allow you to tackle the improvement of that particular product.

Similarly, by using the Pareto rule, you may also determine exactly which customer support members get the most complaints. This way, you may rearrange your staff so that your clients are also happy with the support that they get.

Final Thoughts

Overall, the Pareto principle does not tell you to eliminate any of the least critical aspects of the situation. Instead, it will teach you how to shift your focus to the tasks with the utmost importance – and those that will be yielding the best results. From there you can start to shift your schedule and divvy up your time accordingly to maximize your results.

Have you ever thought about using the Pareto principle in your business? Which areas do you feel it could improve?

The other night, without being provoked, I woke-up suddenly from a deep sleep. My mind was in a frenzy about everything that I needed to do tomorrow. Of course, those thoughts snowballed into all of the errands, deadlines, and appointments I had scheduled for the upcoming week and month. It was a chore to get back to homeostasis and doze off for a couple more hours. But, should you schedule your free time or go with the flow?

Obviously, I’m not the only one who has had this experience. We all have a million things to do. On top of work obligations, there also personal responsibilities like picking up dry cleaning, taking your dog to the vet, household chores that keep piling up, and spending quality time with the fam. With so much to do and little time to get around to everything, how on Earth can you possibly squeeze in any free time?

Well, you could schedule all of your free time. That means if you wanted to go out to dinner with friends or attend a concert, you add these to your calendar. It may sound extreme. But, it prevents you from scheduling anything else during this block of time.

The other option would be to “wing it.” If you went into this direction, then you would leave your calendar black whenever you’re “off-the-clock” and see how things fall into place. Without a rigorous schedule, you’re able to spend your time however you wish — without being restained to your calendar.

But, which approach is best? To answer that question, let’s look at the advantages and disadvantages of each method. Likely the best idea will be to find a balance between the two.

The importance of free time — and how it should be spent.

Before I go any further, I want to discuss why free time is essential. I know. You might be rolling your eyes at this. Who realistically has the luxury of such a thing? But, everyone, including entrepreneurs, needs to realize that there’s more to life than work. If you want to have a more meaningful and fulfilled life, then free time should be a priority for the following reasons.

For starters, free time makes you happier. Researchers have even found that free time can make you happier than money.

“It appears that people have a stable preference for valuing their time over making more money, and prioritizing time are associated with greater happiness,” said lead Ashley Whillans, who was the lead researcher from the study conducted by the University of British Columbia. Their research also shows that “giving up a few hours of a paycheck to volunteer at a food bank may have more bang for your buck in making you feel happier.”

Whillans adds that “buying time boosts happiness by mitigating the effects of time stress — the feeling that there aren’t enough hours in the day.” For some, that may sound obvious. After all, if you continuously feel pressed for time, then satisfied, do you think your life will be?

Additionally, free time encourages you to attend to your own self-care, boosts creativity, and gives you something to look forward to. It also can improve relationships since it shows others that they’re a priority. Moreover, it adds flexibility to your calendar and gives you a sense of control. And, most importantly, our brains require downtime to recharge and process information.

Spend your free time wisely.

However, for you to get the most out of your free time, you need to spend it wisely. For example, you may be tempted to spend your entire Saturday binge-watching a show on Netflix. There’s nothing wrong with watching an episode here or there. But, those precious hours should mainly be used towards something more productive like reading, journaling, learning, exercising, catching up on household chores, or hanging out with friends and family.

Other options would be planning a vacation, picking up a new hobby, or organizing your home or workspace. And, don’t forget to relax and reflect to help you decompress and become more present.

The case for and against scheduling downtime.

If you were to look up time management tips, you’d probably notice that a lot of successful people, such as Elon Musk and my colleague John Hall, schedule every minute of their time. On the surface, this makes sense.

“Scheduling my days means that I, not the circumstances around me, dictate how I spend my time,” Hall explains. “My schedule is flexible enough to let me put out fires but rigid enough to ensure that I never find myself wondering what to do next–or when I’ll find time to do the things that matter to me.”

