Feeling Unproductive? Why Planning Days Still Count

Some days aren’t about executing. They’re about planning.

That feels simple, but it’s something I have to remind myself of often, especially at the beginning of the year. There’s this unspoken pressure to be on go the minute January hits. New year, new goals, new energy. Or at least that’s what it’s supposed to look like.

What usually happens instead is chaos.

When I stay in constant go mode, I don’t actually get ahead. I just move faster inside the mess. I start reacting instead of deciding. Everything feels urgent. Everything feels important. And suddenly I’m exhausted before the real work even begins.

Sometimes the move is to slow down long enough to ask a few honest questions.

What do I actually need to do this week?

What can wait until next week?

What belongs later this month?

What am I trying to force right now that doesn’t need my attention yet?

Planning gives me perspective. It helps me see what’s necessary and what’s just noise. And more importantly, it helps me conserve my energy for the days when life just be lifin’ and the chaos takes over whether I’m ready or not.

I was reminded of this recently in a conversation with my business partner. We both separately had one of those days where nothing was getting done. Not because we were slacking. Not because we didn’t care. We were trying to do all of the things at the same time.

Once we stopped and said, “Okay, what’s actually up next?” things clicked. The overwhelm wasn’t coming from the work itself. It was coming from the lack of order. We didn’t need to push harder. We needed to step back and get clear.

That same pattern showed up in my nine to five. For a while, every morning felt frantic. I kept missing the same projects over and over. I’d start the day with good intentions and then get pulled into emails, meetings, and quick asks that added up fast.

So I finally stopped and hit reset. I spent an entire day planning.

I blocked off my calendar. I mapped out my projects. I gave specific time to the things I kept saying I’d “get to later.” That one planning day changed the upcoming week felt. My mornings weren’t chaotic anymore. I wasn’t constantly playing catch-up. I finally had space to focus.

What I learned is this.

I didn’t need to be more disciplined.

I didn’t need to wake up earlier.

I didn’t need to do more.

I needed a plan.

Planning days don’t always feel productive on the surface. There’s nothing flashy about them. No big wins to point to. But they create structure. They help me decide instead of react. They make execution days smoother because I’m not figuring everything out in real time.

If today feels slow, heavy, or unproductive, it might not be a bad day. It might be a planning day. And that still counts.

Before you push yourself to execute, pause and ask what needs clarity first. That small shift can save you from a lot of unnecessary burnout.

Plan first. Then execute.

If your planning always feels scattered or rushed, the Creative Balance Tracker helps me step out of chaos and map what’’s next without overloading my plate. It’s built for planning days that actually make execution easier.