What’s my first decision as CEO? I’m giving myself the day off | Polly Hudson

To-do lists are done, apparently: the latest tactic to motivate and galvanise yourself is a “CEO hour”. The rationale for this method, courtesy of career and life coach Eva Katzler, is that you are the chief executive officer of your own existence, so you should routinely sit down and check in, just as they do in other businesses, reflecting on the past week and setting intentions for the next. Regularly having a formal meeting with yourself may be the kind of behaviour that makes people start worrying about you, particularly if you power dress for the occasion, but at least you can be sure you’ll get all the best biscuits.

Katzler is against the to-do list because she sees it as “our fast track to feeling like we’re completely out of control, because we can never get through it. When you never get that sense of achievement, what you’re left with is a feeling of failure.”

Instead she suggests asking yourself what your wins were from the last week, which tasks you’ve been avoiding, and how you’re managing your energy, time and workload. Also, noting any eureka moments you had, how well you took care of yourself, and what support you need.

Scoff all you like, but for me even the idea of a CEO hour was impactful, because I noticed that my immediate instincts were to wonder how low the bar was for what constituted a win of the week (does “lived to tell the tale” count?) and worry about a boardroom coup. My company felt much more unfortunate Apprentice candidate than Fortune 500.

But then came one of those eureka moments I’m meant to be looking out for: I don’t have to do this well. In fact, there’s absolutely no point making any effort at all. I’m already the CEO, baby! There’s no position higher – I’ve already climbed to the top of the ladder. Ah, the sweet smell of success. I think I’ll give myself the rest of the day off, and if I’ve got a problem with that, I’ll have to take it up with me.