One of the questions I get asked the most is:

“Am I being lazy?” 

This question doesn't usually come from lazy people. It often comes from those who feel guilty about resting. They want an explanation for their need to sit and do nothing, or "waste time" when they've had no chance to do so at any other point in the day. They also feel guilty spending a day doing something fun that doesn't end with a to-do list item checked off.

The Overachiever

These are often the overachievers. In their defense, they have a lot to do. They are the company execs, the breadwinners, the engaged parents, the community organizers, the givers, the good listeners, and, yes, sometimes the people pleasers. They are the ones who hold teams together and get the work done. But they also have one thing in common: they're on the brink of burnout.

That person on your team who can't help but save the day may also be the one to abruptly quit because they can't find a happy medium between saying yes to everything and saying no indefinitely. Their competence is often mistaken for capacity.

No one checks on the person who never seems to need help, until the day they stop showing up. This is where mindfulness comes in. Taking a moment to check in with our exhaustion can reveal whether it's time to push, pause, play, or pivot. 

Push

There are moments when you feel exhausted or stressed, but still deeply interested in what you're doing. Even if you were to lie down in the most comfortable bed, you wouldn't be able to rest until that problem was solved or the task completed. That's when it's time to push through.  

Pause

Then there are times when your mind wanders and focus is gone. You move more slowly, maybe reading the same sentence over and over. You could stay up for hours in a brightly lit room and still produce little. That's when it's time to pause. Take a short break or end the evening to allow your mind and body to reset. 

Play

Sometimes you're not that tired, but you're also not focused. You have energy but no ideas. You find yourself staring at the same problem or stuck in writer's block. That's when it's time to play. Step away from the work and spark creativity in other ways. Take a walk, doodle, or even change your screensaver. Play engages a different part of the brain and helps generate fresh ideas. 

Pivot

Finally, there are times when you feel drained or unmotivated in a way that's hard to name. You know exactly what you're supposed to do but dread it—not because it's difficult, but because it feels pointless. That's when it's time to pivot. Re-engage with the purpose behind the task. Maybe this is how you provide for your family. Maybe this small task connects to a bigger mission.

There is an African proverb that says, "If you think you are too small to make a difference, you haven't spent the night with a mosquito." No matter how small the action, someone somewhere is affected. Pivoting can also mean reevaluating whether a task needs to be done at all. 

The Leader's Job

For teams, these cues offer an opportunity to assess workflows. Should we push through because the end justifies the means? Should we pause because we're overextended? Should we play and allow time for community and idea exchange? Or is it time to pivot and rethink the game plan?

For leaders, the question isn't only which lever to pull. It's who on your team has stopped asking for help. The silence of your most reliable person is not peace. It's often the last stage before they leave.

Push, pause, play, or pivot. What's best for you right now? 

Prepared for members of TruHUMN Society.
Quietly shaping sustainable, high-performance cultures.