How to Use CEO Hours to Transform Your Business Routine

4 days ago

2 min read

If Monday morning starts with dread and whoever is loudest gets your attention, you do not have a you problem. You have a planning problem. In this episode of Mess to Mission, Linds shares CEO Hours, the weekly planning ritual that helps you lead your business instead of just working in it.

Listen now: Spotify | Apple Podcasts

In this episode

CEO Hours is a protected block of time each week, Linds does about 45 minutes to an hour on Sunday evening, where you step out of the day-to-day and look at your business from the top. She walks through her five-part ritual (brain dump, audit, big three, schedule and vibe check) and shares how to make it a habit that actually sticks.

Key takeaways

Show up Monday with a plan, not a pile. CEO Hours is where you stop being your own most behind employee and lead your business.
Start with a brain dump. Get every task, idea and follow-up out of your head before you try to plan.
Audit last week honestly. If the same thing has not gotten done three weeks in a row, that is information, not failure.
Pick your big three. Choose the few things that actually move your business forward and schedule them when your energy is best.
White space is not wasted time. Build in buffers so one surprise school pickup does not sink the week.
Make it stick. Attach it to something you already do, make it feel good, keep it short and give yourself grace.

Episode timestamps

0:02 The Monday morning dread
0:56 What CEO Hours actually are
1:25 Working in the weeds vs. leading your business
2:50 Part one: the brain dump
3:44 Part two: audit last week
5:08 Celebrate what you did get done
5:38 Part three: choose your big three
7:31 Part four: schedule your week
8:01 Why white space matters
9:22 Part five: the vibe check
10:20 How to make the ritual stick
12:45 This week's challenge

Resources mentioned

The Dailee, the daily paper planner Linds uses
ClickUp if you prefer planning in a project management tool
How I Plan My Business Week, a deeper look at Linds's weekly rhythm
Habit Stacking for Business Owners, for attaching CEO Hours to a habit you already have

Keep listening

This episode pairs well with the invisible load episode, where Linds brings the same planning to your home. Browse all Mess to Mission episodes, and tell her which day works best for your CEO Hours.

Want a place to protect your CEO time alongside other women building calmer businesses? Join the Systems Sanctuary waitlist to be first in the door when it opens November 1.