This is the conclusion made by Ioana Lupu and Mayra Ruiz-Castro on Harvard Business Review.

In today's fast-paced world, it is more important than ever to build a schedule that works for you. Whether it's your personal life or your work habits, having a well-structured planning can help you stay organized, increase productivity, and reduce stress.

With the advent of technology, there are now numerous apps available that can assist you in tracking your:

• Habits (daily, weekly, monthly, etc..)
• Tasks (Personal live / work)
• Goals

You can use a classic paper notepad or you can try to organize it with some free online/offline solutions like spreadsheets in Google Drive, or (probably the best solution ) to download some task manager (planner) app on your iPhone or Mac laptop.

Creating a Well-Structured Schedule for Success

One of the key benefits of having a schedule is that it helps you manage your time effectively. By setting specific time slots for different activities, you can ensure that you allocate enough time for each task, avoiding the last-minute rush or the feeling of being overwhelmed.

For example you should read about:

1. How Pomodoro Technique Works
2. What is the Kizen approach?
3. How to Use Kanban Board
4. How Do Habits Impact Your Life
5. How to use Decision Matrix as a Backlog boards

Moreover, a schedule helps you prioritize your activities. By listing your tasks in order of importance, you can ensure that you tackle the most crucial ones first. This not only enhances your productivity but also gives you a sense of accomplishment as you cross off completed tasks from your to-do list. With the help of various habit tracking apps, you can easily monitor your progress and ensure that you are staying on track with your goals.

Goal > Task > Schedule > Result

Building a schedule also enables you to maintain a healthy work-life balance. It allows you to allocate time for personal activities, such as exercise, hobbies, and spending time with loved ones.

Not sure if you need it?

Let's check some of the benefits you can gain :) 

1. Improved Time Management: Time planner tools help us prioritize tasks and allocate our time more efficiently. They allow us to set realistic goals and deadlines, ensuring that we stay on track and complete our tasks on time.
2. Increased Productivity: By using time planner tools, we can create a structured schedule that keeps us focused and motivated. These tools often offer features like task lists, reminders, and notifications, which help us stay disciplined and make the most of our time.
3. Enhanced Organization: Time planner tools allow us to keep all our tasks, appointments, and deadlines in one place. We can easily categorize and label tasks, set priorities, and even color-code them. This level of organization can prevent tasks from slipping through the cracks and reduce the risk of forgetting important events.
4. Stress Reduction: When we have a clear plan and know what needs to be done, we experience less stress. Time planner tools provide a visual representation of our daily, weekly, or monthly activities, making it easier to manage our workload and avoid overwhelm.

Three key actions to avoid bad triggers if you use bad planning of your personal life and work life:

- Set Clear Goals: Establish clear boundaries between your personal life and work life. Clearly define your work hours and communicate them to your family, friends, and colleagues. Let them know when you are available and when you need uninterrupted time to focus on work. By setting these boundaries, you can avoid any conflicts or distractions that may arise from overlapping personal and work commitments.
- Prioritize and Schedule: Take the time to prioritize your tasks and commitments. Create a schedule or to-do list that includes both personal and work-related activities. Allocate specific time slots for each task, ensuring that you have enough time to complete them without feeling overwhelmed. By organizing and scheduling your responsibilities, you can avoid last-minute rushes or neglecting important tasks.
- Practice Time Management: Effective time management is crucial for balancing personal and work life. Avoid procrastination by breaking down larger tasks into smaller, manageable chunks. Set realistic deadlines for yourself and stick to them. Use productivity tools such as time-tracking apps or task management software to keep yourself accountable and on track. By managing your time effectively, you can prevent any bad triggers that may arise from poor planning and ensure a more balanced and fulfilling personal and work life.