For years, I chased productivity like it was some magical formula I hadn’t quite cracked. I tried all the usual hacks — time-blocking, colour-coded calendars, Pomodoro timers, even waking up at 4:30 am (spoiler: not for me). And still, I ended most days feeling behind. Not lazy. Just… reactive.

If you’re a high-performing professional or business owner like I am, you probably know the feeling. You’re not short on ambition — you’re short on space. On clarity. On alignment.

That’s when I threw out the rulebook and created my own path. At Opening Gates, I teach a concept I call Intentional Imbalance, and I live by it every day. Because the truth is, chasing “balance” kept me stuck. Choosing where to focus my energy — even if that focus was uneven — changed everything.

Productivity Isn’t Doing More — It’s Doing Less, Better

Let me be blunt: productivity isn’t about ticking more boxes.

It’s about choosing the right boxes.

Once I let go of the pressure to “do it all,” I started making serious progress. Not because I found more hours in the day, but because I focused those hours where they mattered most.

Intentional Imbalance means I’m okay with not being equally great at everything all the time. Some areas of life get more attention in one season, and others get more in the next. And it’s all intentional.

Right now, you might be deep in a season of business building. Or maybe your focus needs to shift to your health or family. Either way, your energy has to have a direction. That’s how productivity becomes purposeful.

Life by Design Means I’m No Longer Reactive

Before I adopted this approach, I began my days in a state of full-blown reaction: emails, Slack messages, last-minute requests, client fires. I’d sprint from meeting to meeting, grabbing cold coffee and quick wins… but at the end of the day? I hadn’t moved forward.

Sound familiar?

Life By Design flipped that for me. Now, I lead with intention, not my inbox. I don’t just plan tasks; I design outcomes. I map my week around what truly matters: deep work, creative vision, meaningful conversations. And I protect that space like my life depends on it — because in a way, it does.

Seasons Changed My Strategy

Here’s something that helped me stop beating myself up: I started thinking of my life in seasons, not sprints.

You can’t plant, harvest, and prune all at once. That’s how you burn out your soil — and your soul.

So I stopped expecting myself to operate at peak productivity year-round. There are times when I’m head down, launching a program or scaling my business — that’s a “planting” season. There are quieter times, when I pause, reflect, and rest. That’s not lazy. That’s sustainable.

It’s also the heart of what I teach in my 12-Week Business Fit Challenge. We identify what season you’re in, and we align your energy, strategy, and schedule to match. No fluff. No one-size-fits-all system. Just the right structure for you.

My Energy Matters More Than My Time

I used to believe that if I could manage my time better, I’d finally feel on top of things.

But here’s what I learned: time isn’t the issue — energy is.

You can schedule deep work at 2 pm, but if your brain’s already tapped out by then, it’s not going to happen. So I flipped the script. I started designing my day around my energy curve, not the clock.

Mornings are when I think strategically. Midday is for meetings or movement. Afternoons are softer — admin, creative noodling, or connecting with clients.

When I conserve my best energy, I don’t just get more done — I accomplish the right things.

Burnout Isn’t a Badge — It’s a Wake-Up Call

Let’s talk about burnout because I wore it like a badge of honour for years.

Late nights, constant hustle, phone always in hand — I thought it made me look committed. Driven. Unstoppable.

But here’s the truth: burnout isn’t a sign of ambition — it’s a system failure.

It means something’s out of alignment. And in my case, it was everything.

Now, I design rest into my business rhythm. I give myself permission to pause. I’ve learned that rest isn’t a reward I earn after working hard — it’s the fuel that powers my next big move.

You don’t have to lose in life to win in business. I remind myself of that every day.

The Questions That Keep Me Aligned

Instead of jumping on the next trend, I ask myself these questions regularly — and I encourage my clients to do the same:

1. What am I doing because I should, not because I want to?
2. Which tasks drain me, and can I automate, delegate or delete them?
3. What does success look like this month, not next year, not in 10 years, but right now?
4. What season am I in, and what needs to shift because of it?
5. Am I building a business that supports my life, or a life that serves my business?

These are the questions that pull me back when I drift. They keep me focused, intentional, and empowered.

My Final Word on Productivity

If you take nothing else from this, let it be this:

You don’t need to copy anyone else’s routine. You don’t need to chase perfection. You need to design a rhythm that works for you — one that aligns with your current season, your current capacity, and your long-term vision.

Intentional Imbalance isn’t about letting go of ambition — it’s about letting go of the need to be everything, all at once.

When I embraced that, everything changed.

And I believe it can for you, too.