Spontaneous planning for those who hate time management

What to do when attempts to train yourself in planning have failed? What to do if living by a schedule creates a feeling of monotony and boredom? Is there an antidote to the reluctance to complete assigned tasks?

If you, like me, give up planning after a few days, then we have something to talk about 🙂

The thing is, certain types of people are not suited to time management systems based on goal setting, planning, and prioritization.

The advice of Gleb Arkhangelsky, Alexander Gorbachev, or David Allen (author of GTD) goes against the inner nature of these people. They need a different system!

• Without a step-by-step plan;
• Without priority tasks that need to be done first;
• Without deadlines and specific dates;
• And finally, a system without goals!

Intriguing?

Then read on, and you will get an unusual time management system: effective, proven, and guaranteed to work. A system for those who hate planning.

“Absolutely Real Facts”

Once, during another friendly kitchen conversation, the outstanding psychologist and coach Oleg Matveev shared the secret of his mega-productivity. I was shocked!

Oleg talked about a method that increased his productivity fivefold! Can you imagine for a second what would happen if your productivity increased fivefold? Whatever it is at the moment.

But that’s not what surprised me. What surprised me was the very approach to time management. I’ve read books on time management, but I’ve never seen anything like this. What Oleg talked about was so simple and unusual that it couldn’t help but fill me with admiration.

By the way, you don’t need to know Oleg personally to see the results of his vigorous activity. He manages to regularly conduct trainings, record new podcasts, make an incredible number of blog posts, work on people’s problems, strengthen his knowledge of English, read books, upload new videos, watch movies in English, manage multiple websites, and communicate on his forum.

Many people wonder: “When does he have time for all this? How does he manage to be so productive in several areas at once?” The answer is close. But first…

Interesting fact: About eight years ago, Oleg Matveev considered himself a rather lazy person. Deep down, he knew he wasn’t realizing his potential 100% and could accomplish much more… if not for laziness!

This continued until he started applying the system you will soon learn about (with his permission). But first, I want to highlight important information that will help you determine whether this method is right for you or not.

“Time Management is Not for Everyone”

In any book on time management, the image of a successful and productive person runs like a red thread. It’s a disciplined professional who controls their time and achieves their goals by the set deadline. They are punctual, keep a diary, and use planning software.

But is this image suitable for everyone without exception? Of course not! Despite the abundance of recommendations on how to become such a person, more than half of the world’s population is simply incapable of realizing this dream.

Those who are born to swim are taught by time management books to run on land!

It seems that setting goals, making plans, prioritizing, delegating, managing risks, and controlling deadlines is almost the only correct approach for anyone who wants to be successful.

Let’s figure out who planning, time management, and the GTD system are truly suitable for, and who needs a completely different approach.

“Two Categories of People”

In psychology, socionics, physiognomy, esotericism, astrology, and numerology, there are a great many types and subtypes of people. But they all fall into two large categories: rationals and irrationals.

The first type consists of people who are consistent, systematic, balanced, organized, and thoughtful. The second type consists of people who are spontaneous, impulsive, improvisational, and flexible in non-standard situations.

Almost all modern time management systems are ideally suited only for rationals. But for irrationals, these methods are unnatural. When an irrational tries to train themselves in planning, they swim against the current and act against their inner nature. They break themselves.

With every irrational who forces themselves to work on a schedule, the following happens: they burn out! That is, a moment comes when living by a schedule becomes unbearable: there is no motivation, and the very thought of work becomes disgusting.

By the way, the greatest discomfort for irrationals is working in large companies and corporations, where an atmosphere of managerial bureaucracy reigns with its rational demands: reports, deadlines, plans, schedules, etc. None of this is for them.

The ideal option for irrationals is working for themselves, or working in a relaxed, creative atmosphere where there are no rigid requirements.

“Rationals vs Irrationals”

It’s impossible to say which type is better. Each has its own pros and cons. Nevertheless, rationals are often held up as an example, while irrationals are undeservedly criticized and considered fickle and flighty people.

