Chat, how can I be a better CEO?

When you’re a CEO, every minute counts. Between meetings, strategic decisions, emails, and the never-ending to-do list, carving out time for family and personal wellbeing can feel like a luxury. So, I asked ChatGPT to act as a life coach and design the “perfect CEO schedule” for me.

Now, I should clarify: I’m a journalist, not a CEO (if I were, my first executive order would probably be suggesting an office pet). But since I cover business leaders daily, I wanted to see what kind of structure AI recommends for those at the helm of companies in Malta.

A structured but realistic day

ChatGPT started by noting that, as a CEO working the standard 9–5, I’d need a balance of deep work, family time, and exercise.

The schedule it built is this:

• 6:15am: A short burst of exercise (anything from a brisk walk to yoga).
• 7:15am – 8:15am: Family time – breakfast together or school run.
• 9:00am – 9:30am: Priority-setting before diving into the day.
• 9:30am – 12:00pm: Deep work block, focusing on strategic projects.
• 12:00pm – 1:00pm: Lunch and a walk (no heavy carbs allowed).
• 1:00pm – 2:30pm: Meetings and collaboration.
• 2:30pm – 3:00pm: First email/admin sweep.
• 3:00pm – 4:30pm: Second deep work block.
• 4:30pm – 5:00pm: Final admin wrap-up and list tomorrow’s top three priorities.
• 5:30pm – 7:30pm: Dedicated family time.
• 9:00pm – 9:30pm: Quick prep for the next day.
• 10:30pm: Wind down and sleep.

It’s a routine that prioritises energy, focus, and balance – three things many CEOs often say they struggle to maintain.

The principles behind it

What struck me most was how intentional the schedule was. Instead of being consumed by back-to-back meetings or endless emails, ChatGPT suggested:

• Two deep work blocks daily – time reserved for high-value strategic thinking.
• Meeting batching – grouping collaboration and check-ins together to reduce fragmentation.
• Email discipline – just two sweeps per day, rather than constant checking.
• Family-first mindset – with time slotted in both mornings and evenings.

The AI even threw in a reminder to aim for at least seven hours of sleep – something many leaders still sacrifice.

Could CEOs in Malta follow this?

While real life is rarely as neat as a perfectly crafted timetable, the principles could help CEOs in Malta regain focus in their working week. Many leaders complain about the tyranny of the inbox or back-to-back meetings that leave little space for thinking. A structure like this could help reclaim control.

As ChatGPT put it: “Morning energy boost, two deep work blocks, meeting batching, email control, family time prioritised, and sleep optimised.”

That might sound simple on paper, but in practice, it requires discipline. After all, even the best schedule is useless if it’s constantly interrupted. However, one should note that the chatbot did not account for errands one might need to run and house chores.

I may not be a CEO, but if I ever become one, I’ll have an idea on how I can arrange my schedule.