Overwhelmed? It’s Time to Take Back Control
Leadership isn’t just about making decisions at work. It’s about managing your energy and your priorities. It also involves taking care of the people who depend on you.
But what happens when everything piles up at once?
Your inbox is overflowing, you’re handling critical projects at work, and the demands at home aren’t slowing down either. Before you know it, you’re stretched thin. You feel like you’re running out of time and wonder how long you can keep this up.
Now the real question is: How do you handle the overwhelm of juggling leadership at work and responsibilities at home?
I’ve been there.
I returned from my last deployment in 2020. I thought I would immediately step back into my leadership role at home. I also wanted to make up for lost time with my family. But instead, I felt like I was drowning. I wanted to give my team my full effort. I also wanted to give my loved ones my full effort. Instead, I felt like I was failing at both.
That’s when I realized something had to change. I developed a simple but powerful 3-step framework that transformed how I approached leadership and life.
Leadership isn’t about doing more—it’s about empowering others to step up!
The Ownership Strategy: 3 Steps to Regain Control
1. Acknowledge What You Can Control.
One of the biggest causes of overwhelm is focusing on things outside your control.
I couldn’t change the time I had already missed with my family. I couldn’t control every unexpected issue that popped up at work. But I could control how I reacted to each situation and how I spent my time moving forward.
When you shift your focus to what’s within your power, you reclaim your energy. Ask yourself:
- What’s in my control?
- What’s outside my control?
- Where am I wasting energy on things I can’t change?
By redirecting your focus, you free up mental bandwidth for what truly matters.
2. Delegate Effectively.
Too many leaders fall into the trap of thinking they have to do everything themselves.
Here’s the truth: Leadership isn’t about doing more—it’s about empowering others to step up.
At work, this means trusting your team with tasks that don’t require your direct involvement. At home, it means asking for help and involving your family in shared responsibilities. It is a constant battle personally and as a leader, you must be self aware.
The key to delegation is clarity. Define what needs to be done, who’s responsible, and when it should be completed. Let go of micromanagement and focus on high-impact leadership.
3. Set Boundaries That Protect Your Time.
One of the hardest—but most crucial—steps is setting boundaries.
I had to establish non-negotiable family time, meaning no work emails, no calls, and no distractions. That wasn’t easy at first, but over time, it became a game-changer.
Here’s how you can set effective boundaries:
- At work: Establish clear work hours and communicate them to your team. Stop responding to non-urgent messages after hours.
- At home: Block out uninterrupted time for your family. Be fully present.
- For yourself: Carve out time for rest and personal growth—you can’t lead if you’re running on empty.
When you respect your own boundaries, others will too.
But What If People Expect You to Be Available 24/7?
This is the next challenge—maintaining boundaries when others constantly demand your attention. For now, focus on implementing the Ownership Strategy.
Your Next Step: It’s Time to Take Back Control
Overwhelm doesn’t have to define you.
When you recognize what you can control, you begin to delegate effectively. You also set clear boundaries. As a result, you stop being reactive and start leading with intention and clarity.
🎯 Call To Action: Shoot me a message on social media. You can also comment below. What’s one boundary you’re committing to this week?
Let’s build a life where leadership and family thrive—without burnout.
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