Eligible entries are scheduled using an approximated finish delay identified for an entry based on an associated speed group. One implementation maintains schedule entries, each respectively associated with a start time and a speed group. Each speed group is associated with an approximated finish delay. An approximated earliest finishing entry from the eligible schedule entries is determined that has an earliest approximated finish time, with the approximated finish time of an entry being determined based on the entry's start time and the approximated finish delay of the associated speed group. The scheduled action corresponding to the approximated earliest finishing entry is then typically performed. The action performed may, for example, correspond to the forwarding of one or more packets, an amount of processing associated with a process or thread, or any activity associated with an item.