The Energy Drain of Calendar Dysfunction
Most leaders aren’t running their calendars—their calendars are running them. The result? Constant exhaustion.
Calendar dysfunction doesn’t just waste time. It drains energy, creativity, and presence—the very qualities leaders need most.
How Calendars Drain Energy
Back-to-Back Meetings
Without recovery time, meetings blur together. Leaders leave drained, not energized.
Constant Context Switching
Jumping from finance to HR to marketing in the same hour fractures focus and leaves you mentally depleted.
Overcommitment
Saying “yes” too often means spending your best energy on others’ priorities instead of your own.
The Leadership Cost
Burnout accelerates. Leaders with no margin can’t sustain their pace.
Creativity shrinks. Innovation requires space. A jammed calendar suffocates big ideas.
Presence disappears. Exhausted leaders struggle to truly listen and connect.
Reclaiming Energy Through the Calendar
Audit for Energy Drains
Look back at the last two weeks. Which meetings or activities gave you energy? Which drained it?
Cluster Similar Tasks
Batching reduces the mental load of context switching. Handle finances in one block, creative work in another.
Protect Renewal Time
Schedule breaks, walks, or workouts just like you would a board meeting. Energy renewal is not optional.
Redefine “Yes” and “No”
Every commitment should serve either your biggest goals or your well-being. If it doesn’t, delegate or decline.
The Multiplier Effect
When leaders reclaim energy, everything changes. They show up sharper in meetings, more creative in strategy, and more present with their teams. The ripple effect is massive.
Practical Moves for This Week
Cancel one recurring meeting that no longer drives results.
Block 90 minutes of white space for your highest-priority project.
Add two 15-minute “energy resets” into your calendar each day.
From Exhausted to Energized
A healthy calendar doesn’t just keep you organized—it keeps you effective. When you lead your calendar with intention, you lead your team with greater clarity and energy.
👉 For a deeper look at how to reshape your relationship with time, listen to Episode 2 of Unlocked.
