First, let me just say that I cannot tell you how many coaching clients have been dealing with this issue in the past few weeks.  When I told them that this week’s episode is all about why hope is not a time management strategy, they laughed and said they couldn’t wait to listen to it.

So let’s start off by talking about something we all rely on way too much: hope. It feels good to hope for a smoother day tomorrow, to hope that the chaos will settle down, or to hope that you’ll finally get everything crossed off your to-do list.

But here’s the thing—hope isn’t a plan. It’s not a time management strategy. And yet, so many of us lean on it like it’s going to magically solve everything.

For example, I was working with a group of accountant entrepreneurs on time management and one of them was going over a project she was working on.  When I asked her when it would be done, she said, “I hope to get it done by next Friday.”

The look on my face told her she had broken one of my cardinal rules for effective time management – hoping is ineffective, because it puts the outcome outside of your control. I asked her, “What needs to happen for this to actually be done by next Friday?” She paused and admitted she hadn’t really thought about it—she was just hoping things would fall into place.

That’s the problem with hope. It feels like a plan, but it’s really just wishing for the best without a clear path forward. And when you’re managing deadlines, clients, and an endless to-do list, hoping isn’t enough.

If you’re like most accountants, you’ve probably had days where you hoped for fewer interruptions, hoped that emails wouldn’t pile up, or hoped that you’d have time to focus on your real priorities. How often does that actually work?

I get it. When things feel overwhelming, hope can seem like the easiest option. It’s comforting to think, “Maybe tomorrow will be better,” instead of figuring out how to make tomorrow better.

But what if hope is actually keeping you stuck? What if it’s quietly robbing you of the control and clarity you need to truly get things done?

When was the last time hoping for something actually moved the needle for you? Did it help you meet that deadline? Did it stop the last-minute requests from pouring in? Probably not.

Here’s the tricky part—hope feels productive, doesn’t it? It’s like a mental shortcut that makes us feel like we’re doing something, even when we’re not. But is it possible that this feeling is holding you back?

What if there’s a better way? What if you could swap out hope for something that actually works—something that helps you take control of your time and your day?

In today’s episode, we’re going to explore why hope isn’t enough and what makes it such a tempting trap. Because let’s face it, as an accountant, you can’t afford to leave your time management to chance.

This is about more than just getting through the day. It’s about showing up for yourself in a way that feels intentional and empowering. Because let’s be real, you deserve more than just hoping things will get better.

The Comfort of Hope and Its Hidden Costs

Let’s talk about why hope can feel so good, even when it’s not helping you. The truth is, it’s like a mental safety net—when things feel overwhelming, hope gives you a momentary sense of relief.

It’s easy to fall into the habit of hoping things will settle down. After all, it’s much less stressful than confronting everything on your plate. Hope lets you push the problem off to some future version of yourself.

But here’s the thing: hope doesn’t actually solve anything. It keeps you in a waiting pattern, expecting circumstances to change instead of taking steps to make that change happen.

The real issue is that hope often feels like you’re doing something. It gives a quick emotional boost, like a little promise to yourself that things will be okay. But honestly, does that promise actually translate into progress?

It’s important to point out that the hidden cost of hope is that it delays action. When you’re hoping for a quieter day or fewer interruptions, you’re not planning for how to handle the noise or the chaos when it inevitably comes.

Hope also has a sneaky way of creating frustration. When things don’t improve the way you hoped they would, it’s easy to feel like the problem is outside of your control. But is it really?

Let’s be clear—there’s nothing wrong with being hopeful. The problem is when hope becomes a substitute for action. It’s like having a map but not taking the first step toward your destination.

If you’ve ever wondered why your workload feels so unpredictable or why you can’t seem to catch up, it might be worth asking yourself: am I hoping for things to change, or am I making decisions to create change?

I like to tell my coaching clients, “If you’re not changing it, you’re choosing it.”

Hope feels safe and comforting, but it doesn’t give you the tools to deal with the challenges that come your way. To take control, you need more than hope—you need a strategy.

Let’s break down what’s really going on here and why relying on hope might be keeping you stuck.

Why Hope Alone Isn’t Enough for Time Management

Here’s the thing about hope—it’s not a bad thing. In fact, it’s often the spark that makes us believe things can get better. But when it comes to managing your time, hope can’t do the heavy lifting.

Hope doesn’t prioritize your tasks. It doesn’t create a plan or decide what needs to happen next. And when your to-do list is as long as a CVS receipt, those are the things that actually matter.

