Author: John Rampton / Source: Forbes
We all have expectations in life. And, this includes those daily expectations, such as completing a specific task or personal goal like exercising.
But, sometimes reality bites and those expectations aren’t met. For example, it took you longer to write that blog post, now you’re late for dinner.
As a result, you get disappointed.Of course, some things are out of our control. Getting a flat tire on your way to work is an unforeseen accident. But, if you had planned to leave an hour early, this becomes a minor inconvenience instead of a headache that forces you to reshuffle your day.
In other words, it’s how we manage these expectations that can keep us productive, focused, and content. The good news is that you can use your calendar to set-up realistic expectations for your day through the following five ways.
1. Estimate how long tasks will take you (so you can schedule your day).
I’m sure you’ve had those morning when you wake-up roaring to conquer the world. You tell yourself that you’re going to cross-off ten items from your to-do-list. You’re going to make a dozen phone calls, schedule a fifteen meetings, and still hit the gym after spending time with your family.
Not to rain on your parade here, but how likely are you going to accomplish all of that?
Furthermore, most of us severely overestimate the time that email management, phone calls, meeting preparation, emergencies, and commute time consume every day.
At the end of the day, you’re lucky if you’ve accomplished half of you had anticipated. As a result, you feel defeated and frustrated because you didn’t meet your expectations.
That’s when a calendar comes in handy. It can help you estimate your time more accurately so that you can schedule your day.
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