Can you live according to a time table?

India
August 22, 2008 4:49am CST
I can't!! But, I have tried. When I was a kid, my Mom drew up a time table for me. She fondly hoped I would be less "good for nothing" if she did that. Well, I followed that time table for just seven days before I turned to my original lawless state. When I was in my teens, I was suddenly gripped with a desire to be more "productive." Some silly self-help book had put the idea in my head. So, I created a time table. I fixed the time I would get up and the chores I would complete per day and I even set deadlines and time slots for myself. I followed my "time table" perfectly for two days and then developed a fever. The time table, of course, had to be forgotten, and I lay on bed, feeling sorry for myself, for about four days. I did not dare think of a time table again. I gave it a last try recently. No luck! It just did not work. I guess I am like the birds of the sky and the lilies of the field. They toil not, neither do they spin; but the good God takes care of them. I just love taking life as it comes. Why bother about things like productivity and god knows what? What about you? Have you ever tried setting a time table? A schedule or whatever you wish to call it? Has it worked? Has it made you better than what you are now? :) Cheers and happy mylotting
6 people like this
26 responses
• United States
22 Aug 08
Hahahahahahahahahahaha..... I could not follow a time table if my life depended on it!! I can't even begin to tell you how many times I have tried: 8AM Get up, brush teeth 8:15 Get dressed 8:30AM Eat breakfast 9AM Wash breakfast dishes 9:15 Take dog for walk 9:30 Vacuum house 9:45 Write 12:45 Have lunch But here's an example of how it always worked out: 8AM Stay in bed because I was up so late last night 10AM Get up, make tea to wash sleep film out of mouth 10:30 Take dog for his walk since he is ready to pee on the floor 11:45 Skip vacuuming because the visit with the friend I ran into while walking the dog took up too much time. Have breakfast instead. 12:30 Write shopping list since I can't think of anything else to write about 12:45 Talk on the phone for 2 hours to a friend 2:45 Write, ok well, maybe just revamp my time table since this one isn't working No, me and time tables do not work well together. Talk about taking all the spontaneity out of life!!!
2 people like this
• India
25 Aug 08
This is the BEST time table I have ever come across all my life. I have to literally drag myself out of bed these days because of that dog of mine. She just pees on the floor if I don't. Cheers and thanks for the wonderful response.
• Singapore
22 Aug 08
Well, I think most of us have adhered to a timetable at one time or another in our lives. I am no different. I think timetables are really about freedom. With a timetable, you have to stick to it if you want to be productive (assuming it is a well drawn out schedule). This limits freedom and is not everyone's cup of tea. I certainly don't like it. Nowadays, I have lotsa freedom doing nothing (lol). When I need to do things, I try to set goals which are like milestones in a timetable. I don't use timetables nevertheless like I don't want to do task x from time a to b and task y from time c to d, etc. I really say I want to finish these 3 days by 5pm. That gives me flexibility and does not totally take away my freedom. Cheers!
1 person likes this
• Singapore
25 Aug 08
Geez, thanks for the best response!
• India
25 Aug 08
That's a great response. :) Thanks!!
1 person likes this
@subha12 (18441)
• India
25 Aug 08
I am a person who like to follow time table very much. i do not explicitly make time table. but there must be some time table within me. i try to stick to it. I find it more disciplined way of life
1 person likes this
• India
25 Aug 08
Hahhahaha ... you are the second person in this thread to say that. :) Thanks for the response. :)
@applefreak (3130)
• Singapore
25 Aug 08
i certainly can't too, no matter how hard i try. i only wake up at a fixed time on working days so that i won't be late for work. other days i'll just sleep until i wake up naturally. i don't set a time table as i know i can never adhere to it. i like to do things when i feel like it, not when i have to do it. i'll list down all the things that i've got to do within a day but with no particular sequence. it's certainly more productive this way as i am doing it with all my heart instead of thinking about something else. cheers ;p
• India
25 Aug 08
That's the real way to live. :)
@SHAMRACK (8576)
• India
23 Aug 08
Dear friend, I too had followed time table when I was kid especially few days before the exams and this time table for me too is made by my mom. But mostly I managed to manage it. I also attented a spiritual training from our school were we have to follow a strict time table and if not we were even given seviour punishments. I was there for about 3 months training and after completion of that I never continued the time table. I hope to follow time table would be more better and it may give more sythematic life and also takes care of health too.
• India
25 Aug 08
You are right, thanks for the response, shamrack!! :)
• India
23 Aug 08
Surely I can not live according to a time table.
• India
25 Aug 08
All intelligent people can't live according to a time table, Raja!! Thanks for the response. :)
• India
23 Aug 08
Timetables? Well at least for me and many many mothers like me worldwide they are of course following a timetable unconsciously every singe day of their life. Get up at a certain time in the morning, prepare your kids for school, get food on the table, do chores, outside work, office (if there is) and so much to be done with clockwork precision each day round the year…a miss of a few seconds can be more catastrophic than a rocket launch gone wrong But I do understand what exactly you are trying to say. I too am not a time-table person if I can help it. Weekends or holidays I just want to laze around and do what I feel like and when I feel like. And yes, things just fall in place even if you don’t push them around all the time…rather the harder to push yourself the more you put yourself in a viscious cycle of stress, strain and sickness.
1 person likes this
• India
25 Aug 08
Yup, I understand what you are saying. It was the same for my poor Mom when we were kids. Oh, how I hated that life!! :) Cheers and happy mylotting
@maddysmommy (16230)
• United States
22 Aug 08
The only timetable I have revolves around my son. When he's at school I have no timetable and just do what needs to be done. If I get it done on that day that's good, if not then I leave it until I can do it. Everyday is different for me and even though I do use a calendar to mark important dates and appointments, I don't live by a timetable except for the times I have to be at places.
