The alarm goes off at 5:30 a.m. The plan is simple: Squeeze in a workout before the day begins. They have been trying to be more intentional about their health, to sleep a little more, move a little more, and stress a little less.

Before they even get out of bed, a text message changes the morning. It’s nothing dramatic, just something that cannot wait until later. The workout gets shortened, breakfast becomes something grabbed on the way out the door, and the day begins feeling just a little different than expected.

By 8:00 a.m., they are at their desk with a plan for the day. The first project is due, and after weeks of work, the client loves it. There is just one small revision. “It’ll only take 10 minutes,” they think.

Next comes another deadline. Like everyone else, they are using AI to work faster. The first response is not quite right; he second introduces new errors; the third is finally usable, but what should have taken five minutes has taken 20.

Have I been thinking about change all wrong?

Around 9:00 a.m., they remember an email leadership sent the previous week announcing a new process everyone is expected to adopt. They flag it to read later; not because they disagree with it or don’t care, but because they genuinely have not found the time.

Before they can get to it, a meeting is moved. A teammate needs help. A client changes direction. A “quick question” turns into a 20-minute conversation, while another request arrives that was not on the calendar when the day began.

Later that afternoon, their manager asks how the new process is going.

“Honestly, I haven’t had a chance to read it yet.”

Walking back to their desk, they make a mental note to get to it before they leave for the day. By the end of the afternoon, they realize they never did.

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