Reference: a glossary of personal planning

Reference

This page explains, in plain language, the terms that come up in articles about planning. Some come from workplace habits, others have long been part of everyday speech, but their meaning isn't always obvious. The glossary is divided into three groups: planning itself, how a calendar works and personal boundaries. Each definition is short, and you'll find more detail on the pages listed at the bottom.

The word “buffer” sounds technical, but it means something very human: permission to run a little late without ruining your whole day.

— In the margin

Planning

Slots: Stretches of time in a schedule set aside for one task or a group of similar tasks. Each one has a start and an end, so the task stops being a vague wish.
Time blocking: A technique in which tasks aren't just written down as a list but laid out in blocks on the calendar. It helps you see in advance whether what you have in mind will fit into the day and the week.
Buffer: A free gap between blocks or an unassigned window during the day. It absorbs delays, travel, unexpected tasks and short breaks.
Priority: How important a task is compared with others. Priorities are often set by dividing tasks into urgent and important: urgent tasks need attention soon, while important ones affect what you truly value.
Deadline: The final date by which a task must be done. It helps to set yourself a working deadline a little earlier than the real one, so you have room for surprises.

Calendar

Recurring event: Something that happens regularly at the same time: a class, a weekly team meeting, taking out the trash. You enter it once, and it repeats on the calendar from then on.
Reminder: An alert or note that gives you advance warning of an event. Set it early enough to get ready, not just to remember.
Shared calendar: A schedule kept by several people at once, such as a whole family. It shows who's busy with what and makes it easier to coordinate rides, activities and evenings together.
Weekly review: A short check-in with your own calendar at the end of the week: what worked, what got moved, where your estimates parted ways with reality and what to adjust going forward.

Boundaries

Overload: When your week holds more tasks than you have energy and hours for. Signs include constant rescheduling, no breaks and a feeling that there's no time to rest. The best remedy is to drop some tasks, not to speed up.
Saying no without guilt: Calmly turning down a task that doesn't fit into your time. It isn't rude, it's honest: a yes that falls through later lets people down more.
Time for rest: A block on your schedule that belongs only to you: a walk, sleep, time with friends, doing nothing at all. You put it on the calendar in advance and protect it just like an important appointment.

Where these terms come in handy

Guides
A step-by-step article on building your week in time blocks, plus our article catalog.
Questions
Short answers for those just starting to plan, those whose plans keep falling apart and those looking for family time.
Sections
Guide topics: planning the day, the week and the month, family, rest and personal boundaries.
Collections
Reading paths: unhurried mornings, a week with kids, working from home.

Guides
A step-by-step article on building your week in time blocks, plus our article catalog.
Sections
Guide topics: planning the day, the week and the month, family, rest and personal boundaries.
Questions
Short answers for those just starting to plan, those whose plans keep falling apart and those looking for family time.

Sources

General personal planning techniques
Sleep and rest recommendations from specialists, in general terms

The information is current as of the date this page was prepared. Planning techniques are described in general terms: everyone has their own rhythm, responsibilities and energy, so take what works for you and feel free to leave the rest.