Balance Without Burnout: Part 2 of 3
A short series on how I fit a demanding job, side projects, and staying healthy into the same week. This is what has worked for me over the years.
I used to block off afternoons on my calendar for writing code.
But when the time came, I’d hit the post-lunch slump. No energy. No brain power to code.
At first I felt guilty about it. Eventually I realized my body was trying to tell me something.
Time blocking alone doesn’t work. You don’t have the same energy and focus every hour of the workday.
When I looked closer at my calendar, I saw the problem. I was adding focus blocks around my meetings, not around when I actually do my best work.
So I ran some experiments. One week, heads-down work in the morning. The next week, I flipped it to the afternoon.
You can do the same. Look back at your last few weeks. When did your best work actually happen? That’s your window.
Once you know your windows, play matchmaker. Match the task to the time block, based on your energy, not just what’s open on your calendar.
If you write your best code in the morning, protect it. Push meetings, code reviews, and messages to the afternoon.
Only you know your ideal schedule. And this isn’t just about getting more done from 9 to 5. It’s about having energy left for the people and things that matter from 5 to 9.
Bookend your workday with some time alone, no meetings or messages.
Start the day by sorting your tasks. What must get done, what would be nice to do, and what can wait until tomorrow.
End the day with a few minutes of reflection. Did you finish what you wanted? How are you feeling? What’s tomorrow’s first task?
This closes the loop on your day. You stop carrying today’s work into tonight.
Your job is one part of your life, not all of it. When you give it all your energy, there’s nothing left for what actually matters.
That’s why it’s worth being smart about where your time and energy go at work. Get this right, and you get more done at work and still have energy for the rest of your life.
What’s your best hour of the day, and what are you currently spending it on?
Next week: the real reason side projects stall (it isn’t time).
Missed part 1?
Stuck on something right now?
I’m offering 2 free coaching sessions next week.
This is for you if:
Work is draining you and there’s nothing left for the rest of your life
You can’t find time for your side project, or you’re struggling to make progress on it
It’s hard to make your mental and physical health a priority
Bring something specific and we’ll work on it together.