The Desk Clean That Turned Existential
It started with a desk clean. You know the kind—where you tell yourself you're “resetting your space” but really you're just avoiding work. I was halfway through tossing dried pens and rogue paperclips when I found it:
A crumpled yellow sticky note with six familiar words scrawled in Sharpie:
“The squeaky wheel gets the oil.”
It was something my old mentor used to say—a lot. At the time, I found it mildly annoying. But in that moment? It hit different.
Because suddenly, I realized I hadn’t squeaked in a long time.
The Moment of (Annoying) Clarity
For months, I’d been in efficiency mode. Planning my days, checking boxes, “staying on top of things.” But I wasn’t really advocating for myself. I wasn’t thinking about my next step—I was just managing the current one.
That sticky note? It reminded me that I had stopped asking for what I needed. I was running my schedule like a robot. No room for growth. No stretch. No spark.
And for someone who lives by a planner? That’s… kind of a problem.
What I Did Next (Besides Stare into the Void)
I opened my digital planner and created a new page—titled:
“Big Stuff That Actually Matters.”
Not tasks. Not reminders. Just the big ideas and long-term projects that kept getting shoved to “someday.” I made a deal with myself: I’d review this list weekly. And more importantly—I’d block time for it.
Think:
-
The strategy session I keep saying I’ll do
-
That brand idea I swear I’ll start next month
-
The professional leap I’ve been too scared to take
Now, every Friday, I scan that page. I don’t panic. I don’t judge. I just ask: What needs oil?
What This Sticky Note Actually Taught Me
We love to talk about planning like it’s all layouts and routines. But sometimes, the most powerful shifts come from things we almost throw away.
This tiny, unassuming sticky note reminded me that reflection isn't a “nice to have.” It’s the whole thing. Without it, we’re just organizing chaos. With it? We’re actually designing lives that make sense.
My Reflective Planning Kit
A few tools I now swear by (thanks to this weird little note):
-
“Big List” page in my digital planner (lives as a sticker that i add to monthly, weekly and daily spreads as needed)
-
Weekly Think Block on Fridays at the end of the day—non-negotiable
-
Sticky Note Graveyard—yes, I keep them now (don’t judge)
-
Trigger phrase reminders like “What needs oil?” or “Is this reactive or reflective?”
Your Turn
Let’s be real: we all have sticky note moments. Little scraps of insight we almost ignore.
So here’s my question: What’s the “throwaway” thought that stuck with you?
The offhand quote, the forgotten note, the idea scribbled in the margins that ended up shifting everything?
Share it in the comments—or DM me @myminimalistplanner. I love a good accidental breakthrough.
And if you’ve been stuck in execution mode like I was?
Take 5 minutes today. Reflect. Reconnect. Maybe even write yourself a sticky note.
Just… don’t toss it this time.