Most professionals spend their days rushing from one obligation to the next, measuring success by how much they can get done.
But at the end of a career, no one wishes they had spent more time in meetings.
Bronnie Ware, in The Top Five Regrets of the Dying, found that one of the most common regrets was:
"I wish I had lived a life true to myself, not the life others expected of me."
Yet, most leaders are stuck in reactive mode, consumed by endless obligations and low-value tasks.
🛑 The average professional spends 23 hours a week in meetings. (Harvard Business Review)
🛑 90% of professionals feel drained before noon. (McKinsey & Company)
🛑 Workers lose an average of 2.5 hours per day to distractions. (The Energy Project)
Leaders tell themselves they’ll reclaim their time someday—when the project wraps up, when they hire more staff, when things "calm down."
But someday is a dangerous myth.
What If Time Isn’t the Problem?
The issue isn’t time. It’s how we protect—or fail to protect—our energy, focus, and presence.
In Awe, Dacher Keltner explores how experiencing wonder expands our sense of time—making us feel more present, more alive, and ultimately, more fulfilled.
High-performing leaders don’t just manage time; they design their energy to work at their best.
They don’t wait for a quieter season to create space.
They take back their time now.
5 Ways Leaders Reclaim Their Time Before It’s Too Late
1️⃣ The 90-Minute Rule: Protect Focus First
Most leaders start the day reacting—to emails, Slack messages, and meetings.
Instead, top performers dedicate their first 90 minutes to deep, strategic work before responding to others.
Solution: Block a "Protected Focus Block" in your calendar every morning. No meetings. No email. No Slack.
2️⃣ The Anti-Meeting Defense System
Meetings have exploded by 252% since 2020. (Microsoft Work Trends Index)
71% of senior executives say meetings are unproductive and inefficient. (Harvard Business Review)
Solution:
Audit your calendar:
Decline at least one unnecessary meeting this week.
Cut default meeting times in half: 30 minutes → 15 minutes.
Replace status updates with async check-ins.
3️⃣ The Energy-First Calendar
Leaders design their schedule around their energy peaks—not just available time slots.
The Energy Project found that short, intentional breaks increase productivity by up to 50%.
Solution:
Move deep work to your peak energy hours.
Schedule recovery breaks like thinking time, short walks, or even 2 minutes of stillness.
4️⃣ The “Not Now” Rule: Own Your Attention
Every Slack ping, email, and notification steals your attention.
Awe reminds us that presence fuels creativity, clarity, and connection—yet most people are running on autopilot.
Solution:
Batch-check emails & Slack at set times.
Turn off non-essential notifications.
Use “Do Not Disturb” mode when working deeply.
5️⃣ The Sunday Recalibration Ritual
Most people start Monday in chaos.
High-performers start the week with intention.
They review their week every Sunday.
They pre-decide their top priorities so they’re not reacting to everyone else’s.
Solution: Take 15 minutes on Sunday to set your top 3 priorities for the week ahead.
6️⃣ The AI Leverage Strategy: Use It, Don’t Let It Use You
AI-driven tools are reshaping productivity, yet most leaders aren’t using them strategically.
60% of professionals waste hours on repetitive tasks that AI could automate. (Harvard Business Review)
Solution:
Use AI for what drains you, not what fuels you:
Automate admin work, scheduling, and summaries—free up mental space for strategic thinking.
AI-assisted decision-making:
Use AI to analyze trends, surface insights, and enhance leadership decisions—not replace judgment.
Guard against AI overload:
Constant AI-generated inputs can lead to decision fatigue and a lack of original thinking.
Are You Letting Time Slip Away?
Most professionals spend their careers in urgent mode.
And then, one day, they look back and realize they never made space for what actually mattered.
Time isn’t the issue. It never was.
The question is: Are you protecting your energy, your priorities, and your life—before it’s too late?
Hi! I'm Merve. 👋 I help leaders build high performing teams, amplify their business impact, and advance their careers.
Here are five ways you can connect with me:
Book a 1:1 Coaching Session: Tailored to your individual goals, I offer in-depth guidance, a focused strategy, and results-oriented accountability to help you navigate your professional and personal challenges for meaningful progress.
Join Signature Leadership Programs: Designed for corporate leaders and business owners at all stages of the leadership journey, these programs blend 1:1 coaching with group workshops and training, equipping you to grow your career, earnings, and business success.
Subscribe to My FREE Monthly Newsletter: Stay updated with the latest in leadership and business with insights and musings delivered directly to your inbox.
Access FREE Worksheets for Leaders: Visit my website to access and download worksheets and workbooks that provide practical exercises for enhancing self-awareness, self-reflection, and fostering positive change in your leadership and team dynamics.
Follow me on LinkedIn: Connect with me on LinkedIn for daily updates, thought-provoking articles, and a community of like-minded professionals committed to continuous growth and leadership excellence. Join the conversation and stay inspired on your leadership journey.