If your child is having a birthday party on Saturday, you could break down the preparation tasks over the previous several evenings so you're not racing around frantically at the last minute. If it's a theme party, pick the theme immediately.

If you have a paper due on the 15th, you might schedule an hour a day for a week or so before that, and brainstorm, at the beginning, what part of the work you're going to tackle each day. If you have to choose the topic, pick it NOW, not when you have to start working on it.

If you are hoping to go on job interviews but don't know when the opportunities will happen, choose your outfits (at least two or three), keep your hair clean, check out job search sites for how to make the best impression at interviews, and write down your objectives.

This technique has worked wonders for me in terms of productivity and stress reduction. I check the schedule several times a day to see what I've planned, what I might be behind on because of unexpected things like illness, etc. I no longer have to feel horribly overwhelmed because I don't have to decide, each day, what's most important to do.

In terms of mood, there are two benefits. First, using the schedule keeps me from adding to depression and anxiety by having to dither under pressure. Second, it helps me stay on track in spite of not having the greatest mood.

For example, yesterday I just felt - punk. Tired and lethargic and cross. I went back to bed for a nap just a few hours after getting up.

But - there was my schedule, telling me which article to write, including the topic. It wasn't an easy one to write. But just having it there was a spur. I didn't start writing till around 3:30, and I didn't enjoy it much - but it was done by 7:30 - and that felt great.

In my next SharePost I'll address the other part of scheduling: finances, home and health.