One or more embodiments include scheduling a new operation to be periodically executed. A start time for a new operation, to be periodically executed, is determined based on the start times of previously scheduled operations. The difference in value between a candidate start time and a start time of a previously scheduled operation is used to compute a cost for the candidate start time. A candidate start time, of all the candidate start times, with a lowest cost may be selected as the start time for the new operation.