Disorganized energy makes you a crazy zealot, while planning without energy makes you a dreamer.
Taking fifteen minutes to plan the day saves an incredible amount of time and effort throughout the day. It seems like a waste when you’re writing down the things you need to do, however, you have a plan and you know what you need to do in each block of time throughout the day.
Speaking of the structure of the day, I don’t like the rigidity of a schedule, but it is the most effective way to get stuff done.
To preserve flexibility and freedom for creativity, I typically block out certain chunks of the day that are “sprints” and leave the remainder free.
5:30am-7am free and clear.
7am-11am structured work.
11am-1pm free and clear.
1pm-6pm structured work.
6pm-8pm free and clear.
8pm-10pm structured work.
10pm-12am free and clear.
A balance of freedom and absolutely nothing that I need to do with more strict sprint periods seems to work pretty well for me (and be sustainable, to boot!)
So I don’t waste time planning. I plan, so that I don’t waste time.