Additionally, scheduling hours forces you to stay focused on the present and prevents conflicts. Did you commit to attending a housewarming party on Friday night? If it’s in your calendar, then you won’t also schedule a happy hour with your team on the same night. As a result, you won’t tick anyone off because you didn’t double-book your time.

Also, because you have more certainty, life isn’t as stressful — no more overcommitting to time requests. Also, no more trying to bite off more than you can chew. You won’t spend your downtime aimlessly wandering around, deciding what you should so. You know precisely how you’re going to spend your time, which, in turn, reduces the number of decisions you have to make.

But, perhaps the best part of scheduling your leisure time is that it makes it happen. As Laura Vanderkam explains, if you have a busy life, especially if you’re a parent, “you have to plan, or there will be no leisure in your life beyond watching TV.” The reason? That’s “the easiest thing to do, and it does not require any planning to do during the downtime that presents itself after the kids go to bed or are occupied with other things.”

The dark side of scheduling free time.

Despite these benefits, there some problems associated with daily scheduling. The most obvious is that it can be stressful. Don’t believe me? Just close your eyes and think about filling your calendar for the next week, month, or year. I’m sure you’re anxiety is through the roof right now. And, to make matters worse, if you have an unpredictable or irregular schedule, planning your free time is even more complicated.

What’s more, this approach doesn’t leave much room for spontaneity or flexibility. Some people may not be able to enjoy the present moment because they’re obsessed with sticking to a schedule, squeezing out every minute.

Why you should, and shouldn’t, go with the flow.

On the flip side, there are some perks to taking the “go with the flow” approach. The most common reason is that it allows for more flexibility in your schedule. Without being shackled to a strict schedule, you’ll become more spontaneous. As a result, you’ll be happier.

But don’t take my word on this. Studies show that those who don’t schedule their free time are indeed happier. “When scheduled, leisure tasks feel less free-flowing and more forced — which is what robs them of their utility,” Selin A. Malkocan an associate professor of marketing at Ohio State University and an author of the study “Activity Versus Outcome Maximization in Time Management,” told the Washington Post.

Furthermore, you’ll be less stressed and more resilient since you aren’t freaking out when plans don’t go accordingly. Instead, you adapt to the circumstances and enjoy the present.

Going with the flow is similar to the concept of “wu wei.” Derived from Taoism, “wu wei,” basically means taking ‘effortless action’ or ‘actionless action’ and “being at peace while engaged in the most frenetic tasks so that one can carry these out with maximum skill and efficiency.” It’s like a river flowing down a mountain. Although it’s still active, it’s not trying to do anything else consciously.

The downside of “winging it.”

The idea of just rolling with the punches may sound relaxing and very zen. But, for many people, winging-it can come with heavy costs. Without certainty, it’s much easier for you to get distracted or put other people’s priorities ahead of your own.

Eventually, things will spiral out of control. You’ll have to cancel attending social functions because you already RSVPd to another event. You may bail on meeting with a friend at the last minute because the errands you decided to do on a whim took longer than anticipated.

And, sometimes, going through life without direction can make you anxious. It’s fun sometimes to get lost when driving around. But, what if you can’t find your way back to the highway and you realize that you need gas? There’s probably nothing as terrifying.

Striking the right balance.

As you can see, there pros and cons to both scheduling your free time and going with the flow. The solution then is to find a healthy balance between them.

While this can vary from person-to-person, the most effective way to achieve this is by always scheduling your most important tasks and events. For example, if you can only take your car to the mechanic on Saturday morning, then block out the time for that task. Spouse, partner, or BFF’s birthday? Definitely put that date on your calendar.

When you do this, you prevent any potential scheduling conflicts. And, it creates enough structure in your life to maintain control of it.

Also, like with your work schedule, add time buffers to your schedule so that you aren’t literally rushing from one thing to the next. And, be realistic about how much you can achieve in the available time that you have. It’s ambitious to think that you’ll clean the house, mow the lawn, head to the grocery store, watch a movie with friends, and make it to a wedding on the same day.

Finally, don’t hyper-schedule yourself. When you have unstructured free time, you ’re in a better position to be more spontaneous and flexible.