Why I’m Not Forcing the Work Right Now

December 22, 2025

Most people feel it this time of year: productivity drops. Mine has too.

My mind has been split between the holidays and cramming in as much work as possible so I can “relax” for the rest of the year. The result hasn’t been momentum, it’s been fatigue. And honestly, a lack of inspiration.

I’ve wanted to write, but I’ve stayed firm on one rule: when I write, it has to be real. I want it to come from a lesson, an experience, or conversation. Not forced. I’m not interested in publishing another generic blog just to maintain consistency. Writing something that’s already been said a hundred times before. I want the work to provoke thought, not fill space. I want it to make people look inward, not skim and move on.

That conviction has come with some guilt.

I’ve caught myself beating myself up for not being “productive enough” during this season. And I don’t think I’m alone in that. We’re conditioned to believe that steady output equals progress. That if we slow down, we’re falling behind.

Forcing output may feel productive, but it usually leads to low-quality decisions.

In writing.

In business.

In leadership.

Pauses are a part of the process.

We rarely question rushed decisions because they look like action. But rushed strategies create bloated offerings. Forced marketing sounds hollow. Panic hiring leads to turnover. And premature product launches quietly drain time, money, and morale.

Businesses that rush often look busy, but they are bleeding value behind the scenes.

Stepping back is observing. It’s refining. It’s letting ideas mature instead of pushing them out half-formed just to check a box.

This applies everywhere, writing, hiring, expansion, product launches. Timing matters. Thoughtfulness matters. And restraint is often the most strategic move you can make.

So, if productivity feels low right now, maybe the question isn’t “Why am I not doing more?”

Maybe it’s “What am I being given space to see?”

Because not all progress makes noise and not all pauses are wasted time. I’m learning to let these pauses exist without labeling them as failure. To trust that clarity comes from space, not pressure.

If you’re feeling behind, maybe you’re not. Maybe you’re just in the part of the process that doesn’t look impressive yet.