The truth is, time management is about action. It’s about making intentional decisions in the moment, even when things feel chaotic. Hope can’t decide which email needs a reply or which project should come first.

If you’ve ever found yourself hoping for a free afternoon to finally catch up, you know how unreliable that can be. Free time doesn’t just appear. Without a plan, that hope gets swallowed up by distractions and urgent requests.

Hope also doesn’t help you handle the unexpected. It can’t stop a last-minute client email or prevent an interruption in the middle of a complex task. When things go off track, hope won’t guide you back—it just waits for the dust to settle.

Another issue is that relying on hope often leads to overwhelm. When you don’t have a system in place, everything feels equally urgent. It’s exhausting to live in a constant state of “maybe tomorrow will be better” without a clear way forward.

Again, it’s not that hope isn’t helpful—it’s that it can’t stand alone. It’s the starting point, not the whole solution. What gets you from overwhelmed to organized isn’t hoping for change—it’s taking steps to make that change happen.

Now let’s talk about the brain science behind hope and procrastination.

The Brain Science Behind Hope and Procrastination

It’s one thing to understand why hope isn’t enough, but have you ever wondered why we keep leaning on it anyway? If we know it’s not solving the problem, why do we keep doing it? The answer lies in how our brains are wired.

Our brains are designed to avoid discomfort. When faced with a long to-do list or a big decision, your brain naturally looks for the path of least resistance. Hope feels easy—it gives you a quick sense of relief without forcing you to take action.

Unfortunately, this is where procrastination sneaks in. Hope and procrastination go hand in hand because both give you a way to avoid the hard stuff in the moment. Your brain convinces you that putting things off is fine because, well, you’re hopeful it’ll all work out later.

But what’s happening behind the scenes is that when you choose to hope instead of action, your brain rewards you with a little burst of dopamine. That feel-good chemical tricks you into thinking you’ve accomplished something, even though nothing has actually changed.

The issue is that that dopamine boost is short-lived. When the same tasks you were avoiding show up again—and now with added pressure—it’s easy to feel stuck. The cycle of hope and procrastination can leave you overwhelmed, stressed, and wondering why nothing seems to improve.

The thing is, your brain isn’t trying to sabotage you. It’s just trying to keep you comfortable. Your higher brain, the part I refer to as the Supervising Parent, is responsible for planning and decision-making and thrives on structure and clarity. But when you rely on hope, you’re bypassing that part of your brain and leaning on emotions instead of logic.

This is why procrastination often feels easier in the moment but leaves you feeling worse later. Your brain’s quick fix—the dopamine from hope—ends up costing you more time and energy in the long run.

Understanding this brain science isn’t about blaming yourself for procrastinating. It’s about recognizing what’s really going on and learning how to work with your brain instead of against it.

So, how do you break the cycle? How do you move from a place of passive hope to intentional action? Let’s take a closer look at how to make that shift.

How to Move from Hope to Intentional Action

Okay, let’s get real—how do you stop relying on hope and actually take charge of your time? Don’t worry; you don’t have to flip your whole life upside down. It’s all about small, simple steps that add up to big changes.

Start by thinking about where hope is sneaking into your day. Are you hoping your emails won’t pile up while you work? Or maybe you’re hoping for some magical stretch of free time to get that big project done. Be honest—where are you leaving things to chance?

Here’s a question to ask yourself: “What’s one part of my day where I’m just hoping instead of deciding?” It might be a small thing, like hoping you’ll stay focused during a busy afternoon, or something bigger, like hoping this week will finally feel less chaotic. Just notice it—no judgment, no guilt.

Now, let’s talk about what you can do. The secret is focusing on small, strategic wins. You don’t need hours of free time to make progress. Start with something tiny, like blocking off 30 minutes to work on one specific task. No distractions, no multitasking—just one thing.

It’s amazing how much lighter you’ll feel after even a little win like that. And those small wins start to stack up. Pretty soon, you’re not just hoping for progress—you’re seeing it.

The next thing you can do is all about tools. Hope is no match for a good plan. And that plan starts with effective time blocking. 

In The Smarter Accountant Time Management Program I have an on-demand training about the time blocking process I created for accountants, and I can tell you it’s a game changer.

Effective time blocking is like making a reservation for your time. When you decide in advance what you’re going to do, it’s so much easier to stay focused and actually get it done.