Books on socionics say that irrationals are people who take on many tasks and don’t finish them. This happens because no one has told irrationals about the great potential that lies within them and how to use it.

This is unfair. After all, the world is full of information on how rationals can unlock their potential, but there are very few recommendations for unlocking the potential of irrationals. And these recommendations are little-known.

Interesting fact: the ratio of rationals to irrationals on planet Earth is approximately 49% to 51%.

Do you already know which type you belong to? If not, the information below will help you figure it out.

SIGNS OF RATIONALS:

• They love to create a clear plan and strictly follow it to achieve their goal. They have one global goal and several sub-goals;
• Their efficiency and task completion depend little on their mood. Rationals get down to work even if their emotional state is not conducive to it;
• Rationals always have several ways to achieve a goal in their arsenal. If one doesn’t work, they try another;
• They are calm about monotonous work;
• Rationals feel comfortable when there is certainty and control over the situation;
• Rationals get annoyed by unforeseen circumstances that force them to redo the entire plan. Prolonged uncertainties lead to severe stress if they cannot take control of the situation for a long time;
• They love order. They feel comfortable when things are in their place;
• They study new material by reading a book sequentially: from beginning to end;
• In the morning, they plan what they will eat for dinner. On Wednesday, they plan what time they will go grocery shopping at the supermarket on the weekend.

 
Rationals can be compared to train drivers. They plan the route, time, and duration of stops at intermediate stations. They arrive at their destination to the minute and really dislike unexpected train delays.

The great potential of rationals: to become big professionals in one chosen field. They are potential gurus in their craft. They act thoughtfully and complete what they have planned on time. They are valued for the quality of their work, punctuality, and speed.

Successful rationals are the very image that irrationals passionately but unsuccessfully strive for. They strive because they do not know about their own potential and how to realize it.

So, it’s time to identify the basic traits of irrationals and find out what their potential is.

TRAITS OF IRRATIONALS:

• They have a whole arsenal of diverse goals. They strive to succeed in very different areas;
• When they fail to achieve one goal, irrationals switch to another. Unlike rationals, who change not the goal but the way to achieve it.
• Efficiency strongly depends on mood. If an irrational is in a bad mood, they will avoid planned work, putting it off “for later”;
• Monotony and repetition depress them. They like to do work in the form of a game. They often look for new approaches to doing the same work;
• They are spontaneous and unpredictable. In unforeseen circumstances, they act quickly, flexibly, and effectively. Lack of control over the situation does not bother them;
• They don’t like tidying up. They don’t care whether things are in their place or not. The term “creative mess” was invented by irrationals;
• They always fail when trying to apply the recommendations of generally accepted time management systems;
• Motivation drops if they have to study new material by reading a book in strict sequence. They often want to skip ahead and move on to more interesting chapters;
• Irrationals find it difficult to answer questions like: “What will you eat for dinner?”, “How long will you be visiting?”, “How much time do you need to do this job?”;
• When telling about something, they often get distracted by unrelated topics, then return to the main topic, then get distracted again.

 
Irrationals are like drivers who can deviate from their planned route at any moment and take a different road. For example, if a traffic jam looms ahead, they quickly turn off and go around it. If a relative suddenly calls about an urgent matter, they turn around and head in the opposite direction.

It’s much harder for train drivers to react quickly to unforeseen situations than it is for car drivers. However, they reach their destination more often than drivers who constantly change direction.

The great potential of irrationals. Successful irrationals are rare. But when they do appear, they deeply surprise those around them. These are people who manage to learn several languages, run three businesses, engage in two sports, spend time with family, attend new seminars, travel, connect with new people, visit a wide variety of places in a single day, study several very different fields of activity, and so on.

In other words, they are successful in very different areas and create the impression of people who somehow manage to do a hundred things at once.

