How is it possible to feel so proud of your to-do list… and so frustrated by it at the same time?
For years, I looked at my to-do list and felt a sense of achievement.
Writing things down felt productive — like I was doing something right.
And then the end of the day would arrive.
I’d look back at the list and think, “I’ve got so much to do… and I haven’t even done half of it.”
That strange mix of pride and frustration is something many of us know very well.
In this video, I want to share one simple concept that completely changed the way I work.
Like me, I’m guessing you have a to-do list.
And like most people, you probably try to capture everything on it — what you need to do, should do, must do.
The problem is that it’s never-ending. The list keeps growing, day after day.
When you look at it during the day, you wonder: “Where do I even start?”
Everything feels urgent.
Everything feels important.
By the end of the day, you feel exhausted — and oddly dissatisfied.
Not because you didn’t work hard, but because the list is still there, staring back at you.
There’s one simple practice that made a real difference for me: time blocking.
I often describe it as booking a meeting with myself.
It sounds simple — but it’s much deeper than it seems.
There’s a massive difference between:
- a line on a to-do list, and
- a specific block of time in your calendar.
A massive difference.
When you time block, don’t write “to-do” or “me time”. Write exactly what you intend to work on.
You might say, “But Cyril, I don’t know how long this task will take.” Fair enough — estimating time is hard.
But here’s the thing: trying to estimate will always beat not estimating at all.
Do your best. Block 30 minutes, for example. t might not be enough — but it’s a start.
And very often, once you get going, things move faster than you expected.
Another important point: even short time blocks create focus. When you see 30 minutes in your calendar, your mindset changes. You think, “Right — I’ve got 30 minutes, and I’m going to give it 100%.”
When you time block, two things happen.
First, you finish the day with a genuine sense of progress. Not just busyness — progress.
Second, you start to regain control of your time and your energy. Your day stops being driven purely by urgency and starts being shaped by intention.
Now, my question for you is this: Look at your to-do list. What is one task that deserves a real meeting with yourself?
This is your Work Smarter: Live Better tip for the week.
Hope you have a lovely day.
À bientôt,
Cyril
