I have a secret. One that will radically change how you approach your life. Ready for the big reveal? Ok, here goes: You have enough time. Seriously. You have enough time to do everything you are supposed to do. You may think, “Well, it certainly does not feel like it! My to-do list is 14 things deep every day!” I hear you, and I don’t doubt your to-do list is long if you say it is. But I doubt that all the items on your to-do list are things you genuinely need to spend time on. Hear me out. Most people have a few mission-critical things that need to get done each day. I argue 1-3 things tops, each day.
So, how does a to-do list get to 14 items? I’m glad you asked. A few ways I have personally seen my own list balloon into the danger zone:
- Adding things that are someone else’s responsibility and doing them yourself, versus holding them accountable.
- Adding things that seem fun but are not your top priority.
- Feeling pressured to say “yes” to invitations because you believe saying “no” makes you a bad person.
Now, this list could easily go on and on, because I have heard many other reasons from the people I work with for why they have “so much to do.” I believe all of this comes down to not having clarity on:
- Where are you going/what are you looking to accomplish – Once you have a crystal-clear picture of this, you can get busy aligning your activities with those things. Pro tip: It usually starts by eliminating the things you should not be doing.
- Who you are – Being super secure in your personality is difficult (but not impossible) in this culture of comparison. Once you dare to be yourself and live and lead in line with your values, it gets a whole lot easier to know what you should be doing every day.
While writing this piece, I discussed my premise with two dear friends. One said, “Everyone talks about confidence, but many people don’t have it. I think what’s missing from this conversation is tips on how to be confident.”
Another friend said, “I believe confidence is a made-up thing. I think it’s courage—the courage to stay true to yourself and what you say are your goals—that people need to focus on.”
Both points were interesting. As is my practice, I went on the hunt for the definitions of confidence and courage. The first thing I discovered is that the confidence-versus-courage debate is one many folks are having, which inspires me to keep thinking about these concepts (my favorite pastime!).
Below are the working definitions I am using from Merriam-Webster –
Confidence (noun)
a: a feeling or consciousness of one’s powers or of reliance on one’s circumstances
b: faith or belief that one will act in a right, proper, or effective way
Courage (noun)
mental or moral strength to venture, persevere, and withstand danger, fear, or difficulty
Now that we are level-set on our working definitions, the question becomes: Does inadequate time management (read an overflowing schedule) result from a deficit in confidence, courage, both, or neither?
Time management isn’t about cramming more into your day—it’s about clarifying what truly matters. Beneath the surface of overflowing calendars and endless checklists lies a deeper issue: a lack of alignment between our actions and our purpose. The truth is, we do have enough time, but only if we stop outsourcing our priorities, chasing distractions, and saying “yes” out of guilt.
Real productivity begins with radical clarity: knowing where you’re headed and who you are. And perhaps, as the conversation around confidence and courage suggests, it’s not just about believing in ourselves; it’s about having the moral strength to stay true to our values, even when it’s hard. So the question remains: Is your schedule a reflection of your goals or a reaction to everything else?
I would love to hear your thoughts.