Oleg Matveev is a vivid example of an irrational who once found the key to his spontaneous personality type. By the way, that period in his life when he considered himself lazy relates to a time of ineffective attempts to apply generally accepted rational approaches to achieving goals and success.

So, if you’ve determined that you are an irrational, then the following information will delight and greatly inspire you. Upon learning about spontaneous planning, irrationals feel an inner uplift because this system resonates with their inner nature.

But if you are a rational, don’t put off reading this. Perhaps one day you’ll be able to provide invaluable help to an irrational acquaintance who, gritting their teeth, is trying to instill planning in themselves 🙂

“Turning the weaknesses of irrationals into a powerful engine of progress”

Well, it’s time to learn about the secret weapon of irrationals. Why do I say “secret”? Because it can’t be found through logic, as it’s hidden in those aspects of personality that society commonly calls weaknesses and flaws.

The paradox is that all the flaws that irrationals struggle so hard against hold enormous potential, capable of turning their lives upside down. When used correctly, of course.

So let’s figure out right now what these flaws are and how to use them.

“FLAW #1: Irrationals don’t finish what they start and grab onto another task”

As we remember, irrationals have a whole array of the most diverse goals in their arsenal. They simultaneously want to learn to play the guitar, create their own website, write a book, perform on stage, appear in a movie, become a scientist, travel around the globe, take up design, and so on.

From this long list of desires, irrationals choose one goal and get inspired by it, overflowing with enthusiasm to the brim. After some time, they move to action and strive to get good results quickly.

A new activity, like a breath of fresh air, fills their life with meaning and brings variety. At first, things go well, but soon the first difficulty inevitably arises. They overcome it, and then they encounter another obstacle.

And so, after some time, the activity begins to grow stale. They realize that success is not as close as they had hoped. They understand that achieving good results is based on long and persistent work, which no longer offers variety. The new territory has been explored, interest has dried up, and all that’s left is to just grind away.

Finally, another difficulty completely extinguishes their enthusiasm. Irrationals temporarily stop working toward their goal, promising themselves they will definitely come back to it later. But, as a rule, that “later” never comes, because they find another activity and dive headfirst into it.

The first mistake of irrationals: they strive for one goal, isolating themselves from other goals. For example, while learning Adobe Photoshop, they simultaneously want to master a music creation program, but they suppress this desire.

They reason like this: “I can’t allow myself to study several programs at once. First I’ll master one, and only then move on to another. Otherwise I’ll get confused, and my learning will be ineffective.”

The solution to the problem. Any normal irrational will jump for joy at this solution, anticipating the incredible opportunities that have just opened up. Here it is:

ALLOW YOURSELF TO MOVE IN SEVERAL DIRECTIONS AT ONCE!

Dear irrationals, you were simply made for this, damn it! Forget what others say! Forget the rules of reasonableness that force you to move sequentially: first one thing, then another. This rule is not for you.

You were made to be multitaskers. So be them! Study English, Spanish, and French at the same time. Simultaneously build your website and write a new book. At the same time, learn Photoshop, Cubase, 3D Max, Adobe Illustrator, Corel Draw, Sony Vegas, After Effects, Flash, Dreamweaver, and program in ten programming languages at once!

Monotony and single-tasking kill you, understand! Right now, think and list three or four goals you would like to achieve. And now tell yourself: “I can do all of this at once!” Imagined it? Well, how do you like that prospect? 🙂

“DRAWBACK #2: Monotony and repetitive work kill motivation”

Irrationals truly dislike monotony. That’s why they tend to abandon promising projects, switching to something more interesting.

As you remember, irrationals tend to seek new approaches to work. They are driven by a desire for variety, because variety maintains interest and is a source of their motivation. The thirst for novelty is in their blood.

The only trouble is that in any work, monotony eventually sets in. And here lies…

The second mistake of irrationals: in the pursuit of results, they completely ignore their natural need for new impressions. A similar mindset is at play here: “Yes, I want to do something else right now. But I shouldn’t spread myself thin if I want to succeed. I must continue what I’ve started!”

