Focus. #deliver Rest and Reset
How do I recover when I'm exhausted, overwhelmed or stuck?
Stop pushing through. Rest, even briefly (you don't need a vacation), take a time out or a skip day, and remember that storms pass. When you are stuck, walk away or get out of your own head. When plans change, stay resilient and treat the friction as feedback. Let go of the moment you keep replaying, treat today as Day One, and bookend your day with a deliberate first and final moment.
Subscribe To Focus. #deliver On LinkedIn →
Prefer email? Get one Scrum tactic and a free cartoon every Saturday: join the Implementing Scrum list.
The tips, one per Thursday
39 editions of Focus. #deliver on this theme. Each links to the full article on LinkedIn.
-
August 6, 2026
Match your pace to the season: use quiet periods for deep work or rest so you can accelerate later.
-
June 11, 2026
Stop fighting reality: treat resistance as feedback, accept that the plan changed, and adjust without the emotional drain.
-
March 26, 2026
Let yourself be bored today: stand in line or sit on the porch without your phone and let your mind wander.
-
January 1, 2026
Don't beat yourself up over yesterday: whenever you read this is Day One, so ask what you do now.
-
December 12, 2025
Take a skip day: missing a day is usually not the end of the world.
-
November 20, 2025
Last week was Time Out. This week, ask what "Time In" means to you, and take the time to answer it.
-
November 13, 2025
Time flies, and sometimes you need a time out. Take it.
-
August 21, 2025
Remember that this storm will pass, especially if you're overwhelmed right now.
-
August 14, 2025
Be resilient when plans change, even on a dime.
-
August 7, 2025
Take time to deep think to pull yourself back to reality: not forever, not belly-button-staring, not analysis paralysis.
-
April 24, 2025
If you're stuck on a problem or a past win, walk away for a bit, let it go and move on.
-
April 17, 2025
Press pause and rest, even briefly; you don't need a vacation to stop being exhausted.
-
April 10, 2025
When you feel overwhelmed, turn "what now?" into a statement and decide what you do next.
-
April 3, 2025
Choose one thing to do in the first moment of your day to turn things on.
-
March 27, 2025
Choose one thing to do as the final moment of your day to turn work off.
-
March 20, 2025
Think about the moment you keep replaying, let it go.
-
March 13, 2025
Live in this moment: take ten seconds, right now, to be where you actually are.
-
January 16, 2025
Even on auto-pilot, stay flexible. Life, work and stuff change, so ask what your next move is.
-
January 2, 2025
If you didn't meet all your goals, reboot. Don't wait for a new year; every day is a chance to reboot again.
-
November 28, 2024
When you can't catch a break, press pause and breathe, then do it a few more times today.
-
November 7, 2024
When you're slammed, pause for seven minutes and decide how to use them.
-
July 25, 2024
Get out and hang out someplace new, or somewhere you haven't been lately, even if it's just out your front door.
-
April 4, 2024
Drop the imposter syndrome and step up: everyone is bad at the beginning, so keep doing.
-
March 28, 2024
Get out from behind the screen: join a local meetup or meet someone face to face (or by Zoom or phone if you must).
-
March 14, 2024
Open your eyes, imagine a walk in nature, pause, and notice the difference from closing them.
-
March 7, 2024
Close your eyes and imagine a walk in nature (what you see, feel and smell), then open them before you scroll on.
-
February 29, 2024
You can't create time, but you can make time to recharge. Decide what you'll do with it today.
-
February 22, 2024
Make time for self-care and rest, especially when things feel overwhelming, without becoming a hermit.
-
February 15, 2024
You can't pause time, so when things feel out of control, ask what you CAN do.
-
December 28, 2023
Take a quick break and look back at what you've accomplished: today, yesterday, last week, last year.
-
September 28, 2023
If you're overwhelmed, step off the hamster wheel and notice what you gain.
-
August 10, 2023
Give yourself permission to grow something slowly, and pick something you'll intentionally let grow at its own pace.
-
July 6, 2023
Breathe regularly: breathe in, hold it for a comfortable moment, then breathe out, and actually do it.
-
January 19, 2023
If you've lost your job, give yourself time to process it, and remember you are not your job or your old role.
-
December 22, 2022
Take your PTO instead of letting it accrue: it's a liability for your employer, not a gift, and it gives you time to stop.
-
November 3, 2022
Slow your roll if meetups and networking are burning you out: simplicity, the art of maximizing the work not done, is essential.
-
October 27, 2022
Get out of your own head: when you catch yourself telling a story, talk to a friend, a colleague or even your pet to break the cycle.
-
September 22, 2022
If your attention is everywhere and walking away isn't working, try moving on instead, and think about the difference between the two.
-
July 21, 2022
When you're stuck, walk away: take a walk, drink some water or call an old friend instead of staring at the blinking cursor.
More Focus. #deliver themes
- How do I protect my focus when everything is urgent?
- How do I finish work instead of juggling half-done tasks?
- How do I avoid building things nobody needs?
- How do I stop wasting time on routines that add no value?
- How do I lead and communicate with less noise?
- How do I connect and collaborate with other people?