Aligning Time with Energy: The Secret Behind My Post-Corporate Transformation
The transition to an intentional work routine has been a critical part of my rewire
In my previous structured environment, my days were dictated by back-to-back meetings, leaving little room for the deep, creative work that truly fuels progress.
For me, rewiring didn’t necessarily change the number of hours I dedicate to work each day, but the autonomy over my schedule has been a game-changer.
In my old life, a typical day might look like this:
7:30 - wake up, grab coffee
7:45 - 8:45 - read through emails, handle anything urgent, make a plan for the day
8:45 - 9:00 - daily standup with leadership team
9:00 - 12:00 - meetings
12:00 - 1:00 - lunch at my desk, check emails, slacks, texts, maybe squeeze in a call from one of my team members
1:00 - 5:00 - more meetings
5:00 - 6:00 - end-of-day emails, close out anything time sensitive
6:00 - 8:00 - break for dinner and gym
8:00 - 10:00 - sign back on, create deck for my presentation the next day
The challenge with this daily schedule was that my most thought-intensive work happened at the tail end of a day filled with conversations, problem-solving, and admin work.
I had very little fuel in the tank when I finally sat down to open my highest-value work product.
Post-rewire, a standard weekday looks like this:
7:30 - wake up, grab coffee
8:00 - 9:00 - take a walk outside, prepare for the day
9:00 - 12:00 - thinking work, writing, building
12:00-1:00 - lunch, maybe sitting outside
1:00 - 3:00 - facilitate workshops
3:00 - 4:00 - networking calls
4:00 - 5:00 - review content structure and plan future sessions with business partner
5:00 - 6:00 - update website, respond to emails
6:00 - 8:00 - dinner and gym
8:00 - 10:00 - review the day’s work and plan for the following day, relax
Mornings are now dedicated to thought-intensive, creative tasks, while afternoons have a cluster of administrative duties and meetings.
This intentional structuring aligns my peak energy times with my most demanding work, significantly enhancing my productivity and overall satisfaction.
I don’t necessarily work fewer hours, but the time I spend on work feels more productive and fulfilling and ultimately I accomplish more than I ever did in the ‘old world’.
Ready to build your own intentional schedule? Check out the ‘your ideal week’ builder here and get started on envisioning what your life and schedule will be like post-rewire.