Am I sitting at my desk because I am making

steps toward my professional goals? Or am I sitting here because that’s what responsible people do at 4:00 P.M.? It’s easy to fill time if we think we’re supposed to be filling time.

The key is to create a designated weekly planning time. Our schedules tend to repeat on a weekly basis, not a daily basis, and this slightly broader view of time allows you to manage personal and professional tasks with a sense of abundance. You don’t have to do everything that matters tomorrow. This designated weekly time allows you to pause and reflect and ask how you’d like to spend the next 168 hours. Ideally, you plan your weeks before you’re in them—which is why I plan my weeks on Fridays.