I often think about the future and all it may hold. This is the time of the year that many people do just that -- reflect on their past and plan for their future. It may cause a bit of anxiety to know that any plan you have can easily be thwarted. Planning for the future is important, but obsessing over it can just cause unhappiness.

As someone who enjoys order, I find it very difficult to allow things to just happen. I relish planning my days, whether my meals, break times, friend time, etc. , so that nothing happens out of place or spontaneously. Some may believe it is a good trait, but it's quite the contrary. Planning excessively has led to worry in my everyday life. Keeping to my schedule is such a priority that I often neglect my relationships, be it with family or friends. Not to say scheduling is not of some importance, sometimes of great importance, but on the days I am very busy, scheduling keeps me from worrying that I won’t get everything done. Scheduling has also allowed me to understand my time management and the value of getting things done on time. For one thing, I know procrastination is definitely something I can't deal with!

While there are benefits to scheduling, excessive scheduling is something that holds far more negative than positive aspects. This type of scheduling, as said, often leads to anxiety to stay on track. I far rather get all my work done to stay on schedule than worry about being healthy, both mentally and physically. If something spontaneous occurs, I feel forced to return to my original schedule. Spontaneous action, whether good or bad belongs in the distractions category. When something unexpected comes up, I often rush spending time with friends, which in turn makes them feel unwanted. Of course, I can’t possibly tell them they just aren’t on my schedule. (In other words, if it’s not your set time, you can’t expect me to give you the time you need.) Naturally, it is easy to see why that might be a problem. Looking at an overly packed schedule can also cause anxiety. Frequently, I look at my schedule and worry if I will get everything done on time. Schedules allow more freedom in your day when you allocate time to finish what needs to be done, but excessive scheduling leads to restrictions and worrying whether everything will be done.

While I have learned to never procrastinate, I have trouble allowing what I can't control to happen naturally. Spontaneity is not welcomed in my perfectly scheduled day. However, I have learned that excessive scheduling leads to more worry than not having a schedule at all. There is great beauty in spontaneous events, which we must all strive to accept. Time management is important, but have you lost the ability to celebrate the unplanned blessings in your life?