January is almost over! Have you had a chance to reset your calendar for the new year yet? If not, consider this your cue to evaluate every recurring meeting on your schedule to determine if it still holds value for you. If a meeting no longer serves its purpose or provides significant value, don’t hesitate to cancel or decline it.

Next, designate specific time slots for unscheduled thinking and doing. Block these periods in your calendar as sacred moments for focused work and creativity. Arrange other meetings around these blocks to create a well-thought-out and intentional weekly schedule. (I protect two full days every week. Seem extreme? Maybe, but research from MIT [link in comments] suggests it has a profound impact on productivity. Anecdotally, I can tell you it is also good for stress and morale.)

Lastly, take a moment to review any meetings on your calendar that lack clear purposes and agendas. Now is the perfect opportunity to clarify objectives and ensure that everyone attending knows the purpose of the meeting.

It’s your calendar. Make it work for you.