Success and happiness are the two most common things people go after.

It’s one thing to be successful and another to be happy. Only a few people gain the wisdom and knowledge to pursue both.

So I’m on a quest to find a way to combine the habits of successful and happy people.

When I read the habits of successful people, I’m always impressed by how organized their day looks like.

But what about the habits of happy people who tend to live long? Do you think they live with a rigid schedule too?

As you may have guessed, the answer is no in most cases.

That’s when I realized…

The way you approach your day says a lot about how successful or happy you will become.

Some people chase success while others chase happiness more.

But if you’re like me, you want to experience both. 😉

And now, you’re thinking…

Is it possible to get the best of both worlds?

Can you design your day in a way that makes you successful without feeling too stressed or anxious?

So I analyzed both approaches for understanding the pros and cons better.

Pros Of “Scheduling Hours” Approach 👍

1. More productivity

Productivity is of utmost importance for ambitious people. And if you block your calendar or follow routines and rituals, you’re most likely to get things done.

Related: Life Designer’s Toolkit — Top Productivity Tools

2. More certainty in life

When you plan ahead, you live an intentional life because most of the events in your life are certain.

3. More disciplined approach

You don’t rely on willpower or motivation to do things because you do them when the time comes. More discipline now leads to freedom in the future.

As Jocko Willink says, “Discipline equals freedom”.

Cons Of “Scheduling Hours” Approach 👎

1. More stressful or anxiety-provoking approach

Tracking time and keeping up with the schedule may give rise to more stress and anxiety if things don’t go as planned.

2. Less spontaneity or novelty

When you live a pre-planned life, there is less space for experiencing novelty which is great for creativity and intelligence.

3. Less savory of moments

Being occupied may keep you from savoring the beauty of the present moment. It may also make you obsessed with utilizing every waking hour.

Pros of “Going With The Flow” Approach 👍

1. More flexibility

You become spontaneous and flexible to whatever life may offer you. You don’t sweat the small stuff and adapt well to the circumstances.

2. Less stress or anxiety

You don’t keep checking your watch every few minutes. You don’t let the time steal your calm.

3. More happiness in the present

Time affluence is a concept in positive psychology which is the feeling you get when you feel you have an abundance of time. This feeling makes you happy, and it lets you enjoy the present.

Cons of “Going With The Flow” Approach 👎

1. Less control over life

You may become the victim of how your day unfolds as you lose control over the events in your life.

2. More distractions

When you go with the flow, it’s easy to procrastinate or get distracted because you don’t have hyper-focused time blocks.

3. More uncertainty in life

Life may become chaos and you may not be reliable to dictate your future.