A funny thing happened after I started my sabbatical…
My To-Do list grew longer!
Without full-time work or corporate deadlines, I somehow filled my task app with more to-dos than when I was working full time. Most are self-imposed. Many are things I want to do: creative projects, home improvements, workouts, or learning goals.
But staring at a list longer than any human can complete in a day, a week, or even a month feels overwhelming. It’s not that the tasks are bad. It’s that they’re endless.
So, I needed a reset.
The Reset: Leading Myself with Light
Building on the systems I shared in Getting Sh*t Done, I turned to the Lead with Light™ methodology — anchored in clarity, intention, and compassion.
Instead of wrestling with my lists every morning, I now follow a simple rhythm that keeps me grounded and growing.
The Three-Part Rhythm Behind My Results
This refined approach helps me manage my To-Do lists without letting them manage me. It’s built around four review cycles: Daily. Weekly. Monthly. Quarterly. I also conduct an annual review; however, it follows a different process.
Each layer has a distinct purpose, and together, they form a cadence that restores calm, clarity, and consistency.
🌅 Daily Review — Calibrate Your Compass
Why I Start with Alignment
Every morning, I center myself through my routine. In My Morning Routine, I describe how I align my mind, body, and spirit before many others rub the sleep from their eyes. That alignment turns intention into motion. Then I open my task app; not from panic, but to reduce overwhelm and focus my energy.
How I Choose My TOP 3
After clearing the deck of anything not meant for today, I ask:
“If I only accomplished three things today, which would move me closer to my personal Desired Outcomes and bring energy, not just output?”
Those become my TOP 3.
I block time on my calendar for them and guard that time as a meeting with my future self. Then I name one small thing that will bring joy to the day, which might be as simple as a walk, a playlist, or writing with coffee in hand.
Evening Reflection
At day’s end, I review and reset:
- What did I do?
- So What impact did it make?
- Now What needs to shift tomorrow?
I finish by noting one moment of gratitude or grace.
AL’s Insight: Clarity is kind, and it compounds when practiced daily.
📆 Weekly Review — Cultivate Your System
Every system, no matter how efficient, benefits from periodic review and refinement.
In his bestselling book, Atomic Habits, James Clear said, “You do not rise to the level of your goals. You fall to the level of your systems.” His approach fundamentally shifted my approach to setting and pursuing goals.
Celebrate Progress, Not Perfection
By Friday afternoon (or Sunday evening), I zoom out to take inventory. I start by celebrating progress, not perfection. I look at what created real movement toward my personal Desired Outcomes.
Reorganize and Refocus
I empty most every inbox (e.g., Nirvana, my task app if choice; notes, drafts, and voice memos) and assign each item: Next, Scheduled, Later, or Someday. While I’ve never achieved In-box Zero, I do scan my email inbox for messages that require action.
I refine my Next list to keep only what still feels meaningful and select three Weekly Anchors: outcomes that, if achieved, would make the week feel successful.
Audit Your Energy
Next, I protect sacred space, like my deep-work blocks and “Meeting-Free Fridays.” I’m also becoming a huge fan of Meeting-Free Monday Mornings because it’s a great way to start the week.
These aren’t perks; they’re boundaries that safeguard my energy and creativity.
Finally, I perform a Joy and Energy Audit by asking, “What fueled me this week? What drained me?”
That question keeps my system sustainable and self-aware.
AL’s Insight:Consistency beats intensity. Protecting space protects clarity.
🌕 Monthly Review — Illuminate the Path
Reflect and Reconnect
At the start or end of each month, I step back to see the bigger pattern. What’s working? What’s stuck? What no longer aligns with who I’m becoming?
I apply the “What? So What? Now What?” framework to turn motion into meaning. While it is an effective structure for an article, it also has broader application to work and life with a slight shift in its application.
Then I revisit my compass (purpose, values, and virtues) to ensure my actions match my intentions.
Choose a Guiding Word and Desired Outcomes
Next, I conduct an Energy and Joy Audit from a higher altitude. Which projects lifted me? Which lingered too long?
I let go of what no longer serves and set a Guiding Word for the month — like Focus, Flow, or Follow-Through. That word becomes my filter for every “yes.”
I define three personal Desired Outcomes, which are meaningful, measurable, and motivating, and schedule time on my calendar to recharge before the next cycle begins.
AL’s Insight: The list isn’t your master; it’s your mirror. Where you direct your time, energy, and attention is a reflection of what you prioritize.
🌙 Quarterly Reset — Fresh Eyes, Clear Compass
Reevaluate, Reorganize, and Release
Every 90 days, I perform a reset.
I don’t archive my Next list because I don’t want to lose what I’ve already captured. However, I do clear it by moving tasks to other categories and starting fresh.
Then I review every category (i.e., Scheduled, Next, Later, and Someday) and delete anything that no longer supports who I want to become or how I want to make an impact in the world.
That quarterly rhythm keeps me honest with myself. It reminds me that productivity isn’t always about doing more; it’s about staying aligned with purpose, energy, and evolving priorities.
AL’s Insight: Renewal requires release. Sometimes you must even let go of the important to pursue the most important.
Parting Thoughts
I’m still on sabbatical, creating space to evolve, not to idle. My To-Do cup still fills up and runneth over. I’m human. However, my list no longer overwhelms me.
It’s not all sunshine and unicorns. I still must “eat my peas” (i.e., do some things I because they need to be done, not because they serve some greater purpose). But now, my To-Do list is more than just a record of things to get done. It’s a reflection of who I’m becoming and the impact I want to make in the world.
Be clear. Be kind. Lead with Light! ✨
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