Slowing Down When Everything Feels Overwhelming
Hi there,
Sometimes life just piles up. The meetings, the messages, the tasks that seem to multiply no matter how many you cross off. The small stuff that should take five minutes but somehow eats up your whole afternoon. The exhaustion that does not go away after one good night’s sleep. We all know that feeling when work, life, and the world seem to sync up in chaos, and even small things feel heavy.
I am not immune to it either. This newsletter is a day later than usual because I had one of those weeks. I felt like I was juggling too much and dropping things anyway. I share that not as an excuse but as a reminder that this happens to everyone. No matter how organized, experienced, or resilient we think we are, the pressure finds a way in.
When it does, try to pause and ask yourself what can be delayed, reduced, or even canceled. Not everything needs to happen right now. Some things can wait. Some things should. Productivity culture tells us to keep pushing and to “power through,” but the truth is that stepping back often helps us see what actually matters.
Taking care of yourself is not a luxury. It is maintenance. It is what keeps you from running on empty and showing up as a ghost of yourself. It also gives you the capacity to notice when the people around you are struggling too. A kind message, a check-in, or just quietly taking something off someone’s plate can make a bigger impact than you realize.
If this week has felt like too much, I see you. Take the break. Step outside. Ask for help. Say no. We are all doing our best with the energy we have, and we don’t have to carry it alone.
— Wesley Faulkner
Survival Tactic: The Capacity Check (and the Emergency Exit)
Last week, I wrote about the Triple Constraint, the three factors that define any project: time, deliverables, and resources. Together, they shape what is possible. Most of the time, you can use them to clarify expectations or adjust priorities. But sometimes, you can also use them as an escape hatch when you have reached your limit.
This is not a tactic to use often, but when you are completely tapped out and have no bandwidth left, it can help you shift the pressure from yourself back to where it belongs, the system.
Here’s how to use it responsibly:
Name the constraint that is unclear.
If you are blocked or overloaded, identify which of the three constraints is the issue. Is it time, resources, or deliverables?Ask clarifying questions.
Push for definition.If it is time: “Can you share a detailed timeline, including milestones and checkpoints?”
If it is resources: “What support or tools will be available, and when?”
If it is deliverables: “What level of detail, testing, or polish is required for success?”
Shift the blocker.
Once you ask those questions, you have moved the next step off your plate until leadership or stakeholders respond. You have created a pause that is grounded in professionalism, not avoidance.Use this only when you must.
This is your emergency brake, not your daily routine. It buys you time to breathe and recover when you are running on empty.
You can think of it as a kind of test bankruptcy, a reset that keeps you from burning out completely. The goal is not to stop working, it is to stop carrying the entire burden alone.
So when everything feels overwhelming, start with a capacity check. If that is not enough, use the Triple Constraint to create a moment of clarity. Sometimes survival means slowing down the system long enough for you to catch your breath. When you define the limits, you protect your energy.
➡️ If you have a survival tip you would like to share, click the button below to submit it for the next newsletter.
The System is Broken: The Proof is all Around Us
FBI Trainee Fired Over Pride Flag (Published October 2, 2025)
A former FBI trainee says he was dismissed after displaying a Pride flag in his dorm room. The case has sparked outrage and raised new concerns about bias, retaliation, and discrimination in federal institutions. via MSNBC
Private Sector Job Losses Mount (Published October 1, 2025)
ADP data shows the U.S. private sector lost 32,000 jobs in September, signaling growing caution among employers and cooling momentum in the labor market. via NBC News
Suns Employees Pressured to Waive Right to Sue (Published September 23, 2025)
Current and former Phoenix Suns employees were reportedly asked to sign agreements waiving their right to sue the team. The move echoes broader corporate tactics aimed at silencing workers and minimizing accountability. via ESPN
Return to Office, on Workers’ Terms (Published October 6, 2025)
Companies are still mandating return-to-office policies, but workers are quietly pushing back. Many are showing up in person yet redefining what “presence” means — setting boundaries, arriving later, or working hybrid schedules that make sense for them. via CNBC
Site Updates: Fixes and Progress
This week marks an exciting step forward. We are starting to receive stories from the community. Hearing your experiences and reflections is exactly what this project was built for. These stories help shape what Work’s Not Working becomes and remind us that none of us are going through this alone.
Here is a new audio story from Henri, who shared his perspective on navigating the realities of work and why he joined the community. You can listen to Henri’s story below. I am grateful for his openness and honesty.
If you have a story to tell, big or small, please send it in. Whether it is a recording, a short message, or a written reflection, every story adds another piece to the larger picture of what modern work really looks like.
Thank you for continuing to build this community together.
Spread the Word: Strength in Numbers
Know someone stuck in a job with no clear way out? Forward this issue and help them join the community now. Together we can build a space where no one has to face work struggles alone.
They want us to feel isolated, like our struggles are ours alone. But the more we come together, the fewer of us will fall through the cracks. Every new subscriber strengthens this network and makes it harder for broken systems to silence or divide us.
Previous newsletters can always be found here.
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