1 person likes this
• India
25 Aug 08
That's good! You have a timetable that revolves round your son. Cheers and thanks for your response. :)
@carolscash (9492)
• United States
22 Aug 08
I really try my best to set a fairly rigid scheduole to my day because of all the things that I have going on. However, when you set a schedule it must be flexible. You can't predict what will happen in a day and so you have to plan for those things as well. I know that not everyone could keep my schedule but I have to have some idea as to how things will go in a day.
• India
25 Aug 08
Thanks for the response, my friend!
@cudamani (996)
• India
22 Aug 08
No I did not try too. But it is a good idea following a time table for the whole of a year than for the whole of a day. My suggestion is that one should aset a time table that would realise ones wishes and ambitions for the whole of the year. Will that work out?
• India
25 Aug 08
I dunno, it will work out if you stick to it, I guess, but not if you are like me. LOL
@xcellen (204)
• Indonesia
22 Aug 08
I live like the water flow.. unplanned and uh somewhat messy.. :D, once I try to create time table for myself.. but it doesn't seem to work, not even from day one, sigh is this somehow show that I dont have a strong will, or is just because I prefer to live as is.. hmm
1 person likes this
• India
25 Aug 08
LOL ... that is life. I think things like "strong will" are a product of civilization. :) To be natural, you don't need strong will. Cheers and happy mylotting
@shekher (271)
• India
22 Aug 08
hello frnd , i always like to have a time table nd go thru it nd actually many times i made it on my diary nd thought to stick with this bt neverthless i cant do it for more than 15 days or so.have u any idea to how to stick with time table please tell me
• India
25 Aug 08
Mmm nopes, but you could ask bhubhaneshwar (a few posts after yours). He is the only one on this thread who successfully follows a time table. :) Cheers and thanks for your response.
@ewd024 (53)
• Singapore
22 Aug 08
i am the steward of myself and the master of fate. yet, i dont set rules and expectations for my very own -- just come what may, work my best and pray for the rest ;-)besides, i love adventure and surprises,. and i would definitely take risks... so whats the need for a framework that wont actually define me or my future at all?
• India
25 Aug 08
You are absolutely right! Thanks for the response.
@p3y5566 (171)
• Malaysia
22 Aug 08
Hi, nice to meet you here. I don't think that i can live according to a time table. Luckily, since when i was small, my mum never set a table for me. However,i also never set a time table for myself. I don't think it is a meaningful life if everyday just live according to a time table. Thats is terrible! So meaningless. Have a nice day and happy my lotting!
1 person likes this
• India
25 Aug 08
Agreed, my friend! Thanks for your response. :)
• India
22 Aug 08
Like you i also tried,but failed to follow any time table.I think for a proper success in our life it good a follow a times table.
1 person likes this
• India
25 Aug 08
:( Looks like I will never be successful then. I simply can't follow a time table. :)
@lyzabelle (1668)
• Philippines
22 Aug 08
I can't live my life according to a time table. I had a hard time following rules and list and guidelines. I managed my own activities with out following a time table. I don't wanna be pressured because of my own doing.
• India
25 Aug 08
You are right! Time tables can be stressful! :)
@sumiirajj (1983)
• India
22 Aug 08
Never I can never live a life according to a timetable.YOU would hate life very soon.Its very difficult living according to a timetable.Military people can live ,coz they are accustomed to such surroundings and some boarding schools also teach children to live according to a time table.such children grow up without any sense of humour and have a very serious attitude always.Thats not good for our mental state also.oho,dont ever think of living according to a timetable..happy mylotting.
• India
25 Aug 08
You are absolutely right. Besides, time tables are absolutely against nature. :) Cheers and happy mylotting
@jnk3dfx (721)
• India
22 Aug 08
No way, even I tried so many times to follow time table. Every time I will decide tomorrow onwards i will follow the time table, i will break it very next morning, by wakening up late :( too sad, I put up some weight because of being Lazy now a days. I really need to work on my laziness or else it will be too late and people will start calling me Fatty... Anyways .... Happy weekend PositiveMinded, Enjoy your Weekend. Bye.
1 person likes this
• India
25 Aug 08
LOL you can always tell them that the shape "round" is nature's favorite. I remember writing a poem on that theme once. :)
@vidhyavini (6111)
• India
22 Aug 08
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO.. I don't even follow the college timetable and will bunk all the classes. How will I set timetable for myself??? I can't imagine to wake up by 6 or 7 during holidays. The first step itself I will fail. I am sure about that. Then why to start that and feel sorry. Hehe..
1 person likes this
• India
25 Aug 08
You remind me of myself in college. :) Thanks for the response.
22 Aug 08
I have always been one to try and plan ahead with timetables and allocated timeslots for different things... but nothing ever goes to plan. Something will always crop up that will force you to change your plans. For example, when I was revising for my exams at school, I was encouraged to organise a revision timetable to ensure that I would revise each subject equally throughout the week... they said that if you kept your schedule the same each week it would be easier for you to stick to it. Well, as soon as I got home from school I would sit down with my books for about an hour and then I'd realise there was something on TV that I wanted to watch and that would be it... I'd sit watching TV practically all night and not get any revision done. Didn't really bother me though, still did well in exams. I think timetabling only really works for people who aren't easily distracted :)
1 person likes this
• India
25 Aug 08
LOL ... the exam time tables were the worst. :) Cheers and thanks for the response.