Fresh Start Monday #69: You need more structure, not discipline

Whether you're self-employed, do freelance work, have a side project, or run your own business, you probably do it for the freedom. I know I do. I want to be in charge of my time and do what I want, when I want.

I've been reflecting on my strengths and weaknesses related to my first full year of entrepreneurship. It's hard to admit that I need more structure.

I thought discipline was enough. It's not.

I've never identified a lack of structure as a problem because my discipline usually takes care of it. I can still write 68 weekly newsletters in a row without missing one. Or I can train for and run an ultramarathon. My thinking was if I got it done, then why does “how” matter?

As my business has grown and I added more to my plate, I find myself making hundreds of daily decisions on what to do, when to do it, and where to do it. Tasks and projects are not getting done.

For a while, I blamed it on my lack of discipline, but it's structure that I'm missing.

Intuitively, people like having options. We equate having choices with having control. Freedom is associated with choice. With more choice, we have more freedom.

I've always associated structure with being too rigid, too constricting. Like I'm in a straight jacket. But I'm discovering a freedom within structure.

An example:

I've always struggled to stick with a consistent social media presence or posting schedule. If I post something, I'll come up with an idea a day or two before. I'll write it. I'll edit it the morning of. And post. Then, disappear for three weeks or three months. Not a system I'm proud of.

Over the weekend, I decided that for every Tuesday in 2024, I would post a journal prompt. I then planned out journal prompts every Tuesday for the next six months.

Three things I realized from doing this:

It didn't take that long. Since I had one focus, one journal prompt led to another. They built on each other, and I could easily space them out.
I started to notice patterns. Once I had them in front of me, I was struck by the topics I gravitated toward. By scheduling in advance, I could be more strategic with my content and more focused on what I want to be known for.
I still had freedom. I didn't have to commit to any one journal prompt. I can always change the prompt if I feel inspired in a certain week.

I don’t think that scheduling is uncreative. I think that structure is required for creativity. – Twyla Tharp

If you feel like you're playing catch-up or winging everything, consider whether you have enough structure.

A lack of structure can make you feel unmotivated and distracted. Flexibility is important, but structure is necessary for creating a sense of stability and balance in your life. When the details are taken care of, creativity and growth can flourish.

Here's what I've learned:

Reflect on where in your life you tend to be messy. Where could you use more structure? Think about what decisions you make daily and weekly that could be automated with structure. I recommend picking one small thing that, if done regularly, will make your life easier.
Contemplate and write out a structure. Make it obvious when and where to take action. Make it simple.
Create themes for your day or mornings/afternoons/evenings. If you're most creative in the mornings, batch all creative tasks in the mornings. Or one specific day of the week could be reserved for admin tasks.

A quick example is that I have a winter goal of running 30 miles a week. I used to spend 15 minutes picking a route before every run on Strava. I now have a short list of routes to choose from with specific distances. I blocked out 4 - 6pm as my weekday running window.

Bonus tip!

Allow for more flexibility as the day goes on. Each day will undoubtedly throw things at you. Plan for it.

It's similar to airplanes. Flights much more likely to be delayed later in the day. Once one flight arrives late, it's hard to get back on schedule.

If you have meetings back to back all day, create some breathing room. Otherwise, one interruption will leave you scrambling for the rest of your day. And your time blocks should be flexible. Depending on the day, I can run anytime in that 4 - 6pm window.

Experiment with implementing structure this week, and let me know how it goes!