1 00:00:03,440 --> 00:00:07,600 Speaker 1: Welcome to Before Breakfast, a production of I Heart Radio. 2 00:00:09,320 --> 00:00:14,200 Speaker 1: Good Morning, This is Laura. Welcome to the Before Breakfast podcast. 3 00:00:14,840 --> 00:00:19,000 Speaker 1: Today's tip is to remember that it's your schedule, so 4 00:00:19,120 --> 00:00:22,919 Speaker 1: own it. When people tell me about the challenges and 5 00:00:23,000 --> 00:00:27,120 Speaker 1: frustrations in their schedule, they often have lengthy explanations for 6 00:00:27,200 --> 00:00:30,560 Speaker 1: why things aren't working. You see, I can't get anything 7 00:00:30,600 --> 00:00:33,760 Speaker 1: done because my day is chopped up with meetings. Or 8 00:00:34,200 --> 00:00:36,559 Speaker 1: I can't take up painting again, which I used to 9 00:00:36,600 --> 00:00:39,560 Speaker 1: love because the only time I have to myself is 10 00:00:39,600 --> 00:00:42,280 Speaker 1: after my kids are in bed and then I'm exhausted. 11 00:00:43,000 --> 00:00:45,800 Speaker 1: Or how about this one, I really want to exercise 12 00:00:45,880 --> 00:00:48,040 Speaker 1: on Saturdays, but my in laws come over in the 13 00:00:48,080 --> 00:00:50,360 Speaker 1: morning and by the time we say goodbye, it's too 14 00:00:50,360 --> 00:00:53,440 Speaker 1: hot to go for a run. We all have our 15 00:00:53,520 --> 00:00:58,760 Speaker 1: stories reasons that our schedule isn't working. Sometimes it feels 16 00:00:58,800 --> 00:01:02,640 Speaker 1: like these rules and obligations are carved in stone, but 17 00:01:02,720 --> 00:01:07,880 Speaker 1: they're probably not. It's your schedule, so be bold about 18 00:01:07,920 --> 00:01:12,240 Speaker 1: making it work for you. And no, that's not selfish, 19 00:01:12,360 --> 00:01:16,120 Speaker 1: because in general, what truly works for you ultimately works 20 00:01:16,160 --> 00:01:20,480 Speaker 1: for your family, your employer, and your community because they 21 00:01:20,520 --> 00:01:24,960 Speaker 1: win when you can function as your best self. One 22 00:01:24,959 --> 00:01:27,039 Speaker 1: of the first steps to making your schedule work for 23 00:01:27,120 --> 00:01:30,760 Speaker 1: you is to rethink how you respond to schedule requests. 24 00:01:31,760 --> 00:01:35,480 Speaker 1: Sometimes people feel obligated to accept a work or social 25 00:01:35,520 --> 00:01:39,360 Speaker 1: appointment at whatever time is offered, even if the time 26 00:01:39,600 --> 00:01:44,760 Speaker 1: is difficult. The thinking is that if there's no actual conflict, well, 27 00:01:44,959 --> 00:01:48,960 Speaker 1: there's no good reason to refuse an offered time. Guess 28 00:01:49,040 --> 00:01:52,680 Speaker 1: what you can rethink this notion. You do want to 29 00:01:52,680 --> 00:01:56,160 Speaker 1: be considerate of other schedules, but that doesn't mean saying 30 00:01:56,240 --> 00:01:59,760 Speaker 1: yes to a time just because you are technically free. 31 00:02:00,640 --> 00:02:03,600 Speaker 1: For instance, if a friend suggests talking on Friday night 32 00:02:03,640 --> 00:02:06,080 Speaker 1: at nine p m. After her kids go to bed, 33 00:02:06,520 --> 00:02:09,119 Speaker 1: but you hope to relax with your partner, then it's 34 00:02:09,160 --> 00:02:12,000 Speaker 1: ok to suggest a week day after her kids s 35 00:02:12,000 --> 00:02:15,240 Speaker 1: bed time instead and see what she says. If a 36 00:02:15,320 --> 00:02:18,000 Speaker 1: colleague proposes a meeting at ten o'clock but you are 37 00:02:18,080 --> 00:02:21,280 Speaker 1: planning to buckle down on a big project, then it's 38 00:02:21,280 --> 00:02:23,960 Speaker 1: ok to ask if he'd be available in the afternoon. 39 00:02:24,919 --> 00:02:27,359 Speaker 1: And just because you usually do something at a certain 40 00:02:27,400 --> 00:02:30,880 Speaker 1: time doesn't mean you have to do this forever. Perhaps 41 00:02:30,880 --> 00:02:33,560 Speaker 1: our aspiring runner's relatives would be happy to come over 42 00:02:33,600 --> 00:02:36,639 Speaker 1: a little later and get an update about the morning run. 43 00:02:37,760 --> 00:02:39,800 Speaker 1: The people who want to spend time with you for 44 00:02:39,840 --> 00:02:44,280 Speaker 1: professional or personal reasons generally want the best for you. 45 00:02:45,040 --> 00:02:48,880 Speaker 1: They are not out to hijack your schedule. They may 46 00:02:48,960 --> 00:02:52,240 Speaker 1: have more flexibility in their own schedules than you assume. 47 00:02:53,120 --> 00:02:55,560 Speaker 1: You can look for times that work well for both 48 00:02:55,600 --> 00:02:59,000 Speaker 1: of you. So the next time you are asked to 49 00:02:59,040 --> 00:03:01,440 Speaker 1: do something at a time that isn't great for you, 50 00:03:02,040 --> 00:03:05,760 Speaker 1: here this gentle reminder that you are in charge of 51 00:03:05,800 --> 00:03:10,000 Speaker 1: your own schedule, you can always ask for something else. 52 00:03:10,800 --> 00:03:14,400 Speaker 1: Often you'll find a mutually convenient time that makes you 53 00:03:14,560 --> 00:03:17,800 Speaker 1: and the other person happy, and every day is a 54 00:03:17,800 --> 00:03:21,800 Speaker 1: great day for that. In the meantime, this is Laura. 55 00:03:22,480 --> 00:03:25,520 Speaker 1: Thanks for listening, and here's to making the most of 56 00:03:25,520 --> 00:03:35,279 Speaker 1: our time. Hey everybody, I'd love to hear from you. 57 00:03:35,280 --> 00:03:38,200 Speaker 1: You can send me your tips, your questions, or anything else. 58 00:03:38,920 --> 00:03:42,520 Speaker 1: Just connect with me on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram at 59 00:03:42,560 --> 00:03:47,400 Speaker 1: Before Breakfast Pod that's b E the number four, then 60 00:03:47,480 --> 00:03:50,880 Speaker 1: Breakfast p O D. You can also shoot me an 61 00:03:50,880 --> 00:03:54,640 Speaker 1: email at Before Breakfast Podcast at i heeart media dot 62 00:03:54,720 --> 00:03:57,640 Speaker 1: com That Before Breakfast is spelled out with all the letters. 63 00:03:58,280 --> 00:04:06,480 Speaker 1: Thanks so much, I look forward to staying touch Before 64 00:04:06,520 --> 00:04:09,560 Speaker 1: Breakfast is a production of I heart Radio. For more 65 00:04:09,600 --> 00:04:13,080 Speaker 1: podcasts from i heart Radio, visit the i heart Radio app, 66 00:04:13,360 --> 00:04:16,560 Speaker 1: Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen to your favorite shows.