Finding your way back to what matters.
This playbook emerged from a personal revelation: I had become incredibly efficient at doing things that didn’t truly matter. Like many of us, I had mastered the art of being productive but had lost sight of my purpose. I was checking all the boxes, hitting all the metrics, but feeling increasingly hollow.
What you read now is not just another self-help guide. It’s an invitation to pause, reflect, and potentially rebuild your relationship with productivity from the ground up. This playbook is designed to help you distinguish between motion and progress, between busyness and purpose.
How to Use This Playbook
The Journey Ahead
This isn’t a linear process – it’s a spiral of discovery. You might find yourself returning to earlier phases with new insights, and that’s not just okay – it’s expected. Some sections might feel uncomfortable; they’re meant to. Growth often lies just beyond our comfort zone.
Making It Work for You
- Take Your Time: This isn’t a weekend workshop. Give yourself permission to sit with these questions for days or even weeks.
- Journal Your Journey: Keep a dedicated notebook. Your insights are valuable data points in understanding your patterns.
- Be Ruthlessly Honest: The only person you need to be truthful with is yourself.
- Trust the Process: Some exercises might seem simple or even obvious – do them anyway. Often, the most powerful insights come from the simplest questions.
Before You Begin
- Find a quiet space where you won’t be interrupted
- Turn off notifications
- Have your journal ready
- Set an intention for what you hope to discover
- Remember that discomfort is often a sign you’re on the right track
Signs This Playbook Is For You
- You’re efficient but unfulfilled
- Your to-do list is always complete, but something feels missing
- You’re tired of being tired
- You suspect you’re optimizing the wrong things
- You can’t remember the last time you felt truly excited about your work
- Your life looks good on paper but feels off in practice
What Success Looks Like
Success isn’t about becoming less productive – it’s about becoming intentionally productive. By the end of this process, you should:
- Have clarity about what truly matters to you
- Feel confident saying no to things that don’t align with your purpose
- Understand the difference between being busy and being effective
- Have a framework for making decisions that honour your values
- Feel more aligned with your authentic self
Phase 1: Recognition – Where Are You Now?
Self-Assessment Questions
- Complete these sentences honestly and quickly, without overthinking:
- “I feel most accomplished when…”
- “I measure my day’s success by…”
- “I feel guilty when I’m not…”
- “I say yes to things because…”
- “I’m afraid if I slow down…”
Productivity Audit
- Look at your calendar for the past month
- Circle activities that energized you
- Cross out activities that drained you
- Mark with a star activities that moved you toward your long-term vision
- What patterns do you notice?
The Why Chain
For each major project or commitment:
- Why am I doing this?
- Why does that matter?
- Why does THAT matter?
- Keep going until you hit bedrock truth
Phase 2: Reality Check – The Cost of Productivity
Calculate Your True ROI
- What have you sacrificed for productivity?
- Relationships?
- Health?
- Creativity?
- Joy?
- Peace of mind?
Hidden Costs Inventory
- List your productivity “systems”
- For each one, ask:
- How much mental energy does maintaining this system take?
- What would happen if I let it go?
- Who am I trying to prove something to?
Phase 3: Purpose Discovery
Values Clarification
- When have you felt most alive?
- What stories do you want told about you?
- What would you do if no one could judge you?
- What problems make you angry enough to want to solve them?
- What gives you energy rather than depletes it?
Legacy Questions
- What expertise do you want to be known for?
- Who do you want to impact?
- What change do you want to create?
- What would make future you proud?
Phase 4: The Reset Protocol
Immediate Actions
- Create a “Stop Doing” list
- Identify your “Minimum Viable Day”
- Schedule blank space in your calendar
- Define your “Hell Yeah” criteria (what must be true to say yes?)
New Metrics for Success
Define your personal metrics for:
- Impact
- Growth
- Wellbeing
- Connection
- Contribution
Phase 5: Building New Habits
Daily Practice
- Morning reflection: “What matters most today?”
- Evening review: “Did my actions align with my purpose?”
Weekly Reset
- What gave me energy this week?
- Where did I feel resistance?
- What can I eliminate?
- What deserves more space?
Monthly Purpose Check
- Am I moving toward my purpose or just being busy?
- What needs to shift?
- What experiments should I try?
- Where am I playing too small?
Phase 6: Integration
Creating Your Purpose Filter
For every new commitment, ask:
- Does this align with my purpose?
- Will this matter in 5 years?
- Is this the best use of my energy?
- What am I saying no to by saying yes to this?
Designing Your Ideal Week
- Block time for:
- Deep work
- Reflection
- Relationships
- Rest
- Learning
- Creation
Phase 7: Maintaining Course
Regular Check-ins
- Set quarterly purpose reviews
- Establish accountability partnerships
- Create feedback loops
Warning Signs to Watch For
- Feeling constantly rushed
- Decision fatigue
- Resentment toward commitments
- Loss of creativity
- Decreased presence in relationships
Course Correction Questions
- What’s working?
- What’s not working?
- What am I avoiding?
- What do I need to start doing?
- What do I need to stop doing?
Remember
- Purpose isn’t a destination; it’s a direction
- Progress isn’t always measurable
- Sometimes the most productive thing you can do is rest
- Your worth isn’t tied to your output
- It’s okay to change course as you learn more about yourself
This playbook is meant to be a living document. Adapt it, question it, and make it your own. The goal isn’t to follow it perfectly but to use it as a tool for continuous alignment between your actions and your purpose.
Take a deep breath. You’re ready to begin.
continue reading
More Playbooks...
The challenge of being perpetually "on" extends far beyond the office walls into every aspect of our lives.
This playbook is designed to be implemented gradually over 30 days. Each week introduces new habits while building on previous ones.
I have to admit sometimes I just want to sit and do nothing, be unproductive and add zero value at all.