WEBVTT - A net for catching days

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<v Speaker 1>Welcome to Before Breakfast, a production of iHeartRadio. Good Morning,

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<v Speaker 1>This is Laura, Welcome to the Before Breakfast podcast. Today's

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<v Speaker 1>tip is to plan your time so you get the

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<v Speaker 1>most out of it. Intentions mean that time doesn't flutter away,

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<v Speaker 1>slipping out of our grasp. So people often quote Annie

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<v Speaker 1>Dillard's line from her book The Writing Life that how

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<v Speaker 1>we spend our days is, of course how we spend

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<v Speaker 1>our lives. What we do with this hour, and that

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<v Speaker 1>one is what we are doing. It's such a good

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<v Speaker 1>reminder to make sure that how we use our time

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<v Speaker 1>accords with what we want for our lives. But that

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<v Speaker 1>is not the only Annie Dillard quote worth noting. It

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<v Speaker 1>goes on to describe a schedule as a net for

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<v Speaker 1>catching days. Perhaps we could envision this net as looking

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<v Speaker 1>like a butterfly net, because time, like a butterfly, will

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<v Speaker 1>flit away from our grasp if we are not strategic

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<v Speaker 1>about it. Time moves regardless. Intentions allow us some control,

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<v Speaker 1>so we don't just passively watch time flit on by.

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<v Speaker 1>Hence the schedule. Now, to be clear, a schedule doesn't

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<v Speaker 1>mean we have to commit to things every fifteen minutes

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<v Speaker 1>and on weekends and holidays too. It is just a

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<v Speaker 1>general plan for how we'd like our time to go

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<v Speaker 1>at the end of the day or the week. What

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<v Speaker 1>would make life feel satisfying. I like the way Annie

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<v Speaker 1>Dillard's net metaphor positions the schedule as a tool we

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<v Speaker 1>use use a schedule to catch time and make it meaningful.

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<v Speaker 1>The net or schedule isn't something that's catching us and

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<v Speaker 1>limiting us. It is empowering us. If you are reluctant

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<v Speaker 1>to plan or schedule your days or weeks, try planning

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<v Speaker 1>with the mindset that the plan is letting you grab

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<v Speaker 1>time for enjoyment and meaning, rather than have that time

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<v Speaker 1>flit away. You will generally do what you have to

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<v Speaker 1>do or whatever a screaming loudest in front of you.

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<v Speaker 1>A net lets you capture time that you otherwise wouldn't

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<v Speaker 1>for meaning, beauty, and fun. So what experiences would you

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<v Speaker 1>like to capture in your life next week? When I

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<v Speaker 1>plan my weeks, I keep these three categories in mind, Career, relationships,

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<v Speaker 1>and self. I encourage you to try that as well.

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<v Speaker 1>I identify priorities for week in each category, and then

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<v Speaker 1>with the butterfly net of my plan, I am able

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<v Speaker 1>to catch time in the coming week and seize meeting

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<v Speaker 1>from it. I know that in the next week I

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<v Speaker 1>plan to revise three more chapters in my novel and

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<v Speaker 1>spend some time outlining a new nonfiction book idea. I

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<v Speaker 1>plan to implement more time outside after dinner for my

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<v Speaker 1>kids now that the days are longer and lighter. I

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<v Speaker 1>also plan to book some personal travel that I can

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<v Speaker 1>look forward to. None of this has to happen. The

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<v Speaker 1>world will survive without my novel, and my kids can

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<v Speaker 1>just watch TV. I can keep trudging along living normal life.

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<v Speaker 1>But I want these things to happen. Intentions and a

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<v Speaker 1>schedule make them more likely. So today, as you look

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<v Speaker 1>ahead to next week, think of your plan or schedule

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<v Speaker 1>as a net for catching days. Figure out the pleasures, meetings,

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<v Speaker 1>and accomplishment you want from your time, and use your

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<v Speaker 1>schedule to catch them in the meantime. This is Laura.

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<v Speaker 1>Thanks for listening, and here's to making the most of

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<v Speaker 1>our time. Hey, everybody, I'd love to hear from you.

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<v Speaker 1>You can send me your tips, your questions, or anything else.

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<v Speaker 1>Just connect with me on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram at

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<v Speaker 1>before Breakfast Pod. That's b E the number four. Then

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<v Speaker 1>Breakfast Pod. You can also shoot me an email at

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<v Speaker 1>Before Breakfast podcasts at iHeartMedia dot com that Before Breakfast

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<v Speaker 1>is spelled out with all the letters. Thanks so much,

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<v Speaker 1>shod I look forward to staying in touch. Before Breakfast

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<v Speaker 1>is a production of iHeartRadio. For more podcasts from iHeartRadio,

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