How I Get the Best Out of My Workday as a Leader…..
A Culture Architect’s honest guide
If you’ve ever finished a workday wondering where the time went, why you’re exhausted, or how you forgot to eat again, this one’s for you.
Getting the best out of your workday isn’t about doing more, it’s about doing things with intention, with awareness, and with respect for your energy (yes, I’m looking at you, multitasking lunch-skippers).
Here’s how I structure my day to stay productive and human.
1. I Do a Walk-Around and Check the Energy
Before I check emails, I check people.
A quick walk-around tells me everything I need to know:
Who’s energised
Who’s flat
Who needs support
Who needs space
Energy is contagious, both good and bad and as a leader (or self-appointed workplace mum), it’s your job to notice it early. You don’t need to fix everything, but awareness is leadership.
Sometimes that walk-around changes my whole day and that’s okay. People come first, always.
2. I Block My Day With Tasks (Yes, Everything)
If it’s not in my calendar, it doesn’t exist.
I block time for:
Meetings
Admin
Deep work
Follow-ups
Even thinking time
Why? Because mental clutter is exhausting. Task blocking gives my brain permission to focus on one thing at a time instead of carrying everything at once.
This isn’t about rigidity, it’s about creating containers for your energy so you’re not constantly leaking it everywhere.
3. I Actually Stop for Lunch
Let’s be clear:
Eating while working is not a flex. It’s a fast track to burnout.
I stop.
I eat.
I step away.
Your body is not a machine, and your nervous system needs a break to reset. When you skip lunch or eat at your desk, you’re telling yourself that your needs come last — and that message adds up over time.
Show your body some respect. It’s the only one you’ve got.
4. I Start the Work Day Early to Set My Intentions
My mornings aren’t rushed, they’re intentional.
That might look like:
A walk
Yoga
A slow shower
Silence (highly underrated)
The goal isn’t productivity, it’s alignment.
How you start your day sets the tone for how you respond when things inevitably go sideways.
When I begin grounded, I lead grounded.
5. I Lead With Mother Energy
This is my secret sauce.
I lead with:
Warmth
Boundaries
Humour
High expectations
Think: supportive, not soft.
Caring, not chaotic.
Direct, but kind.
Culture doesn’t happen by accident, it’s architected in the everyday moments: how we speak, how we listen, how we hold people accountable without stripping their dignity.
That’s the role of The Culture Architect, building workplaces where people can perform and feel safe doing so.
Final Thought
Your workday doesn’t need to drain you to be effective.
Structure creates freedom.
Awareness creates connection.
And respect, for your time, your body, and your people, creates sustainable success.
Now go drink some water.