Lead Smarter: What Your Calendar Says About Your Leadership

Success isn’t just about pushing forward—it’s about knowing when to pause, reassess, and refine the systems that sustain you.

One of my clients spent decades as a top real estate attorney — always in control, always handling high-stakes deals. But when a health scare forced him to stop, he had to confront a question he had never slowed down to ask: What does success look like beyond work?

Rather than rushing into answers, we spent nine months creating space to think. No forced decisions. Just clarity. At the start of this year, he made his move: a one-year sabbatical in Costa Rica—clearing land, building gardens, moving his body, and sleeping deeply. “It’s like I’m reborn,” he told me.

What’s the lesson here? Leadership isn’t just about making bold moves—it’s about recognizing what’s no longer serving you, refining your approach, and leading from a place of strength and sustainability.

Your Calendar Is a Leadership Report Card

Your calendar isn’t just a schedule—it’s a mirror reflecting your priorities, your energy management, and your ability to sustain success.

Ask yourself:

• How much of your time is spent on high-value, impact-driven work?

• How much space is dedicated to recovery, creativity, or strategic thinking?

• Where are you overloaded with tasks that drain your energy?

If your days feel more reactive than intentional, it’s time to take back control.

Start with a 5% Shift

Instead of an overhaul, commit to small, intentional upgrades. Here are a few places to start:
✔ Protect the first two hours of your day → No reactive tasks, only high-impact work.
✔ Batch your energy-intensive tasks → Group meetings, deep work, and networking into focused blocks.
✔ Schedule a weekly reset window → Use this time to clear mental clutter, plan, and realign.
✔ Own your recovery time → What gets scheduled gets done. Make self-leadership a priority.
✔ Track where your time actually goes → Awareness is the first step toward change.

Reacquaint Yourself with Your Health & Intuition

Strong leadership doesn’t come from running on fumes. Your ability to make clear decisions, lead effectively, and trust your intuition starts with how you take care of yourself.

Here are five simple ways to reset your energy and reconnect with what actually works for you:

☀️ Light Exposure: Get morning sunlight to regulate your nervous system, metabolism, and mood.
🥑 Nourishment: Whole, nutrient-dense foods stabilize energy and blood sugar, helping you think clearly.
💧 Hydration: Dehydration impacts focus, decision-making, and resilience. Keep it simple—drink enough water.
🛏️ Optimized Sleep: When your master hormones (cortisol, melatonin, leptin) are balanced, your leadership is sharper.
🧠 Nervous System Regulation: A well-regulated system helps you respond instead of react—key for leading under pressure.

Leading with Clarity & Strength

Self-care isn’t indulgent—it’s a strategy for sustainable leadership. When you feel good, your brain chemistry supports clarity, resilience, and discernment. It allows you to make decisions based on wisdom, not urgency.

📌 Action Step: Take a look at your calendar this week. What’s one small shift you can make to lead smarter and live better?

If you’re ready to refine how you structure your time, energy, and leadership approach, send me an email at aloha@terraann.com.