How to Plan a Productive Week
(Without Sacrificing Flexibility)
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Planning out your week’s schedule can be challenging as an actor
Let's face it. As actors, our schedules can drastically change from week to week, and even day to day. Not only do we not have regular, repeatable weekly schedules, but we often have last minute opportunities or strikes of inspirations that arise that we need to accommodate.
Even if you do sit down and carefully plan out your week, something could come up to completely throw off your carefully constructed schedule.
You book a gig that start shooting in 48 hours.
You get a 10 page audition that's due by 9am tomorrow morning (or *gasp* you actually need to audition in person the next day!).
You're walking down the street and -BAM- the plot hole you've been struggling with in your screenplay suddenly resolves itself and you have to get it on paper right now.
So, why even bother with planning?
Well, here's the truth. We all love to get these last minute opportunities, but the reality is we can't plan for when they'll show up. If we don’t make any plan at all for the week, then our productivity will tank. When we have a nice chunk of time where we could be getting something done, but we haven't planned it out, we'll be half as productive because first we need to figure out what it is we want or need to to do.
On top of that, sometimes there are things we need to be working on that have a deadline (e.g. prepping sides for class). If we don’t make a clear plan to do this, we might find ourselves cramming on the subway ride to class (just me?).
In other words, we'll make slower progress towards our goals. And that's just frustrating, right?
How do you get the best of both worlds?
The answer: Flexible scheduling! (Maybe you’ve heard it called block scheduling before).
The idea is that you plan out your week, based on what you know is happening and what you’d like to get done. Then, if something comes up, you can just move your task blocks down the week to a different day. No big deal.
Ready to give it a try?
Step 1: Pull out or set up your weekly calendar
If you use a pre-made physical planner or digital calendar, this step is as easy as taking it out or pulling it up. Congratulations!
(Pst - looking for a physical planner designed just for actors life you? Check out My Acting Life: A Daily Planner here!)
If you're more of a bullet journaler type - set up your weekly spread so that we can fill it out.
Step 2: Fill in your scheduled events
Scheduled events happen at a predetermined, specific day & time. These might be your day job schedule, classes, commitments to meet friends, already scheduled gigs or auditions….you get the idea. Basically anything that is going to happen on a specific day, at a specific time. Fill it in.
(Tip: Don't forget about commuting time!)
Step 3: Make a list of everything else you want and/or need to get done this week
If you already have a running to-do list of some kind, fantastic! Make sure to focus in on the tasks that need to get done this week.
Step 4: Guestimate how long each task will take
Knowing how long something is going to take you to do is really important for efficient planning. But, it's also a skill that needs to be honed! Make your best guest to start, you'll get better at knowing how long things take you as you practice this habit.
Step 5: Pencil in your tasks in the free spaces between your other commitments
I use "pencil in" either literally or metaphorically depending on whether you track your schedule in a digital planner or physical planner. Either way, keep in mind that these tasks may move around depending on other commitments or inspirations. And that's ok!
Step 6: If an opportunity comes along, move your blocks to make room!
A last minute audition comes in? Fantastic! Just move around your schedule to accommodate. Put your new tasks in wherever it needs to go, and move any other tasks down to free blocks of time later in the week. It's perfectly ok to prioritize one task over another, as long as you do it intentionally!
And that’s it! I love flexible scheduling because it helps me stay motivated and moving towards my goals, while giving me the flexibility I need as an artist. I hope you love it too!
- Corrie
P.S. Need extra help and accountability with your goals? Book a 15min Chemistry Read chat with me here!
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Hey, I’m Corrie! I’m an actor, voiceover artist, and creative productivity coach. I love sharing what I know to help my fellow multi-passionate actors and creatives. If you’d like more content like this, subscribe to my email list below.
