If you’re a frequent reader, you may have noticed a lull in my regular 3-a-week programming lately.

It wasn’t unplanned, it was necessary. When the pace of work is relentless, it’s easy to get caught in the cycle of doing everything and end up sacrificing either the quality of your outputs or the integrity of your values such as work life balance and self care.

The reality is, we all hit points where our workload is too full, our calendars too packed, and our mental energy stretched thin. In these moments, the smartest move isn’t to push harder, it’s to step back, reprioritise, and focus on what really matters.

1. Separate the must-haves from the nice-to-haves

When you’re under pressure, “nice to have” tasks can be seductive, they feel productive, but they don’t necessarily contribute to your key outcomes. Ask yourself: If I only got three things done this week, which ones would make the biggest difference? Which project deliverables cant slip. Those are your must-haves. Everything else (like LinkedIn content) gets parked for later.

2. Deliver impact, not just activity

Your value isn’t measured by the number of tasks ticked off a list; it’s in the outcomes you deliver. Focus your energy where it will create the most value for your stakeholders, team, or organisation. (I’d rather do 3 things well, than 10 things poorly)

3. Timebox and protect your schedule

Block time for your most important work, and honour those blocks. Treat them like immovable meetings. It’s much easier to say no to distractions when your time is already spoken for.

4. Protect your energy like it’s a deliverable

Self-care isn’t indulgent, it’s operational. Sleep, proper breaks, and mental downtime directly improve focus, decision-making, and creativity. Running on empty only slows you down in the long run.

You wont be as valuable in your up-time, if you don’t prioritise your down time.

5. Work to live, not live to work

Our careers are important, but they are part of life, not the whole. A balanced life, one with family, friends, rest, and experiences, makes us better at our jobs and happier in the process.

When everything feels urgent, it’s easy to forget that you are the most important asset in your work. Protecting your time, energy, and focus isn’t selfish, it’s the foundation for doing your best work.

Next time your plate feels overfull, remember: Pause. Prioritise. Focus. Deliver. And the rest can wait.