For me, scheduling is like that children’s game with the tile pieces that slide in the plastic tray and only one square is open. (Slide this day of teaching here, to add this rehearsal in there. Shift this event here, to take that gig there …)

And while nothing about it is all that difficult, something about moving an idea out of my head and into the world always takes more energy than I expect.

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Scheduling always brings out our personalities.

Do you say “yes” to everything and then slash and burn later. (Making you feel flaky and overwhelmed.)

Do you ignore most requests so you don’t have to decide? (Making you feel wishy-washy or rude.)

Do you decide things about your schedule but fail to tell anyone? (Keeping you in control, but others in the dark)

How do you react when things “come up?” Are you flexible or rigid? Excited or irritated? Do you leave room in your schedule for things to change?

(How about just making sure there’s time in your schedule to rest and recharge?)

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I have discovered that scheduling needs to be equal parts planning and improvisation. Yes, you have to pick a date, but you have to be willing to change it.

Allowing for two things to work in opposite directions (or toward opposite end results) simultaneously is what we call an antagonistic relationship. And while on the surface, this may seem crazy making, it is actually a way to find balance and control.

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Take singing for example.

We use the antagonism of certain muscle groups to our benefit all the time when we sing.

The muscles of the rib cage and the muscles of the abdomen work in opposition to better control and coordinate the release of the diaphragm, an ongoing tug of war takes place between the muscles that make the vocal folds longer and thinner and the muscles that make them shorter and thicker.

This opposition is natural and necessary.

When we train our voices, we work to build coordination between muscles that are designed to work in opposition. When we improvise, we balance our skills and knowledge against the unknown and our willingness to be surprised.

When we schedule, we need to fix dates in order for things to become real and, at the same time, be willing to adjust those dates when real life enters the picture and necessitates changes.

When we let these opposite ideas act simultaneously, we can find our balance.