Stop Pushing Aside Your Plans: How to Treat Your Personal Goals Like Non-Negotiable Meetings

Have you ever pushed aside a plan you made for yourself for something else — or for someone else?

I know I have. So many times. “I don’t have to do the workout right now, I can do it later.” “I don’t need to finish that photo album today, I’ll do it another day.” “The newsletter can wait, I’ll write it tomorrow.”

And then, before you know it, you’ve said yes to someone else’s request: a meeting, a favor, an event that sounded interesting enough. And your own plans get nudged further and further down the line.

Shifting priorities here and there might not seem like a big deal BUT constantly putting your own plans aside simply because they’re “flexible,” you might eventually feel frustrated or resentful. And even worse, those unfinished plans keep lingering in your mind, quietly draining mental energy because they’re always there in the background.

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The simple trick

Here’s a very simple, surprisingly powerful way to protect your own time: treat your commitments to yourself like meetings with someone else.

• Instead of keeping them in your mind: Put them in your calendar, your to-do list, or your weekly planner — whatever you normally use to keep track of appointments and meetings.

• Treat them as non-negotiable: Don't keep it vague instead schedule them on fixed days and times like they are a meeting (even if they are "just" with yourself).

• Approach them like a work meeting, a doctor’s appointment, or a date night — something you wouldn’t move around lightly.

  
  

When a new request pops up, you glance at your calendar and see: I’m already booked. That simple visual reminder helps you honor your own priorities and say no when needed — without guilt.

The key is not that these tasks are impossible to shift. Most things could technically be moved around. But some things matter to you. And by putting them in your calendar like a real commitment, you signal to yourself that your goals, aspirations, and personal time are worthy of that same attention and respect.

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Why this works (a little science!)

• Cognitive commitment: When you put a task on your calendar, your brain treats it like an obligation. Research shows that simply writing something down increases follow-through and reduces the likelihood of forgetting it.

• Externalizing mental load: By scheduling it, you free up mental space — your brain no longer has to hold onto “I should do this later.”

• Self-respect in action: Treating your own goals as important strengthens your sense of worth and reinforces that your time and intentions matter.

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Time to try

If you haven’t done the 100 Wishes exercise yet (see blog post here), here’s a perfect way to put this into practice: block out time in your calendar this week to do it. Treat it as a real commitment — a meeting with yourself that you can’t move.

Or maybe you got something else on your mind that you have been pushing aside for too long - schedule it in now.

Watch how honoring that small promise begins to shape how you will treat your own commitments in the future.

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Stolen From / Further Resources

I honestly can’t remember exactly where I first picked up the idea of scheduling my own goals and commitments like non-negotiable meetings. It’s probably a mix of various sources.

If you’re generally interested in organizing and planning your time more effectively, here are a few resources I love:

• Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity by David Allen — a classic method for organizing tasks and projects so your brain can focus on what really matters. You can order it here (affiliate link — I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you).

• Megan Sumrell — if you prefer courses and practical systems to overhaul your weekly planning and workflow, Megan provides amazing resources.

• Sarah Stewart 1:1 Coaching — if you’re self-employed and feel like personalized guidance would help y

  ou untangle your schedule and get accountability, Sarah is fantastic.

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I’d love to hear from you! Do you have any resources you love to add? Or how has treating your own commitments with more respect changed your life in any way? Share your experience or tips in the comments.