I’ve spent years teaching people to plan their days, protect their focus, and stop hiding behind busywork. Most days I live it.
But not always.
Here are four honest confessions.
I don’t always plan.
I’ve said it a thousand times: “Tell your time where to go instead of wondering where it went.” The end-of-day review is simple—look at what didn’t get done, decide if it still matters, and set tomorrow. Some nights I skip it. What keeps me from falling apart is that my few non-negotiables (reaching out to prospects, coaching clients, reading and learning) are so deeply ingrained they almost run on their own. Still, I should practice what I teach.
When I do plan, I don’t always stick to it.
I work in 25-minute blocks. That rhythm works for me. But when real flow shows up—and I’m not on a coaching call—I stay with it. Leaving the plan is okay when the work is still moving the needle.
Some days I watch more football than others.
I’m a Manchester City fan. When they’re playing, I’m watching. My wife and I also like a show at the end of the day. The difference is we treat those things as recovery after a full day’s work, not as an escape from it.
I still justify the easy work instead of the important work.
Email, texts, website tweaks—they feel productive. They’re often just comfortable. Naming that pattern is the first step to interrupting it.
You’re not the only one who knows what to do and still doesn’t always do it. The gap between knowing and doing is where most of us live. Grace meets us there—and then invites us to take the next honest step.
Which of these hits closest to home for you?
If one of them lands a little heavier than the others and you’d like help getting clearer on where your time and energy are really going, I’d be glad to talk.