How do I schedule for things when I have inconsistent work days?

If you have rotating work days and times, unpredictable start/end times to work, or your work schedule is never the same week-to-week, and you still want to get things done, predictably, outside of work, this post is for you.

The biggest reason you’re struggling to be consistent is because you’re looking at your INconsistent schedule and thinking that determines what you can/cannot do. But there are LOTS of things you do, regardless of whether you get out of work at 1am or 6pm, right?

You still brush your teeth.
You still get dressed.
You still eat food.
You still workout (some of you).
You still commute to/from work.
You still take your contacts out.
You still get ready for bed.

You get the idea. You’re SO consistent with LOTS of things, despite your inconsistent schedule. How? You’ve created non-negotiable habits. 

Where you’re getting tripped up is trying to do too much at once VERSUS focusing on, what ONE habit would you love to build so you can be consistent with that, too? 

Need help with habit building? Check out this post.

How do you do the other things you want to do, too while you’re building that habit? Planning WELL. That post has everything you need on how to plan your time simply and effectively. 

When you don’t plan well, you’ll get caught up in black and white thinking. You’ll think you just need more time, and bigger blocks of time block to get things done.

You’ll procrastinate and wait until you have “perfect conditions” like more time off, more rest, and more motivation. But this will keep you in an all or nothing cycle. You’ll be really inconsistent AND you’ll put pressure on yourself to make the most of the time you DO have. And pressure? It slows you down and has you procrastinating MORE.

Annoying, right?

This is where time management skills are VITAL. When you have time management skills, you can navigate situations just like this with confidence. Book your call here.

Be on the lookout for any black and white (all or nothing) thinking. This is you if you think you need a bigger time block to get things done. When you’re in black and white thinking, you’re going to procrastinate until you have “perfect conditions” like more time off. But this will keep you either all in and going 100mph or all off, and not doing the thing you want to be doing at all. You’ll be really inconsistent and you’ll put pressure on yourself to make the most of the time you DO have off. And pressure? It slows you down and has you procrastinating MORE. Annoying, right?

If this sounds like you and you’d like to learn how to manage your time – even with an unpredictable, in consistent schedule – I’d love to help. Book a free consult to see if we’re a good fit.