The Productivity Hack That Changed Everything
In high school, my gymnastics coach decided we needed weekly swim workouts. I remember my first attempt vividly. I was so awkward in the water that the coach moved me next to the wall—she feared I might drown. I could keep up with the other girls, but it wasn’t pretty. I muscled through the water, thrashing and refusing to put my head under. I hated water in my ears, nose, everywhere. It wasn’t graceful. It wasn’t sustainable, but it worked.
Years later, training for a triathlon, I joined Master’s Swim at the YMCA. With coaching, tools (earplugs and nose clips!), and time, I changed. I learned to glide and move efficiently. I wasn’t just surviving. I was swimming well—confident, even.
That transformation is how I think about planning my weeks.
From Muscling Through to Moving Smoothly
We can all muscle through the workweek. Sprints between Zooms, tasks bleeding into one another, breaks that don’t really happen. But it’s a lot like my teenage swimming: doable but inefficient, exhausting, and frankly, miserable.
When I give myself the time to slow down and plan the week with intention, everything shifts. It feels smoother and more sustainable. I use timeboxing, literally blocking out time on my calendar for work and life. I also protect white space, those breathing moments between tasks or meetings. I get more done and have more time to rest.
Structure Isn’t the Enemy of Freedom. It’s the Gateway to It.
We often think that structure will box us in. However, research consistently shows that constraints can actually enhance creativity and reduce decision fatigue. Behavioral scientist Dan Ariely writes about the “planning fallacy.” When we don’t structure our time, we underestimate how long things take. Timeboxing helps us beat that.
Cal Newport (author of Deep Work) and Nir Eyal (author of Indistractable) are both huge proponents of time-blocking for productivity. It’s not about cramming more in. It’s about being intentional with our energy.
Even Kids Know This
My kids recently had a two-week gap between school and camp. From past experience, I knew not to wing it. Kids crave structure, so we planned each day: hikes, museums, the pool, and crafts. Not only did they enjoy it more, but I did, too. There was no flailing. We were gliding.
How to Glide Through Your Week: Three Quick Tips
Do a Weekly Review: What’s coming up? What are the “must dos”? What can be delayed or delegated?
Timebox Your Calendar: Schedule the most important tasks and breaks.
Leave White Space: Build in buffer time. You’ll need it.
Let It Feel Easy
You don’t have to muscle through every week. The best thing I did for my productivity wasn’t buying a fancy planner or downloading the latest app. It was building in structure and preparing to swim, not flail.
A few things…
Buy the audiobook this summer and get free access to my Resilient Leader: 7 Days to Burnout-Proof Your Path challenge—designed to help you recharge, refocus, and lead with clarity. To claim, forward your receipt/screenshot of purchase confirmation to catherine@cconnelly.me, and I’ll hook you up with access to the Resilient Leader challenge! 🎧 Get my audiobook: Amazon | Audible | Apple
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