Just’In Perspective: Looking Inward to Move Forward

Listening to What You Already Know, So You Can Do What You’re Meant to Do

I’ve read the books. I’ve downloaded the apps. I’ve color-coded my calendar and created recurring reminders to prioritize the priorities.

But here’s the hard truth: none of it works unless I actually listen to myself.

And listening—to your own wisdom, instincts, and intentions—isn’t easy. Especially when the world rewards noise, urgency, and multitasking.

This isn’t a post about optimizing productivity. It’s about trusting your own signals: finally aligning action with awareness.

You Already Know What to Do

There’s this recurring loop I’ve caught myself in: I know what I need to do. I even plan to do it. But when the moment comes… I override it. Delay it. Distract myself with something shinier or easier.

Sound familiar?

Whether it’s blocking time for deep work, prioritizing that one gnawing task, or sticking to a morning routine, the hardest part is often honoring what we already know works for us.

We treat our best practices like optional suggestions instead of the proven strategies they are.

Time Blocking as a Contract With Myself

Let’s talk about time blocking.

When I first started doing it, I treated it like an experiment. Now, I see it differently: it’s a promise. Every block is a window of intention. It’s me saying, this matters enough to protect.

And when I ignore it, I don’t just shift a task. I break an agreement with myself.

I wouldn’t stand someone up for a meeting, so why do I ghost my own priorities?

Why We Ignore Ourselves

It’s easy to blame distractions. But more often, the breakdown happens because:

We don’t fully believe the small steps matter.
We wait for energy or inspiration to strike.
We assume we’ll have time “later” to get focused.

But let’s be honest—“later” is often wishful thinking.

The truth is: clarity doesn’t come before action. It comes from action.

And the longer we ignore what we know needs doing, the more we erode our own trust.

It’s not about doing it perfectly. It’s about doing it at all. Progress over perfection isn’t just a motto: it’s the mindset that allows us to get out of our own way.

And yes, I’ve absolutely fallen into the classic trap: the cobbler’s children have no shoes.

I’ve spent decades designing systems, frameworks, and best practices for others—teams, clients, organizations. But when it came to applying those same disciplines to my own day-to-day, I often made exceptions. I gave myself loopholes.

I’m learning now: if the system works, work the system. Not just for others, but for myself.

Micro-Disciplines That Move Mountains

Here’s what’s been helping me recently:

Start with the task I’m resisting. It’s usually the one that unlocks momentum.
Schedule with intention, not obligation. If it’s on my calendar, I’ve already decided it matters.
Limit multitasking. Deep work demands deep focus.
Honor the rituals that energize me.

For years, I had a solid morning routine: wake at 5am, hit the gym by 6, and start the day grounded and strong. That rhythm worked. It wasn’t just fitness—it was focus, clarity, and confidence.

But during this current career transition, I let that structure slip. I told myself I’d work out “later” or “whenever I get to it.” Which often meant: not at all.

Today, I finally broke the cycle. I got up at 5, laced up, and made it to the gym by 6am. And everything else in the day felt sharper—because I had listened to what I already knew worked. No hacks. No breakthroughs. Just… alignment.

Listening as Leadership

This isn’t just about personal goals. It’s about professional integrity.

As a supply chain leader, I’ve seen the cost of not listening: ignoring frontline signals, skipping retrospectives, or rushing through planning cycles.

Great delivery starts with great awareness.

In Agile, we use retrospectives to reflect and improve. But when was the last time we applied that rigor to ourselves?

Listening isn’t passive. It’s strategic.

You Don’t Need New Tools—You Need to Use What You Know

In the tech world, there’s always a new tool promising to streamline your life. But in my experience, the most powerful shift comes from this question:

What do I already know that I’m not doing?

It’s not sexy. It’s not novel. But it’s where the real transformation begins.

Just’In Perspective Means Trusting the Voice Within

This blog is called Just’In Perspective for a reason.

Because sometimes, progress isn’t about discovering something new—it’s about seeing the familiar with fresh eyes.

I already know what works: time-blocking, prioritizing with clarity, protecting focus, moving my body first thing in the morning. What I’m working on now is trusting that knowledge enough to act on it—daily.

And here’s something I haven’t shared in a while:

In July 2023, I survived a life-changing accident. One that stopped everything—and then reshaped everything. I was found on the street, injured, bleeding, unconscious. Just blocks from my home. My husband’s face, the panic, the emergency response—it’s something I’ve heard about and don’t recall ever seeing. If I did, I’m sure I would never forget. He definitely won’t and I wish I could wipe that memory away like a dry erase board getting cleared

But today, when I told that story again to my new doctor, something shifted. I cried—hysterically, unexpectedly—not out of fear… but out of gratitude.

Because for the first time, I truly felt it:

I survived for me.

Not to keep going for anyone else. Not out of obligation or expectation. But because I still have something left to live. To give. To become.

It reminded me of something essential:

We can’t live our lives through others. We can’t serve from an empty cup.

Sometimes, the most productive, generous, strategic thing you can do is put yourself first: to find your balance, to protect your own peace. Because you matter. And you deserve to listen to what your soul is telling you.

So here’s my challenge to you (and to myself):

Don’t just listen to the latest productivity trend.
Listen to yourself.
Your calendar. Your intentions. Your instincts. Your life.

Because you probably already know what to do. The real work? Doing it. Consistently. Imperfectly. Progressively.

And doing it not for applause or approval… but because you’re worth it.

Just in time? Maybe.
But definitely—Just’In Perspective.