This mindset backfires. Irrationals force themselves to keep going when they feel their interest waning. Instead of replenishing themselves with new impressions by temporarily switching to another area, they keep acting, killing their motivation.

The solution to the problem: variety! This solution complements the call to be multitasking and answers the question: “How can I achieve several goals at once?”

To avoid monotony and see things through to completion, spontaneously switch from one type of activity to another many times throughout the day.

Play guitar for a few hours, then spend an hour writing a book, answer emails in fifteen minutes, read a business book for half an hour, then work on a client project, and finally study English.

A week in this rhythm will pleasantly surprise you with the results. After two weeks, you’ll say, “And I did all this?” After a month, you’ll be stunned! And after six months, those around you won’t believe such a thing is even possible.

Oleg Matveev, after a month of working in a spontaneous rhythm, looked back, assessed the amount of work done, and said to himself with admiration: “Without a doubt, this month was the most productive month of my entire life!”

“DRAWBACK #3: Productivity by Mood”

The work capacity of irrationals heavily depends on their mood. That’s a fact. Try to make an irrational work inspired and diligently when they’re not in the mood, and they’ll erect a monument to you while you’re still alive!

It is precisely this “drawback” that completely nullifies any attempt to live by a schedule. Today, an irrational plans that tomorrow at 2 PM they will work on a presentation for management. But tomorrow, unexpectedly, they suddenly realize they have absolutely no desire to do that work.

And they simply cannot foresee such a turn of events!

The reason is that the mood of irrationals changes in the most unpredictable way. I’m not talking about emotional state right now. I mean the mood for different types of activities. Right now they want one thing, in an hour another, in two hours they don’t even know what they want 🙂

That’s precisely why a big mistake for irrationals is planning tasks that need to be done tomorrow, the day after, and the day after that.

You can’t plan tasks A, B, and C for Tuesday, and D, E, and F for Wednesday. Because you can’t know if on Tuesday you’ll feel like doing A, B, and C, and not, say, just E and F. It’s impossible to predict in advance. So just stop doing it. Once and for all!

Secret solution: if an irrational doesn’t feel like doing something, it automatically means they feel like doing something else! But the irrational doesn’t know what they want. So keep a list of all sorts of tasks from different areas that you want to do, and regularly review it.

“End of Part One”

Well, dear friends. This concludes the first part of the article. In it, we discussed the basics of spontaneous planning, laying a solid foundation for the second part.

Honestly, I didn’t expect the text to turn out exactly the way it did. The article plan was somewhat different. The idea was that after describing the differences between rationals and irrationals, specific practical steps would follow. But my irrational nature took over and led my thoughts in an unexpected direction 🙂

As soon as I described the differences, I had to surrender to the wave that carried my thoughts toward listing drawbacks with solutions for them.

As a result, I had to accept splitting the article into two parts. Oh well… it’s always like this! I can’t help it. I hope I haven’t tired you out too much with the long text?

By the way, the best part had to be saved for the second installment. As tradition dictates, it will be practical. In it, you will learn how to live without goals and how to spend your work time in a spontaneous rhythm, while remaining in an endless flow of inspiring variety, without spreading yourself thin.

“Summary”

Finally, let’s sum things up to reinforce the material we’ve covered.

• Commonly accepted time management systems are completely unsuitable for irrationals;
• The great potential of irrationals is to be successful in several very different areas;
• Irrationals should allow themselves to move unsystematically in several directions at once. This is the foundation of their success;
• The variety that irrationals so desire is achieved by spontaneously switching between different types of activities throughout the day;
• Keep a list of the areas in which you wish to achieve success, regularly look at it, and choose the direction that your heart is drawn to right now;

 
That’s all for now. See you in the next part! Bye-bye.

“If you share this text somewhere online, please credit the author. Thank you!”
Sincerely, Ivan Pirog

P.S.: Read the continuation of the article The Formula for Success: Spontaneous Planning and Living in the Flow.