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Happy Thursday,
It’s Annie and in today’s issue I’ll cover:
Table of Contents
December is here, bringing a busy calendar full of both end-of-year sales calls and personal holiday events. You're in a sprint, and your schedule feels too packed. This week, my aim is to help relieve some of that stress by showing you how to strip back your calendar.
Back-to-back meetings, zero rest time (lunch is important, right?), and no room for result-driven projects? You’re not alone.
Greg McKeown, author of Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less, reminds us: “Our highest priority is to protect our ability to prioritize.”
A strategic calendar mirrors this idea. Ensuring critical tasks get done while preserving space for focus and growth.
Why It Matters
We all have the same 24 hours, but what separates successful individuals is how they utilize them.
Business owners, who view their calendars as a strategic tool diminish stress, avoid decision fatigue, and prevent missed opportunities. Elevating themselves to industry leaders.
What Annie’s Recommending
Introducing the first AI-native CRM
Connect your email, and you’ll instantly get a CRM with enriched customer insights and a platform that grows with your business.
With AI at the core, Attio lets you:
Prospect and route leads with research agents
Get real-time insights during customer calls
Build powerful automations for your complex workflows
Join industry leaders like Granola, Taskrabbit, Flatfile and more.
*word from my partner
Six Calendar Power Moves for Busy Leaders
1. Time Blocking
Group tasks into focus areas: strategy work, meetings, admin, and recharge time. These blocks are non-negotiable.
2. Build in Buffer Zones.
Breaks between meetings are a must. They allow your brain to reset, sharpen focus, and prevent burnout.
Block at least 10–15 minutes between meetings, and if you’re commuting, factor in travel and traffic.
3. Prioritize First, Then Fill in the Rest.
Schedule your highest-value tasks at the start of the day. As the day progresses, unexpected items will pop up, making it easier to shift less critical work around.
4. Schedule Follow-Ups.
Touchpoints are essential for networking and project follow-ups. Block time specifically for following up after meetings, events, or launches.
5. Avoid Overbooking Yourself.
Be mindful of your energy levels. White space is just as important as meetings. It allows for creativity and problem-solving. A packed schedule may look efficient, but cramming meetings is unsustainable.
6. Delegate Your Calendar
If your calendar consistently overwhelms you, that’s your sign to bring in help.
A skilled Executive VA can anticipate conflicts, spot patterns, and align your time with your priorities, turning chaos into clarity.
If mastering time management sounds exciting — not just for yourself but as a skill to offer others — this VA training program is a great place to start.
The Partnership Advantage
A well-managed calendar isn’t just about keeping appointments, it’s about protecting your time and energy for the work only you can do.
When I manage calendars for clients, I look beyond scheduling and create a system that builds in balance, ensures time for follow-ups, and creates space for strategy.
The result? Leaders who are less stressed, more focused, and fully in control of their time.
Your Next Steps
Look at your calendar this week with three things in mind:
Does it reflect your biggest priorities?
Is it filled with back-to-back requests that leave you drained?
Do you feel in control, or like you’re chasing your schedule?
If your calendar feels chaotic, it's time to bring in a partner who can manage it for you, so you can focus on building the business you’ve always imagined.
Ways I Can Help:
📝 One-Off Copy Edit & Audit: Need a second opinion on your content? I'll review your blog post or website page and send you a detailed breakdown of what's working and specific recommendations to improve it.
☕ Discovery Call: Thinking bigger picture? Let's jump on a call and explore how we can work together on your content strategy.
Before you go:
If you have requests for what business streamlining tips you want to see next, reply to this email and let me know!
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See you next week, and hit reply if you have questions!
Cheers,
Annie
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