Or, if you’re like me and sometimes everything feels important, try using a prioritization framework. Something simple, like figuring out what’s high impact versus low impact. It takes a few minutes, but it helps you stop spinning your wheels on low-priority things that your brain can get fixated on.

And let’s be honest—interruptions and curveballs aren’t going anywhere. So instead of hoping they’ll stop, train your brain to handle them. Expect them, plan for them, and know how to pivot when they show up.

Another key is mindfulness.  Just pausing for a second when you’re overwhelmed can help you respond instead of react. It’s like giving your brain a little space to breathe.

The bottom line is that moving from hope to action isn’t about being perfect. It’s about making progress, one small decision at a time. And every step you take brings you closer to feeling in control of your day. 

Becoming a Smarter Accountant: Not Using Hope As A Time Management Strategy

Although this is a very common time management issue for my coaching clients, there’s one particular client that I want to share with you.

When I first started working with him, he was stuck in what I call the “hope cycle.” He hoped his clients would provide their documents on time, hoped his mornings would be interruption-free, hoped he’d find the energy to tackle his never-ending to-do list, and hoped he’d get home in time for dinner with his family.

Every week, he felt like he was falling further behind, and no matter how much he hoped for a calmer schedule, it never happened. When I asked him what his plan was for handling these challenges, he said, “I don’t really have one. I just keep hoping it’ll all work out.”

But it wasn’t working out. He was overwhelmed, frustrated, and completely drained. Hope had become his default strategy, and it was failing him.

Fast forward a few months, and his approach to time management looks completely different. Instead of hoping for fewer interruptions, he started time blocking his schedule using my approach and setting boundaries around his deep work time.

When interruptions did come up—and they always do—he had a plan. He learned to expect them and used mindfulness techniques to stay calm and focused instead of letting them derail his day.

He also got intentional about his priorities. Instead of hoping he’d find time for everything, he began using a simple prioritization tool I taught him to decide what truly mattered. By focusing on small, strategic wins, like finishing one client’s return before lunch, he built momentum that carried him through the rest of her day.

Now, he no longer relies on hope to manage his time. He relies on decisions. His weeks aren’t perfect—whose are?—but now he feels in control. Instead of ending his days feeling defeated, he ends them knowing he’s made real progress.

When I asked him how he feels about his time now, he said, “I didn’t realize how much hope was holding me back. Now, I have a system that actually works.”

Hopefully you can see that this client’s story is proof that moving from hope to intentional action can completely transform how you approach your time. And if he can do it, so can you.

Now I’m going to share the key takeaway from today and an action item for the upcoming week.

Key Takeaway and Action Item

The key takeaway is that hope is a great feeling, but it’s not a strategy. To truly take control of your time, you need intentional decisions and small, consistent actions that move you forward.

For this week, ask yourself, “What’s one area of my day where I’m relying on hope instead of making a plan?”  This question is powerful because it helps you pinpoint where you’re waiting for things to magically improve instead of taking charge. 

Maybe it’s hoping interruptions will stop, or that you’ll finally have time to focus on that big project. Once you’ve identified it, you can take one small step to create change instead of leaving it to chance.

The bottom line is that hope can be a starting point, but it can’t do the work for you. By making intentional decisions and focusing on what you can control, you’ll not only manage your time better—you’ll feel more in charge of your day and your results. 

Remember, it’s the small steps that lead to big changes. 

Well, that’s what I have for you today. Thank you for joining me as I explained why hope is not a time management strategy for accountants. I hope you’re walking away with some awareness that might change how you manage your time at work and at home.

As I always say, you’ve worked hard to become an accountant; it’s time to make it easier to be one.

If you’d like to discuss how to better manage your time or anything you’re currently struggling with, you can schedule a free 30-minute call with me at  https://thesmarteraccountant.com/calendar/. 

And don’t forget to check back each week for more tips and strategies to help you go from being a stressed accountant to a Smarter Accountant.

Also, if you haven’t already, make sure to take The Smarter Accountant Quiz at www.thesmarteraccountant.com to see if you’ve been underutilizing your accountant brain. It’s a great starting point to see where you are and how you can improve.

Lastly, if you’ve found today’s episode helpful, I’d really appreciate it if you could spread the word to other accountants. The more we get this message out, the more we can change the narrative in the accounting profession and help accountants everywhere.

The truth is that you’re already smart, but this podcast will show you how to be smarter.