Big picture planning is important. It can help to keep us on track and give us a deeper meaning in life.

But there’s a risk of spending too much time focused on the big picture at the expense of the day-to-day work.

It’s hard to get anything done when we’re constantly reflecting on whether our careers and lives are moving in the right direction. As we obsess over our next moves and the other options we could be pursuing, we miss out on the opportunities that lay in front of us.

So yes, it’s worth keeping the big picture in the back of our mind, and occasionally reflecting on our path. But sometimes we just need to put our heads down and take care of the task at hand.

-Brandon