Here in the Northeast, we’re in that "in-between" season—sunny and warm one day, wintery and chilly the next. Our trees reflect the indecision -- with leaves that are green, red, yellow and every color in between.
Everywhere I look, I see reminders that seasonal change can be beautiful—but also chaotic and uncertain.
In my house, we’re juggling eldercare, sports injuries, college applications, mountains of homework and professional commitments. We are also preparing for house guests, work trips, November birthdays and our dog needs dental work.
It may not sound like much, but with each day comes new tasks, and new asks. And this past weekend, a giant sense of overwhelm started to creep in.
To find some relief from *all the things*, I returned to a trusted practice that has helped me manage these kinds of competing priorities: planned neglect.
Introduced to me by professional organizer Lisa Woodruff, planned neglect is about disciplined boundary-setting—choosing, consciously, which tasks and projects can wait.
Planned neglect is a purposeful strategy of choosing to delay, defer, or even ignore certain tasks. It’s a conscious decision to let go of the idea that everything demands our immediate attention, freeing us to focus our mental energy and resources on what truly matters.
In my coaching practice, I guide clients through similar choices. It’s natural to want to say ‘yes’ to everything, but lasting progress doesn’t come from stretching ourselves thin. True change begins only when we make time and room for what truly matters.
Stuck, or overwhelmed at work? You can use planned neglect there too, to help clear a path forward. It’s not about ignoring responsibilities; it’s about giving yourself (and others) permission to set aside less critical tasks.
Start by asking yourself: What 1-2 things will make the biggest difference in my life, work, or well-being? Then, let the answer shape your priorities.
You can create space, calm and clarity—even when the list is long and demands are high, it just requires making intentional choices.
