When ‘Doing More’ Is Actually Holding You Back

The alarm goes off, and for the 5th time in 28 minutes, you hit snooze. You spend a few seconds justifying it, then drift back into a deep sleep.

Eventually, you’re up, and those justifications don’t feel so justified anymore.

You’d planned to wake up early enough to work out, make breakfast, meditate, stretch, and read.

Instead, you’re left with just enough time to get dressed and grab a banana on your way out.

Of course as a leader, your work isn’t just clocking in and out. You need to stay sharp, solve difficult problems, handle fires, make tough decisions, and have uncomfortable conversations.

That takes up the next 8-10 hours, if you’re lucky.

When you do get home, you’re trying to make up for the morning. You work out, cook dinner, and suddenly, it’s 9 p.m.

You scroll through your phone then face the same dilemma you’ve had all week.

Do you go to sleep early, or do you try to squeeze in a little reading and maybe some journaling? For extra fun, let’s throw in a side hustle that you’re trying to manage :)

If you haven’t guessed by now, this chaotic balancing act is my own stream of consciousness.

Anyway, you end up reading for five minutes and realize if you keep going, you’ll be too tired to wake up early again. So you go to bed feeling like you just didn’t do enough.

Dramatic? Maybe, but it’s all relative.

No matter what your day involves, it’s easy to find yourself running around yet feeling like you’re not actually getting anything done.

It can get pretty bad.

Ironically, the need to meditate has sometimes even given me anxiety because I tend to miss it more often than not. The list of things to do never ends, so even on a productive day, I still feel like I’ve missed something.

Yes, prioritization helps, but the list doesn’t exactly shrink either.

About a year ago, I felt burnout creeping in. But if you’d asked me then, I wouldn’t have defined it as such. I just thought I wasn’t trying hard enough or wasn’t disciplined enough.

That I wasn’t enough.

It’s easy to slip into that loop, and victimhood is always lurking around the corner.

Then one day, after another one of my self-critical rants, my girlfriend suggested that I give myself some grace. Not a half-hearted pat on the back, but genuine compassion: “You did a lot today. Get some extra sleep tonight, and set your alarm an hour later.”

I struggled with this at first. Every time I tried it, I swear I could picture David Goggins calling me a b***.

But I had lost perspective. In the fishbowl, I kept thinking I wasn’t disciplined enough. In reality, I was disciplined; I just needed to give myself some grace in the process. It didn’t mean I’d end up like White Goodman on the couch.

There’s nothing wrong with making adjustments while acknowledging that you’re doing enough.

This realization made me dig deeper. I wanted to find a way to maintain the work ethic needed to reach my goals while consistently growing.

Here are my 10 lessons to ensure you work as hard as possible—in the healthiest way. It’s less about balance and more about being human.

10 Lessons for Avoiding Burnout

1. Recognize the Warning Signs Early
   Notice when hitting snooze or avoiding tasks becomes routine—it’s often the first sign of burnout.

2. Redefine Productivity
   Accept that productivity isn’t about doing everything; it’s about doing what matters most.

3. Give Yourself Grace
   Allow yourself to rest without guilt. Recovery is essential to maintain long-term discipline.

4. Start Small with Self-Care
   Incorporate brief moments of self-care, like 5 minutes of stretching or a quick walk, even on busy days.

5. Embrace the Unfinished
   Perfection isn’t the goal; progress is. It’s okay if the to-do list isn’t always clear.

6. Balance Effort with Rest
   Set limits on work intensity—take breaks, eat well, and prioritize sleep to stay sharp.

7. Practice Daily Reflection
   Spend a few minutes each day assessing what went well and what didn’t. Adjust for tomorrow.

8. Delegate When Possible
   Trust others with tasks, freeing you up to focus on higher-impact work and avoid overload.

9. Celebrate Small Wins
   Recognize and appreciate progress, even if it feels minor. Positive reinforcement builds resilience.

10. Stay Open to Adjustments
    Flexibility is key—adjust your routines and expectations as needed to maintain mental and physical well-being.