The Benefits of a Resilient Schedule

A full calendar often gets mistaken for productivity. If every slot is filled, we assume we’re getting things done.

But a schedule without any breathing space is fragile.

Time management expert Laura Vanderkam talks about the idea of a resilient schedule, one that can absorb the unexpected without everything falling apart.

A simple strategy she shares is to leave open space on your calendar on Fridays.

Of course, not everyone works a traditional Monday to Friday, but the principle is the same: build in margin.

When something urgent crops up, you have somewhere to move things. You don’t have to work late, skip rest, or drop the ball. You adjust.

I prefer to have space in my calendar every day, usually towards the end of the day. But it has taken me a while to understand my ideal working pattern.

A resilient schedule isn’t a luxury, and it's certainly not about doing less work. It’s a practical way to protect your focus and your wellbeing.