The UK is preparing for another very hot week and, as always, we’re slightly divided.
Some people are excitedly planning BBQs, garden days and evenings outside, others are already working out which room in the house stays coolest, wondering if it’s acceptable to have an ice lolly before lunch and remembering that most of our homes were absolutely not designed for this.
Managing expectations.
But whichever side you’re on, there is something interesting that happens when our routine changes. Many of us still expect exactly the same from ourselves – the same productivity, the same energy levels and the same to-do list just in completely different circumstances.
And this isn’t just about hot weather.
We do this all the time.
When we’ve had a bad night’s sleep.
When work is particularly busy.
When family life gets complicated.
When we’re dealing with change.
When we simply have more going on than usual.
We forget to adjust.
We expect ourselves to keep performing at the same level regardless of what else is happening around us and the reality is that our capacity changes.
That doesn’t mean giving up, ignoring responsibilities or declaring the week a complete write-off because the sun has appeared, it means being realistic.
What do we need to do?
Sometimes the most useful thing you can do is look at your list and ask:
What actually needs to happen this week?
What would make the biggest difference?
What am I doing simply because I decided three weeks ago that it “should” be done?
Because here’s the thing about to-do lists…they don’t know what kind of week you’re having.
The list you wrote when you were organised, motivated and sitting comfortably with a cup of tea doesn’t automatically know that you slept badly, your energy is low or your brain has slightly melted in the heat.
You need to be flexible.
That’s where you come in.
You are allowed to review it, you are allowed to change the plan and you are allowed to move things around.
Being organised isn’t about forcing yourself to complete everything regardless. Good planning includes flexibility.
So, during a hot week (or any difficult week), try asking yourself:
“What is the sensible version of this plan?”
Maybe that means doing important jobs earlier in the day. Maybe it means postponing the non-essential things. Maybe it means accepting that some things can wait.
Plans can change.
Real life changes mean our plans need to (and can) change with it.
Sometimes looking after yourself isn’t about adding another thing to your list. Sometimes it’s about looking at what’s already there and deciding what really needs to stay.
