Planning Vs. Scheduling: Where Do You Focus?

So many people collapse the distinction between planning their time and scheduling time to actually accomplish their tasks.

The fact is, planning and scheduling are two different skills.  According to Dictionary.com:

What do you notice that is different about the two words?

Both Planning and scheduling are done in advance,  but a PLAN is about thinking things through to produce a design. When applied to your time – think of planning as a time design toward the desired result! To schedule – means to take the existing plan – and estimate and assign time elements to events, tasks, and projects. Scheduling is about estimating how long things will take – and executing them at a given time. A schedule puts your plan into action by assigning a time estimate and value to the actual task or activity you’re going to do on a certain date.

[Tweet “Planning and scheduling are two different skills. Do you excel at one over the other?”]

Do you excel at one over the other?

These two functions work hand in hand, but interestingly, different parts of the brain are responsible for planning, scheduling, and action.

The human brain has many parts and each is responsible for different things.  Follow this quick primer in brain physiology:

The cerebrum is divided into two equal halves called hemispheres and controls our thoughts and actions. This is what is referred to when someone is deemed ‘left-‘ or ‘right-brained’. Each hemisphere is responsible for different functions.

The Cerebrum It is the largest part of the brain, located in the forebrain, and consists of four lobes.

1. The frontal lobe assists us with problem-solving, movement, planning, reasoning, parts of speech and emotions.
   This is where PLANNING skills reside. This area is what must be stimulated for adequate scheduling to occur. Note that this area is usually more developed in females.
2. The parietal lobe is responsible for recognition, movement, orientation, and perception of stimuli.
   This is where the ACTION and physical coordination take place for executing tasks.
3. The temporal lobe controls memory, speech, and perception of auditory stimuli.
4. The occipital lobe controls our sense of sight. The neocortex accounts for the largest part of the cerebrum. This six-layer structure is responsible for higher information processing.

Goals and objectives produce plans, that lead to schedules so tasks are executed within the time you’ve scheduled.  It’s a suite of skills and activities that when combined are most effective. Especially for mompreneurs who are juggling SO many other tasks and priorities. Each requires different tactics, and they are different skills.  Scheduling is a planning activity and requires time to accomplish it.  Working tasks without first planning your schedule may be a recipe for disaster, especially if you have several tasks to manage at one time.

Take some time to plan first, then focus on estimating and executing! Focusing on Planning and Scheduling will help any mompreneur manage all the details, and help you reclaim your time!  If you need HELP planning your business goals – Check out my highly acclaimed Planapaloozah – a self-paced course to get your business back on course. Go here to learn more!

Do you have any tips and tricks for planning and scheduling? How do you manage it all? When do you find time for planning and scheduling? Please share your planning and scheduling tips and tools in the comment box below!