I Stopped Planning for a Week. Here’s What I Learned (the Hard Way)

Have you ever secretly wished you could just skip planning altogether?

No calendars, no to-do lists, no color-coded blocks on your schedule—just doing what feels good in the moment.

As an Enneagram Nine, that’s my natural instinct. I crave peace, comfort, and the freedom to just be. Sitting down to plan can feel heavy and exhausting, especially when decision fatigue kicks in. So during a slower summer week, I decided to experiment:

What would happen if I ditched planning entirely and lived purely on instinct?

At first, it felt like freedom. But by the end, I was overwhelmed, scattered, and wondering how I had wasted so much energy. Here’s what I learned—and why I now believe even the most free-spirited among us need some structure.

1. Living on Instinct Feels Free… Until It Spirals into Chaos

For the first couple of days, I loved it. I woke up without alarms, answered emails when I felt like it, and followed my energy instead of my schedule. There was a sense of novelty in doing whatever felt right in the moment—especially for someone like me who doesn’t naturally gravitate toward strict systems.

But that “freedom” didn’t last. By midweek, things started unraveling:

• I forgot to set alarms and showed up 15 minutes late to my coaching session.
• I double-booked a medical appointment on top of my gym session, which led to me spending four and a half hours bouncing between appointments in workout clothes—and getting nothing else done that day.
• My husband noticed I was snappier than usual, and even my coach commented that I seemed scattered.

What started as “spacious and easy” quickly turned into chaotic and stressful. Without even a loose plan, I was constantly reacting instead of leading my day.

Takeaway:
Living on instinct can feel fun in small doses (I now plan occasional “random days” where I intentionally keep my schedule clear to do whatever I want). But without any anchor points, life gets chaotic fast—even for personalities like mine who crave flexibility.

2. Without a Plan, Your Brain Gets Tired Faster (and You Make More Mistakes)

Here’s the part I didn’t expect: how mentally exhausting it would be.

Without a plan, every single decision—when to work, when to eat, what task to do next—became a mental hurdle. Decision fatigue hit hard. I found myself:

• Forgetting simple things like a birthday card or the attachment in an email.
• Feeling anxious because I wasn’t sure where I needed to be (or if I was forgetting something).
• Drained by evening, even though my days weren’t busier than normal.

At one point, I stood in my kitchen trying to remember what I was supposed to do next—and couldn’t recall if I’d actually eaten lunch. My memory isn’t what it used to be, and without systems to support me, the day felt like one long, scattered blur.

Takeaway:
Planning isn’t just about time—it’s about energy. When you take 10–15 minutes to plan, you free up hours of mental energy because you’re not constantly trying to remember, decide, or juggle. It gives your brain breathing room.

3. Without Structure, the Important Things Get Lost

At the end of the week, I had that sinking realization: I’d been busy, but I hadn’t really moved forward on anything that mattered.

I had a mental list of things I wanted to get done, but because I didn’t actually plan them, most of them slipped through the cracks. Honestly, I couldn’t even tell you what I accomplished because nothing was written down—I just know I ended the week feeling behind.

Even worse? By Friday, I had shifted into my Enneagram stress path (Type Six). I was panicky, imagining worst-case scenarios, and second-guessing myself. Too much “gut-only” living had pulled me out of balance.

Takeaway:
If you’re multi-passionate, leading a business, or juggling multiple roles, you can’t just wing it. Structure isn’t about control—it’s what protects your priorities, so you can create space for what matters most (whether that’s work, rest, or connection).

What This Taught Me About Balance (and Why I Coach It Differently Now)

Here’s the truth I took away: while we don’t all need the same amount of structure, we all need some.

If you’re retired or on vacation, sure—you can live on instinct more easily. But if you’re running a business, leading a team, raising a family, or just trying to make progress on your personal goals? A plan is essential.

That doesn’t mean rigid, color-coded calendars for every second. In fact, I coach my clients—especially fellow Nines and other freedom-seeking personalities—to start small:

• Use a simple calendar (digital or paper) to anchor key appointments.
• Choose one weekly planning session, so you’re not “always planning.”
• Create space for flexibility (plan a “random day” where you truly do whatever you want—guilt-free).
• Build toward bigger-picture goals (5–10 year vision) so your daily actions actually lead somewhere.

Ironically, the more I plan, the more freedom I feel—because I can actually relax, knowing the important things won’t get lost in the shuffle.

Your Turn: Find Your Balance

If you’ve been feeling scattered or stuck in “reaction mode,” it might not be because you’re lazy or unmotivated—it could be because you’re missing the right kind of plan.

That’s exactly what I help people create in my Life Plan Cohort, a 6-week experience designed to help entrepreneurs and leaders (especially those who don’t naturally love planning) design a flexible, realistic plan that aligns with their personality, priorities, and energy.

Want to stop living on autopilot and start leading your life with clarity?

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