Why We Over Work and Need Intuitive Planning
By MK Emerson
You’re probably here because your strict scheduling is not working for you. You’re ready to throw in the towel and forgo all responsibilities. You’re on the breaking point of quitting it all.
Stop.
Learn from my experience and don’t go to the opposite extreme–over-planning to nada. That only hurts you and puts you at risk of going back in full force. There is a sweet spot.
Intuitive planning is not about ditching to-do lists or blowing off responsibilities, it runs deeper. For many of us, it begins with that brewing sense of burnout, feeling like every moment is scheduled down to the last second, yet we still come up short. One step forward and 3,000 steps backwards.
There is guilt, because we didn’t cross off everything we “had” to do, and frustration, because we compare ourselves to others who seem to juggle it all without blinking. Or we talk to friends about it and they tell you to just, “take a vacation.”
The entire reason I started this blog and continue to create journals/planners, as well as coach others on intuitive planning is because I’ve personally been there.
It’s not even about having mornings where we open our perfectly color-coded planner and feel a wave of dread. It’s not just about losing excitement, feeling trapped, and thinking, “How on earth do I get all this done without losing my mind?” It’s more about not wanting to do it at all. Not having a drive or motivation to keep working toward whatever is in our planners.
So, Why Do You Want to Give Up?
You’re over-scheduling because you’re fueled by fear of letting anyone down. You feel stuck with a ball and chain. Perhaps a perfectionist, people-pleaser, and told often how amazing you are to do it all!
“You’re such a super Mom!”
“My husband is a hard worker!”
For me, the missing joy had to do with being too drained to be creative and free, and I ended most days feeling so behind despite checking off dozens of tasks. I wasn’t fulfilled.
Who was I really working for, anyway?
What was I working for?
That’s why intuitive planning resonates. It recognizes that humans aren’t machines, and that our energy naturally ebbs and flows. Sure, we can keep a running list of must-dos, but we need the freedom to shuffle them around if we wake up feeling off or if life throws a curveball.
I’ve had so many losses of loved ones in the past few years, trust me, I know what it’s like to be thrown off and to also keep “busy” so not to feel so much grief every second of the day.
In fact, I hit burnout shortly after my father passed unexpectedly and took over his business the day after to support my mother, even with my brother and husband’s help. Talk about keeping my mind occupied and delaying the hurt, I worked until exhaustion, then worked again. In fact, I hit burnout twice in three months.
That’s When I Discovered Intuitive Planning
The moment we shift from “I must do it all” to “I can choose what fits my capacity right now,” the mental pressure drops. We stop fighting ourselves and create space for what truly matters, be it a critical deadline, a burst of creativity, or even time for rest.
Especially that.
Breaking the Perfection Mindset
A huge reason intuitive planning works is that it gives us permission to slip up without feeling defeated. So what if you don’t finish everything today? With my way of practicing intuitive planning, we only put down what’s important today and trust me, that’s not as much as you think. Your chances of checking it all is higher, but even if you don’t, it’s really no big deal. There’s tomorrow.
The more you lean into this flexibility, the more you’ll learn to trust your instincts about what needs doing and when you’re ready to do it. Over time, you also stop measuring your self-worth by how many boxes you checked off. And you’ll certainly stop putting everything down.
Shifting into Self-Awareness
Paying attention to your mood and focus level might sound obvious, but it’s something we often overlook (hello, my grief).
Intuitive planning nudges us to ask:
“Am I really up for this right now?”
If the answer is no, you can either delegate, rearrange, or note it for another day. No guilt attached.
Delegation may be hard for the over-planner and people-pleaser, I know. Ease into that one. Slowly ask for help on things that are very important to you, but are also easy. You’ll feel a lot less guilt if the task isn’t draining on another person. Just make sure you delegate what’s important, otherwise reschedule it. Don’t just throw a task on to someone else. That’s only continuing to feed your over-planning behavior and need to get it all done.
The Irony is You’ll Get More Done
When I first started to follow intuitive planning, I noticed I actually got more done. By tackling tasks in bursts of high energy and resting when I needed to, I wasn’t fighting constant fatigue anymore.
My creativity improved
My health (mind and energy) got better since I actually ate more intuitively than rushed or ordered fast food
I had more positive connections with friends and family because I wasn’t feeling pulled in every direction.
Especially my mother, who loves to get out of the house during the day to ease her own grief. I no longer had to tell her, “I’m busy, Mom,” and put her off. And I enjoy those outings, too.
Also, at the end of the day, I felt accomplished in a way that over-planning never gave me.
Intuitive planning isn’t about tossing out all organization.
It’s about using structure wisely while giving yourself wiggle room to breathe.
If you’ve ever felt suffocated by a packed calendar, know that it’s not “laziness” to want more flexibility, it’s exhaustion. It’s your mind and body telling you there’s a better way. That’s the true power of intuitive planning: aligning your schedule with your well-being so you can show up feeling energized, not burned.
If you’ve been craving more room in your day, consider intuitive planning as your next experiment. Because life should be lived, not just managed.
Check out my blog on How to Plan With Intuition and Example of Intuitive Planning to learn how to get started. You can check to see if you’re ready for it by reading Signs It’s Time for Intuitive Planning.
Or contact me to get more guidance.
I’m here for you!
MK
This blog was written to inform readers of discovering if they need intuitive planning. It is not to be consider as professional advice, it is merely an opinion and experience practiced by the author. Take what you want from it and grow, or toss it away and move forward. We’re here for fun!