Stop Playing 'Jump or Dive' With Your Schedule

In the latest episode of Before Breakfast, host Laura Vandercam introduces a compelling metaphor for poor time management: the childhood pool game "jump or dive." In this game, a person launches themselves into the air, only to be commanded by friends to "jump" or "dive" mid-flight, inevitably leading to a clumsy, painful "belly flop." Vandercam argues that many adults replicate this chaos in their professional and personal lives by leaving plans undecided until the last minute, resulting in unnecessary stress and suboptimal outcomes.

The Cost of Last-Minute Decision Making

Vandercam highlights that when we leave things "undecided until the last minute," we are essentially "setting ourselves up for stress, or wasted time." This reactive approach forces us to make choices "on the fly" when we are already mid-action.

For example, consider the scenario of planning a morning run with a high probability of rain. Waiting until 5:40 a.m. to decide whether to run creates a stressful "early wake-up-at-half-asleep text exchange." By deciding the night before—such as agreeing to meet for coffee if the weather is poor—you eliminate the need for a frantic, last-minute pivot.

The Pitfalls of Vague Planning

Another variation of this "jump or dive" behavior is making vague commitments. Vandercam points out that planning to "meet up for brunch on Saturday" without defining a specific time or location is problematic. This lack of clarity forces participants to waste time calculating travel, parking, and attire logistics at the last second. Instead, she suggests making "specific plans with the time and place" to ensure that you are not "holding each other's Saturdays hostage."

When Flexibility Is Acceptable

While the podcast advocates for proactive planning, it acknowledges that there are exceptions. Vandercam shares a personal anecdote about interviewing a guest, Kristen, who had jury duty. In this instance, they agreed on a flexible approach because the guest's availability was truly dependent on external circumstances. However, she notes that even this was not a true "jump or dive" situation; it was a calculated contingency plan. The key difference is that they were not "lurching" at the edge of a diving board; they were communicating as soon as information became available.

Conclusion: Know Your Path Before You Leap

Ultimately, the lesson is to cultivate foresight in your scheduling. Whether it is avoiding back-to-back meetings that are prone to running over or confirming dinner plans when you know a group will be hungry, the goal is to "know if you are jumping or diving before you get to the edge of the diving board." By providing "adequate lead time" and avoiding the temptation to manage your life on the fly, you can reclaim your time and minimize the "avoidable pivot" that leads to unnecessary frustration.