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Fire Yourself From Busywork: Your Brutal Calendar Audit

The Fridays Off Theory is about taking back control of your time and energy so you can lead a life worth living.

This week, we’re doing something I call the brutal calendar audit. It’s brutal only because it forces you to be honest about how you’re really spending your week. The goal is to find the hidden busywork that’s been quietly stealing your freedom.

Grab your to-do list and promise me that nothing is off the table. Not that weekly meeting. Not the recurring task you’ve had forever. Not even the thing you think is “untouchable.” If you start protecting tasks with assumptions or habit, you’ll keep wasting time on things that don’t move the needle.

Make a list of everything you do in a typical week—every single task, no matter how small. Then, one by one, ask yourself: Does this make a difference? Is this growing my business? Is this essential?

You’ll end up with three piles: things you need to keep, things you can drop, and that big messy middle full of tasks that feel kind of important. That middle is your opportunity.

The easiest way to shrink it? Start by doing those tasks less often. If you do something every week, try every other week—or once a month. Filing receipts is a great example. Do it once a month, and you’ll get it done faster, in flow, without breaking rhythm.

Next, look for anything you can automate. If it’s repetitive, find a way to systemize it. To help you with this “newer” step, there’s an awesome thought exercise about automation at the bottom of this email.

Finally, think about WHO needs to be performing the task. Is this something I can delegate? If you looked at a task and asked “If I were on a 3 week vacation could someone else handle this effectively?” If the answer is yes, delegate it. You’ll be amazed how much space that opens up.

And here’s the trick most people miss: when you free up time, protect it. If you cancel a recurring meeting from 10 to 11, immediately block that time on your calendar and mark it as busy. Otherwise, the world will find a way to steal it right back.

If you’re ready to earn your Fridays Off, here’s your move for the week to get you closer:
Pick one task to kill, one to automate, and one to delegate before Friday.
Then block the time you just won back.

Your future self will thank you.

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