This One Change Could Transform Your Day
Do you ever end the day feeling like your to-do list got the best of you? Your day began well but was gradually lost to non-stop meetings, endless notifications, and last-minute demands.
A global poll mentioned in Forbes involving 2,957 respondents, 14% felt chronically overwhelmed meaning they felt completely depleted by the end of the day. Of those, more women (16%) felt this way compared to men (13%).
Going through the motions, hoping to keep your head above water and working late into the night or on weekends to catch-up.
What if you didn’t have to constantly be playing catch-up? What if you could turn your day around?
First, let's focus on what's consuming your energy.
What’s Stealing Your Energy?
Every day, your energy is like a battery. ??
From the moment you wake up, everything you do—decisions, conversations, even scrolling on your phone—draws from it. By midday, you are running on fumes, leaving you irritable, overwhelmed, and far from productive.
Doing more isn't the answer, but doing high value tasks and prioritizing, not piling more onto your plate.
The One Change: Start Your Day with Intention
Instead of diving headfirst into emails or letting your phone dictate your morning, take five minutes to set an intention for your day.
Here’s how this might look:
1?? Pick One Priority: What’s the one thing you want to accomplish today? Not five things. Not three. Just one.
For example:
2?? Set Boundaries: Block time for this priority and protect it like an important meeting.
Envision you’ve decided that from 10 AM to 11 AM, you’ll work on that presentation without interruptions. No emails, no small talk—just focused effort.
3?? Check In with Yourself: Midway through the day, ask, “Am I still focused on my priority, or have I lost my way?” If the answer is the latter, it’s okay. Refocus and keep moving forward.
Why This Works
When you set an intention, you create a mental anchor for the day. ?? Instead of letting the day pull you in a hundred directions, you know exactly where to redirect your energy.
See it as driving a car with a clear destination. Sure, there might be unexpected turns, but you’re not typically aimlessly driving without purpose—you're aware of your destination.
Real-Life Examples
More than a “feel-good” idea; it works because it simplifies your choices.
?? Before: You wake up, grab your phone, and check emails. Suddenly, you’re putting out fires for two hours.
?? After: You start your day with a goal: “I’ll finish drafting my presentation before lunch.” Even if unexpected emails pop up, you prioritize your plan first.
Another example:
?? Before: Your day is filled with meetings and by 3 PM, you’ve forgotten what you need to get done.
?? After: You decide, “I’ll reserve the first 30 minutes of my morning to prepare for the meetings and outline my next steps.”
What Happens When You Make This Change
The outcomes are minor but influential.
? You’ll feel calmer because you’re no longer juggling everything at once. ? You’ll feel more accomplished because you finish the things that matter. ? You’ll stop feeling like the day runs you—and start running the day yourself.
Don't count on having perfect days. Some days will still be hectic, but having one clear priority provides you with a point of reference to support your decision making throughout the day.
So if you feel like giving it a go, here’s my challenge:
Tomorrow morning, take five minutes to set an intention. Choose one priority and commit to making it happen.
It might feel tiny, but this one change could enhance your entire day—and who knows, maybe even your week. ??
I’d love to hear your success stories as we head into the last few weeks of the calendar year.
Make each day count, one intentional step at a time. ??
With gratitude,
Alexa