Dmitry + mindthegap
Case example / How to Find the Time and Energy for Your Own Project?
How we did it
Client’s Background
Marketing executive in mid-sized companies, founder of small projects.
Lifestyle
Lives in two countries and travels frequently. Works remotely but periodically visits in person to meet with the team.

Naturally an introvert, yet required to attend numerous back-to-back meetings.

Has a personal startup that is progressing slowly, primarily due to procrastination and a lack of energy in the evenings.
Why Dmitry sought help
Persistent fatigue, low productivity, and a sharp decline in motivation for his personal project.
Root Causes
An unbalanced schedule and a lack of a structured approach to time and task management. Dmitry was constantly reallocating his energy without accounting for his limits.
Initial Concerns / Key Quotes
“I was overworking myself with an unrealistic sense of time.”
“I’ve always been the responsible one, taking on more than I should. But when it comes to my own projects, that approach just doesn’t work.”
“Evenings should be the perfect time for my project, but by then, I have no energy or motivation left.”
“Everything seems fine—until I overload myself to the point of burnout.”
Approach & Work Format
A combination of coaching and therapy, with alternating weekly sessions (one week with a coach, the next with a therapist). This was complemented by structured assignments and hypothesis testing within his projects.
Key Challenges We Identified
  • Unrealistic expectations regarding outcomes—both for work and personal projects—setting standards that even the best results wouldn’t always meet.
  • Lack of proper rest: As an introvert, he was overwhelmed by constant meetings and didn’t give himself time to recharge.
  • Underestimating the impact of unexpected tasks: Weekly, he allocated 5 hours for them but ended up spending 10–13.
  • Trying to do everything himself: Frequently took on tasks that should have been delegated to his team, consuming unplanned time and energy.
  • Procrastination instead of true rest: Without a structured routine, downtime turned into passive procrastination, which only worsened fatigue.
  • Constantly sacrificing personal time: Work often took priority over exercise, personal interests, and time with his wife.
  • Misjudging the impact of unforeseen events.
  • Ineffective spending habits driven by a tendency to postpone personal enjoyment and investments.
How We Addressed These Issues
  • Conducted a deep analysis of his daily and weekly habits to identify gaps between expectations and reality.
  • Identified the key bottlenecks that had the most significant medium-term impact.
  • Focused on quick wins—changes that required minimal effort but led to meaningful improvements (e.g., restructuring meetings, adding midday exercise, etc.).
  • Established clear routines to create a sustainable schedule.
  • Worked through psychological barriers around delegation, prioritization, and motivation.
  • Provided ongoing monitoring and support to help reinforce new habits.
Results
Developed the ability to set realistic expectations and assess his actual productivity more accurately.
• Increased time dedicated to his personal project from 1 hour to 3–4 hours per week, as planned.
• Improved time management, balancing both work and rest.
• Mastered delegation, allowing him to focus on high-priority tasks.
• Established a structured sleep schedule, significantly improving his overall well-being.
• Replaced procrastination with meaningful short breaks.
• Unexpected tasks no longer completely derailed his schedule, reducing stress.
Dmitry went from constantly firefighting to consciously managing his time.

By redistributing his energy, improving his sleep, and adopting structured planning, he finally created the space to develop his own projects.