WEBVTT - It’s your schedule 

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<v Speaker 1>Welcome to Before Breakfast, a production of I Heart Radio.

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<v Speaker 1>Good Morning, This is Laura. Welcome to the Before Breakfast podcast.

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<v Speaker 1>Today's tip is to remember that it's your schedule, so

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<v Speaker 1>own it. When people tell me about the challenges and

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<v Speaker 1>frustrations in their schedule, they often have lengthy explanations for

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<v Speaker 1>why things aren't working. You see, I can't get anything

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<v Speaker 1>done because my day is chopped up with meetings. Or

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<v Speaker 1>I can't take up painting again, which I used to

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<v Speaker 1>love because the only time I have to myself is

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<v Speaker 1>after my kids are in bed and then I'm exhausted.

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<v Speaker 1>Or how about this one, I really want to exercise

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<v Speaker 1>on Saturdays, but my in laws come over in the

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<v Speaker 1>morning and by the time we say goodbye, it's too

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<v Speaker 1>hot to go for a run. We all have our

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<v Speaker 1>stories reasons that our schedule isn't working. Sometimes it feels

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<v Speaker 1>like these rules and obligations are carved in stone, but

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<v Speaker 1>they're probably not. It's your schedule, so be bold about

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<v Speaker 1>making it work for you. And no, that's not selfish,

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<v Speaker 1>because in general, what truly works for you ultimately works

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<v Speaker 1>for your family, your employer, and your community because they

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<v Speaker 1>win when you can function as your best self. One

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<v Speaker 1>of the first steps to making your schedule work for

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<v Speaker 1>you is to rethink how you respond to schedule requests.

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<v Speaker 1>Sometimes people feel obligated to accept a work or social

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<v Speaker 1>appointment at whatever time is offered, even if the time

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<v Speaker 1>is difficult. The thinking is that if there's no actual conflict, well,

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<v Speaker 1>there's no good reason to refuse an offered time. Guess

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<v Speaker 1>what you can rethink this notion. You do want to

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<v Speaker 1>be considerate of other schedules, but that doesn't mean saying

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<v Speaker 1>yes to a time just because you are technically free.

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<v Speaker 1>For instance, if a friend suggests talking on Friday night

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<v Speaker 1>at nine p m. After her kids go to bed,

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<v Speaker 1>but you hope to relax with your partner, then it's

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<v Speaker 1>ok to suggest a week day after her kids s

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<v Speaker 1>bed time instead and see what she says. If a

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<v Speaker 1>colleague proposes a meeting at ten o'clock but you are

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<v Speaker 1>planning to buckle down on a big project, then it's

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<v Speaker 1>ok to ask if he'd be available in the afternoon.

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<v Speaker 1>And just because you usually do something at a certain

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<v Speaker 1>time doesn't mean you have to do this forever. Perhaps

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<v Speaker 1>our aspiring runner's relatives would be happy to come over

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<v Speaker 1>a little later and get an update about the morning run.

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<v Speaker 1>The people who want to spend time with you for

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<v Speaker 1>professional or personal reasons generally want the best for you.

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<v Speaker 1>They are not out to hijack your schedule. They may

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<v Speaker 1>have more flexibility in their own schedules than you assume.

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<v Speaker 1>You can look for times that work well for both

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<v Speaker 1>of you. So the next time you are asked to

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<v Speaker 1>do something at a time that isn't great for you,

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<v Speaker 1>here this gentle reminder that you are in charge of

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<v Speaker 1>your own schedule, you can always ask for something else.

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<v Speaker 1>Often you'll find a mutually convenient time that makes you

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<v Speaker 1>and the other person happy, and every day is a

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<v Speaker 1>great day for that. 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 p O D. You can also shoot me an

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<v Speaker 1>email at Before Breakfast Podcast at i heeart media dot

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<v Speaker 1>com That Before Breakfast is spelled out with all the letters.

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<v Speaker 1>Thanks so much, I look forward to staying touch Before

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