Stop Managing Your Time Like a VP: A Sanity-First Approach to Productivity
By Diana — Burned out at 42. Rebuilt by 44. The cool aunt energy you need. ·
The Ghost of 42-Year-Old Diana
I remember it vividly. It was a Tuesday in May 2021. I was sitting in my glass-walled office, heart hammering against my ribs like a trapped bird, staring at a calendar so color-coded it looked like a toddler’s finger painting. I had back-to-back meetings from 8:00 AM to 6:30 PM, a 'quick' lunch eaten over a keyboard, and a mounting sense of dread that if I blinked, my entire life would collapse.
I thought I was a master of time management. I was the VP who could squeeze 28 hours out of a 24-hour day. But here’s the thing: you can’t manage time. Time is the only non-negotiable resource in the universe. It doesn’t care about your quarterly goals, your KPIs, or your desire to be the 'most productive' person in the room. When I had that health scare at 42, the wake-up call wasn’t that I needed a better app or a tighter block schedule. It was that I was managing energy, not time, and I was running on a deficit.
The Fallacy of Efficiency
We’ve been sold a lie that if we just optimize enough, we’ll eventually reach a state of 'done.' Let me save you the trouble: you will never be done. There will always be another email, another strategic initiative, another family obligation.
When I rebuilt my life—post-divorce, mid-therapy, navigating the beautiful chaos of a blended family with Paul—I had to throw out the corporate playbook. I stopped asking, 'How can I do more?' and started asking, 'What is this doing to my nervous system?' If your time management strategy leaves you feeling like a frayed wire, it isn't a strategy. It’s a slow-motion breakdown.
Step 1: The 'Boring' Audit
Most people track their time for one day and call it a day. That’s not enough. For three days, write down exactly what you do. Not what you planned to do, but what you actually did. Did you spend 40 minutes 'prepping' for a meeting by doom-scrolling? Did you answer Slack messages while your teenage daughter was trying to tell you about her day?
Be honest. The goal isn’t to shame yourself; it’s to identify the leaks. We often mistake 'busyness' for 'meaningful output.' If you find that 60% of your day is spent reacting to other people’s emergencies, you aren’t managing your time. You’re managing their expectations. Stop it.
Step 2: Ruthless Prioritization (The 'Paul' Rule)
My husband, Paul, is a documentary filmmaker. He can spend six hours on one edit transition. It used to drive my Type-A brain insane. I’d be hovering, asking, 'Can't we just get this done?' He taught me that there is a difference between 'getting it done' and 'getting it right.'
In your career, identify your 'High-Impact Hours.' For me, it’s 9:00 AM to 11:30 AM. That’s when my brain is sharp, and I can produce my best work. During this time, the phone is on DND, the email tab is closed, and I am focused on one thing. Everything else—admin, emails, the 'can I pick your brain?' calls—happens in the afternoon. If you’re doing your deep work during the hours when your brain is naturally sluggish, you’re fighting biology, not time. Stop the fight.
Step 3: Protect the 'White Space'
In my VP days, I considered an empty calendar a sign of failure. Now, I consider it a sign of control. I block out 'White Space'—at least 90 minutes a day that is entirely uncommitted. Sometimes I read. Sometimes I walk the dog. Sometimes I just stare out the window with a coffee.
This isn't 'wasted' time. This is maintenance. Without white space, you’re just a machine churning out tasks until you break. Your best ideas, your most creative solutions for your career, and your presence as a human being are born in the gaps, not in the grind.
The Real Measure of Productivity
At 47, my life is fuller than it ever was at 42. Between the teenagers, Paul’s projects, and my coaching practice, there is no shortage of things to do. But I’m not 'managing' my time anymore. I’m curating my life.
True productivity isn't about checking off boxes. It’s about being able to close your laptop at the end of the day knowing you moved the needle on what actually matters to you. If you’re feeling the pressure of the clock, take a breath. The world won't stop if you take twenty minutes to sit with yourself. In fact, you’ll probably return to your desk with more clarity and less resentment.
How are you spending your energy today? Are you building a career you actually want, or are you just performing for the sake of the calendar? Let’s talk about it—drop a comment or send me a note. I’m here for the real talk, not the hustle porn.