How can you create a daily schedule that works for your new job?

1 Set realistic goals

Before you plan your daily schedule, you need to have a clear idea of what you want to achieve and how you can measure your progress. Setting realistic and specific goals can help you focus on the most important and urgent tasks, and avoid getting distracted by less relevant or trivial ones. You can use the SMART framework to set your goals, which means they should be Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound. For example, instead of saying "I want to learn more about the company's products", you can say "I want to read one product manual and watch one training video by the end of the week".

2 Review your calendar

Another step to create a daily schedule that works for your new job is to review your calendar and identify the fixed and flexible events that you have to attend or complete. Fixed events are those that have a specific time and date, such as meetings, appointments, deadlines, or trainings. Flexible events are those that you can adjust or move around, such as emails, phone calls, research, or brainstorming. You should block out the time for the fixed events first, and then fill in the gaps with the flexible events. You can also use different colors or symbols to differentiate the types of events and make your calendar more organized and visual.

3 Prioritize your tasks

Once you have listed all the events and tasks that you have to do in a day, you need to prioritize them according to their importance and urgency. A useful tool to help you prioritize your tasks is the Eisenhower matrix, which divides them into four categories: do, decide, delegate, and delete. Do tasks are those that are both important and urgent, and you should do them first. Decide tasks are those that are important but not urgent, and you should schedule them for later. Delegate tasks are those that are urgent but not important, and you should assign them to someone else if possible. Delete tasks are those that are neither important nor urgent, and you should eliminate them from your list.

4 Allocate your time

After you have prioritized your tasks, you need to allocate your time for each of them. You should estimate how long it will take you to complete each task, and add some buffer time for unexpected delays or interruptions. You should also consider your energy levels and productivity patterns throughout the day, and match them with the difficulty and complexity of the tasks. For example, if you are more alert and focused in the morning, you should do the most challenging or creative tasks then, and leave the easier or routine tasks for the afternoon. You should also schedule some breaks between the tasks to recharge your mind and body, and avoid burnout.

5 Track and evaluate your performance

The final step to create a daily schedule that works for your new job is to track and evaluate your performance. You should monitor how well you follow your schedule, and how much you accomplish each day. You can use a simple checklist, a spreadsheet, or an app to record your tasks and their status. You should also review your schedule at the end of the day, and reflect on what went well and what didn't. You should celebrate your achievements, and learn from your mistakes. You should also identify any gaps, challenges, or opportunities for improvement, and adjust your schedule accordingly for the next day.