Calendars Don’t Fix Capacity Problems
Let’s get this out of the way: this week isn’t actually crazier than last week. You’ve just been running on the fumes of high-functioning panic for so long that it feels normal. But here’s the truth no one wants to say out loud, this level of constant overwhelm? The “I just need to get through this launch, event, quarter, life moment” loop? That’s not a phase. That’s a pattern. And it’s one that needs to break.
At Mise En Place Co, we work with brilliant, ambitious, wildly capable people who are slowly drowning in their own to-do lists. People who have trained themselves to believe that if they just hustle a little harder or work a little later, they’ll finally feel caught up. Spoiler: you won’t. Because this isn’t a time management issue. It’s a capacity issue. And possibly an ego one, too.
The “I’ll Just Do It Myself” Trap
Let’s talk about the high-achiever who does everything. The founder who reviews every caption. The Head of Marketing still uploading campaign assets. The Creative Director writing every client email and fixing the broken Google Drive folder structure from 2018.
You might be telling yourself that it’s faster to do it yourself. That your team’s already swamped. That no one else will do it quite the way you do. And maybe some of that’s true.
But here’s what’s also true: when you insist on being the only person who can do something, you’re quietly telling your team they’re not capable. You’re hoarding the work and the opportunity. That’s not leadership — that’s self-sabotage in a power blazer.
Delegating isn’t giving up control. It’s reclaiming your sanity. And it’s giving your team room to grow, flex, and actually help you. Because newsflash: that’s what they’re here for.
The Solution Isn’t a New Platform. It’s a New Approach.
You don’t need another project management tool. You need a reset. A strategic realignment. A "what are we doing, why are we doing it, and who should actually be doing it?" conversation.
This is where most overwhelmed teams need support:
No clear prioritization. Everything feels urgent because nothing is truly defined.
Poor delegation systems. You’re still the bottleneck, whether you mean to be or not.
Messy digital environments. If finding the latest version of a deck requires an archaeological dig, we have a problem.
We help fix all of that. Our audits cut through the chaos to uncover where the breakdowns are happening — and more importantly, why. Our digital organization work puts structure behind your strategy. And our starter packs give you ready-to-go assets so you’re not reinventing the wheel or rewriting the welcome email every single time.
Quick Fixes While You Course Correct
Let’s not pretend this can be solved overnight, but here are a few gentle-yet-firm nudges in the right direction:
Start every week by identifying what only you can do. If it doesn’t land on that list, it’s fair game for delegation.
Give your team the benefit of the doubt. They might surprise you when you stop editing them into oblivion.
Audit your calendar. If everything is marked as urgent, nothing is. Color-code, cancel, and carve out time to think.
Clean your digital house. Even 20 minutes of tidying your files or renaming assets can reduce decision fatigue.
Overwhelm Isn’t a Badge of Honor
Burnout is not a management style. And if your success comes at the expense of your sanity, it’s not actually success—it’s survival.
So no, this week isn’t crazy. You’re just operating at a level your systems and your nervous-system can’t sustain. Let’s fix that.
We're Mise En Place Co. We bring order to your creative chaos. Not by doing more, but by helping you do less, on purpose.
