How to Make a Schedule and Stick to It

Co-authored by Jai Flicker

Last Updated: August 14, 2023 Fact Checked

Are you having a hard time sticking to schedules? That's a problem many people have, but luckily you can organize and make a schedule that works. Follow the plan that helps you grow everyday!

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This includes school, work, etc. These will be the things that have to be done at a certain time every day, and the times for which you do them cannot be moved around or rescheduled. Ideally, this list should be relatively short.^{[1]
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This includes exercising, studying, chores, shopping, personal hygiene, and so on. These are things that you need to do, but can be moved around a bit on your schedule for your convenience.^{[2]
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This includes reading, socializing, watching TV, video games, etc.
For example, if you've written down "6:00 PM - Revision", turn it into "6:00 PM - Revision - Chapter 7 Science, make flashcards + review vocabulary".^{[3]
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Of course, go ahead and add all of step 1 activities first, then step 2's, and last but not least, step 3's.^{[4]
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Spending 1-2 hours per step 2 and 3-type activities is ideal, but do what's best for you.^{[5]
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After you have your ideal schedule in mind, you'll know what type of agenda is best for you. Remember, don't worry about what the cover of the planner looks like so much as if it has what you need in the contents on the inside. Worst case scenario, you could turn it into a DIY project if the cover isn't your style. Explore different layouts as not all planners are the same. There are different planners for different uses, so do your research.^{[6]
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Now that you've made your schedule, you're going to need to stick to it, which is going to be the most difficult part. You can't expect to cram 100 activities into 24 hours. If you have more activities to do than what you have time for, you have two options: Either have 2 different schedules that alternate between days (for example, Monday - Schedule 1, Tuesday - Schedule 2, Wednesday - Schedule 1, and so on) or you really need to prioritize and/or compromise based on your own personal daily routine. Only you can decide the best action to take here. But the whole point of this step is to make sure your schedule is possible to stick to, so make sure you do that by taking one or both of the options listed above and allowing enough, but not too much time, for each activity.
Be conscious of why you wanted to stick to a schedule in the first place and keep it in your mind. Also be aware of the consequences should you fail to keep a schedule, and the rewards if you are successful. Some pros of keeping a schedule: be more organized, resulting in less stress, can help you be more responsible, make you feel in control of your life, help you be successful in your business, work, school, and/or every day life, etc.^{[7]
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We all fall off the wagon sometimes, so if you don't get it right straight away, don't fret. Identify where you went wrong and try a new strategy. It could take months to get your schedule where you are happy with it and where you can finally stick to it. It's definitely a learn-as-you-go-type experience, but it's well worth it in the end, when you've finally got everything worked out.^{[8]
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I want to improve my critical thinking skills. Where should I start?

Jai Flicker
Academic Tutor
Jai Flicker is an Academic Tutor and the CEO and Founder of Lifeworks Learning Center, a San Francisco Bay Area-based business focused on providing tutoring, parental support, test preparation, college essay writing help, and psychoeducational evaluations to help students transform their attitude toward learning. Jai has over 20 years of experience in the education management industry. He holds a BA in Philosophy from the University of California, San Diego.

Jai Flicker

Academic Tutor

Expert Answer

Critical thinking starts with getting clear on your own thinking first. Before analyzing others' arguments, take time to ask yourself "What do I actually think about this?" Build evidence to support your own viewpoint. As you explore your own thinking more, you may find you have to update your beliefs. The key is to not get too attached to your first thought, but remain flexible. By starting to actively think about topics yourself, you'll get better at identifying the quality of thinking in what you read and hear.

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What can I do if I'm too lazy to stick to my schedule?

Tom De Backer

Top Answerer

We're all lazy. Every invention mankind has ever made was to reduce the effort a certain task costs. I would suggest that you accept that it's OK to be lazy sometimes, and even plan it in your schedule. My lazy day is Thursday - that evening I don't plan anything, no chores, no tasks no nothing. So all other days I can say "all right, I'll do this now because Thursday I can be lazy". However, remind yourself why you made your schedule, what your goals are, and let that motivate you.

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What should I do if I get distracted?

Alix Naumova

Community Answer

Put all possible distractions away. Put electronics on a high shelf or give them to someone you trust. Study in one hour stretches and give yourself 10 minute break periods.

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