When you don’t have that much energy on a day, you have to get creative when it comes to planning. A planner is great, but it can also make you feel pressured into finishing everything even though you don’t have the energy. So I wanted to write a blog about my ways to help with this.
Flexible planning
If you choose to make a weekly planning, take your energy levels into account. This can mean a lot of things, because everyone is different, but this is what it looks like for me:
– I will do the most difficult things at the beginning of the week, when my energy level is the highest
– I never do things at the last moment, to give me some extra time if I do not have the energy to complete the task
– I schedule enough moments where I can rest
Types of planners
I have one main agenda, where I can look at the week and see what I need to do that week. I also have a to-do list, which gives me a list of chores that I can do in my spare time, when I don’t have appointments. The to-do list is something I would want to get done, but I do not need to get done per se. I also use Google Calendar to set myself reminders, for example when I need to bring something with me to work, I will put a reminder in my phone.
Using other programs to help
Lately I have been asking Chat GPT to make a weekly planning for cleaning my house, taking my energy levels into account. He actually came up with a really good planning that I am using right now. So maybe it is weird but don’t hesitate to ask Chat GPT to help make a planning or something.
Don’t be too hard on yourself
Did you have something planned but you are too tired? Make sure you have plenty of time to do the task, maybe another day. Or maybe you can rest for an hour and finish the task then. There is no need to be upset with yourself for not being able to do something you planned. Be compassionate and remember you don’t always know your energy levels beforehand.
For example: going to the store is fine normally, but what if it is unusually crowded and on top of that you are not feeling great mentally?
This way, something that would cost you very little energy, suddenly becomes something you actually feel tired from. And that’s okay! We don’t always know what will happen and how we respond to it.
I do hope I helped some of you with planning this way, and I want to emphasize the being compassionate for youself. Being hard on yourself will not help you any more. Take a cup of tea, relax, and see if you can tackle the issue an hour later. Until the next blog!