Playing Catch-Up
You sit down to work. Messages. Meetings. Fire drills. Updates.
You respond, fix, follow up, and repeat. At the end of the day, you’re drained—and unsure what you actually moved forward.
That’s the trap of reactive work.
It’s not that you didn’t work hard. It’s that your time was spent responding, not directing.
Why We Get Stuck in Reaction Mode
It feels productive. Urgent. Necessary.
And sometimes it is. But over time, it teaches you to:
- Wait for someone else to define priorities
- Chase small wins instead of long-term goals
- Burn out while barely moving the needle
What Intentional Work Looks Like
Intentional work is proactive, not passive. It’s:
- Choosing what matters most
- Protecting time to focus
- Working on outcomes, not just input
You don’t need perfect control over your calendar. You just need a system that protects clarity.
How to Shift from Reactive to Intentional
1. Start the Day With a Decision
Ask: “What’s the one thing I want to move today?”
Set that anchor before you check messages or attend meetings.
2. Protect One Block
Choose one time block per day (even 30 minutes) that’s reserved for high-leverage work. No meetings. No notifications.
3. Track Energy, Not Just Time
Notice when you have the most focus—and use that for creative or strategic work. Use lower-energy times for admin or follow-ups.
4. Close the Loop
At the end of the day, reflect: “Did I move what I meant to?”
This builds self-trust and creates a feedback loop that helps you reset tomorrow.
A Leadership Angle
In leadership, intentionality is everything. If you’re reactive all day, your team inherits that energy.
But if you show up clear—focused on outcomes, not just urgency—you create space for others to do the same.
Your habits become their culture.
Closing
You don’t need to overhaul your life to work with more intention.
Start small. Choose your focus. Protect your energy.
And when the day ends, know that you moved something that matters.
That’s the shift. That’s the win.
If you’re making that transition too—I’m always open to trading notes.
