Some feel great about the calendar filling up. Others start to shiver as soon as they get a glimpse of a schedule. Why we feel so differently about planning is understood through research on uncertainty, need for structure, personality, autonomy, and the brain’s perception of free time.
The psychology behind our planning preferences
People with high intolerance for uncertainty experience a lot of stress when the future is up in the air. Plans silences these worries, reduces rumination and makes day-to-day life more predictable. Studies during and after the pandemic show clear connections between high intolerance for uncertainty and more anxiety and depression. Fixed frameworks calm this particular group, while those who are the opposite feel smothered by it.
The next piece of the puzzle are our different needs for structure. Some are driven by order and rules while others thrive in flexible environments. Research shows that people with a high need for structure experience loss of control particularly threatening. A moved meeting or a cancelled plan is not only annoying, but actually disturbing. Therefore, the calendar provides security for these people, while it causes resentment in more flexible-minded people.
Personality traits also play a role. High levels of conscientiousness are associated with a sense of responsibility, orderliness and fixed routines. For such people, booked appointments feel like a support for their identity and values. For the more impulse-driven personality, the same is perceived as an unnecessary barrier.
How scheduling affects us
Biology and circadian rhythms further play into preferences. Studies show a connection between a morning rhythm and higher levels of goal-orientation. Many who wake up early often prefer routines and schedules, while many who are energized in the evening describe a need for flexibility. Autonomy is crucial. If you react strongly when someone else is in charge, then psychological reactance kicks in if the plans are viewed as imposed rather than self-chosen.
Then we have the paradox of planned leisure. When time off has a time slot in the calendar, enjoyment often decreases. Several studies suggest that as soon as something is given a start time, the brain starts to treat the activity as work. The feeling of compulsion increases, especially if the activity lacks flexibility. This explains why some shy away from a full weekend agenda, even consisting of fun activities.
That is why you should protect your time off. If you enjoy playing different games in your spare time, you shouldn’t schedule time for them in the same way as your work appointments. And when you play at Mr Vegas UK casino site, it’s best to be in the moment and enjoy yourself, so that your brain recognises it as leisure from the very beginning. No matter if you are someone who likes planning or not.
What to do next
The common misconception is that the spontaneous person is sloppy and that the planner is rigid, but there is more to it. Some people recharge with predictability and some have the preference of uncertainty. We don’t have to force one group over to the other side, just have knowledge about how the different groups function.
Those with an intolerance for uncertainty, a need for structure, usually a morning rhythm and an identity as organized often feel better with clear plans. Those who value autonomy have a lower need for structure, commonly an evening rhythm and experience that schedules steal pleasure and become stressed when the calendar is crowded.
What do you do in practice if you panic easily from a full calendar? There are few things to implement in your life. The first is to defend your autonomy. Create the rules yourself and reframe things to be on your own terms. Work with certainty directly and practice your tolerance through small doses. Let your spare time remain playful. Leave your weekends open instead of booking anything. Your enjoyment increases when the activity is voluntary and flexible.
For those who become stressed without a plan, other things will help you. Clear directions at the start of the week will help you feel in control. Prioritize a few key points and give them set times. Then structure meets both the need for control and personal purpose. But you also need some air in the system, which is why it’s important to leave gaps. Otherwise, your free time slips into work and energy drops.
In the end, when you match your schedule to your psychology, plans stop working against you and start working for you. So treat your calendar as a tool that should serve the way you’re wired. Know yourself, protect your autonomy, and let both structure and spontaneity take their turns.
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