If You Don’t Schedule It …

There is a saying that goes, “If you don’t schedule it, you won’t do it.” And I agree. Scheduling is often (always?) the key to actually getting things done. Without a set time to focus on a task or activity, it’s easy for it to get lost in the shuffle of daily life. Life tends to fill up with distractions, responsibilities, and spontaneous demands, and without a plan, even the most important or enjoyable things can fall through the cracks. Scheduling helps ensure that you not only make time for what you need to do but that you do it in a focused, organized way.

When you schedule something, you're committing time and energy to it. It's not just a vague "I'll get to it when I can" approach. It’s a concrete promise to yourself to prioritize the task and make it part of your day. This commitment boosts motivation, reduces procrastination, and gives a sense of control over how you spend your time.

In addition, scheduling provides a roadmap for your day or week. When you see tasks blocked out on a calendar or to-do list, you’re better able to visualize how everything fits together. It makes it easier to balance competing demands on your time and prevents overloading yourself. You’re also more likely to complete tasks on time because you’ve already designated when and where the effort will take place.

Now you probably know where I’m going with this. You need to schedule your practice time. Habakkuk 2:2 says, “Write the vision; make it plain on tablets, so he may run who reads it.” Pencil it into your calendar, add it to your Outlook calendar, write it on the white board. I have found that when I actually write something down, it is more likely to get done. So make the commitment and write it down.

Happy dulcimering,
Linda