Prisoner of the Everyday: How to Escape Survival Mode and Become Strategic Again

You’re running all day… but by the end of the week, you can’t really say what you’ve actually accomplished?
If that feeling sounds familiar, this article is for you. It seems like you are a Prisoner of the Everyday.

In today’s world, we put a lot of value on being constantly busy and packing as many tasks as possible into our day.
You arrive at work and boom!
First emergency or first fire to put out.
You glance at the clock and it’s already noon.
You take a few minutes in front of your emails to sneak in a bite to eat.
You spend the afternoon putting out fires, responding to emergencies, solving problems… and suddenly the day is over.

Once at home, depending on your children’s age or your personal situation, you have more responsibilities that keep you from catching your breath.
Maybe you get a few minutes or an hour to relax, read, or watch a bit of TV before going to bed.

And then what?
It all starts over again the next day until the weekend arrives.

Busy = effective?

At the end of the week, the first questions that often comes to mind is:

What did I actually do this week?
Which goals did I accomplish?
What problem did I really solve?

Often, because we didn’t take the time to define our goals but spent our week putting out fires, we realize we’re stuck in a “Groundhog Day” cycle:
An endless loop of days that all look the same, where we’re constantly doing things but not really moving forward.

We were busy, that’s for sure.
But were we effective?
That’s the real question we need to ask ourselves.

No planning

The big issue is that managers often don’t have a real plan to ensure they’re being effective at work.

• We don’t prioritize the right tasks.

• We confuse “important” with “urgent.”

• We spend too much time responding to emails.

• We attend meetings that add no value and where our presence isn’t needed.

• We let others take control of our day.

• We don’t know how to say “no” to tasks that don’t belong to us.

• We’re uncomfortable delegating.

If that’s your case, you’re not alone. I spent most of my professional life doing everything I could to avoid feeling constrained by daily planning.
I saw it as a prison that kept me from being spontaneous and free to make my own choices.

However, it’s hard, if not impossible, to reach your destination efficiently if you don’t know where you’re starting from, what key steps lie ahead, or even where you’re going.

So here’s what I suggest to start:

Set 3 daily goals that you must complete.
It’s important to define them the evening before, so you’re not influenced by the “emergency” that gets thrown at you first thing in the morning.

Throughout your day, when something new pops up, ask yourself:

Is this a real emergency that requires me to shift my priorities?

• If yes, adjust your schedule accordingly.

• If no, but you’ll need to handle it eventually—make a note to tackle it on another day, and get back to your current task.

• If no and your involvement isn’t essential—delegate.

• If no and it doesn’t belong on your plate or your team’s—say no.

Reflection = solutions

To find the right solutions to the daily problems you face, you need to plan time for reflection during your day.
Between tasks, take a few deep breaths, stand up, walk a little to reenergize your body.

This short break will give you the distance you need to see the bigger picture and quickly assess your last work session:

• What was my energy level?

• Was I focused on the task?

• Was it the right priority?

• What distracted me?

• How can I eliminate that next time?

Combining several sessions of intense work with moments of reflection will help you optimize your workdays and increase your efficiency.

And if you combine that with always working on the right priorities that help you reach your goals, you’ll notice a significant boost in both your motivation and your results.

Taking back control, one priority at a time

Being overwhelmed is not inevitable.
With a bit of structure and a few simple habits, you can turn your days into powerful levers of performance.

🛠 Need a hand implementing a simple yet powerful method?

Send me a private message and I’ll share a few tools I use with my clients.

Discover the 5 Must-Ask Questions for Happy Teams

Do you want to better understand what motivates your team members and could help you create a happy team? My practical guide, 5 Must-Ask Questions for Happy Teams, is designed to provide you with simple and effective tools to:

• Create a climate of trust within your team
• Identify the true needs and aspirations of your employees
• Encourage meaningful conversations that foster collaboration
• Boost engagement and collective performance
• Anticipate and resolve challenges before they become obstacles

Carl-Michael Tessier M. Sc., MBA

Coach in high-performance team development and tailor-made support