This is an iHeart Podcast.
Hey, listeners.
Today's tip is powered by National University.
As a listener of Before Breakfast, you know my goal is to help you make the most of your day without sacrificing work or family time.
That's why I'm so happy to introduce an institution that shares the same values.
If you are thinking about going back to school, you're probably wondering how to fit it all in.
National's flexible online formats, four- and eight-week courses and monthly class starts help you begin your degree sooner, finish faster and do it all on your own schedule.
So you have more options for managing work, family, and school.
With over 150 degrees, credentials and certificates to choose from, they have a program that fits your career goals.
Learn more today at nu.edu.
Welcome to Before Breakfast, a production of iHeartRadio.
Good morning.
This is Laura.
Welcome to the Before Breakfast podcast.
Today's tip is that when you are trying to figure out when to do something, consider the present.
Often, Now is as good as any other time, and when you do something now, you will go ahead and get it done.
Busy people often aim to schedule things as far into the future as possible, perhaps imagining that their future selves won't feel nearly as stretched as their present selves.
Next month you won't have a big presentation, looming or tree work that needs to be urgently scheduled, or a sick kid.
And that may be true.
But next month you may be covering for a colleague who is out on medical leave, or perhaps dealing with the flu yourself.
Your future self may have just as much on her plate as your present self does.
That's why I like to say, now is good whenever I can.
If your partner says he wants to compare calendars sometime to figure out when you can host his new colleague and her spouse for dinner, how about comparing calendars now?
Just take out your phones and find some possible dates for dinner.
If a colleague sticks her head in your office to ask if you could schedule time to talk through a question, you may be tempted to suggest a time in the future when you know you are free.
But she already has your attention, and you have already stopped what you are doing.
So see whether she could talk right then.
You could just answer her questions now.
Of course, if she isn't ready for this conversation, you'll need to schedule for another time.
But after this has happened a few times, she will probably get in the habit of asking for a meeting only after she is prepared for it.
And in some cases, in the process of preparing for a meeting, she'll answer her own questions.
If you run into your friend as you are both walking into the grocery store and she suggests getting together to catch up sometime, see whether she wants to chat right then.
You could shop together.
Or maybe your grocery store has a coffee shop where you could chat for 15 minutes before doing your shopping.
If you are not urgently racing to something else, this might actually be your best chance for a while.
After all, you are both there.
You're going to have to do a lot of work to make that happen again in the future.
I often say that when you are asked to take on a responsibility or schedule something for the future, ask yourself whether you would do it tomorrow.
Yes, you are booked up solid tomorrow, but you will be in the future too.
Would you be tempted to move things around or cancel things tomorrow in order to fit in this new opportunity?
If so, awesome.
But if you don't wanna say yes for tomorrow, you aren't really gonna wanna do it in the more distant future either.
The flip side of this truth is that if there is something you do want or need to do well, why not do it now?
You don't necessarily need to schedule for the future.
You probably have just as much time now as you ever will.
If it possibly fits now.
This has the benefit of not requiring an additional layer of scheduling work.
Your future self will be free to schedule her own time.
In the meantime, this is Laura.
Thanks for listening.
And here's to making the most of Thanks for listening to Before Breakfast.
If you've got questions, ideas, or feedback, you can reach me at laura at lauravandercam.com.
Before Breakfast is a production of iHeart Media.
For more podcasts from iHeart Media, please visit the iHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to your favorite shows.
Hey, listeners.
Today's tip is powered by National University.
Before breakfast.
You know my goal is to help you make the most of your day without sacrificing work or family time.
That's why I'm so happy to introduce an institution that shares the same values.
If you are thinking about going back to school, you're probably wondering how to fit it all in.
National's flexible online formats, four- and eight-week courses and monthly class starts help you begin your degree sooner, finish faster and do it all on your own schedule.
So you have more options for managing work, family, and school.
With over 150 degrees, credentials and certificates to choose from, they have a program that fits your career goals.
Learn more today at nu.edu.
Hey listeners, the biggest day in cleaning is here. eCloth Day, November 7th through 10th.
Get 30% off site-wide and experience a clean you can see with just water.
No sprays, no added chemicals, no refills, just results.
Each cloth lasts for years, saving you money long after the sale ends.
Don't miss out. eCloth Day is only available at e-cloth.com.
Are you ready to upgrade your cleaning?
Save now at e-cloth.com. eCloth.
Real cleaning.
This is an iHeart Podcast.
