Too Many Irons in the Fire? How to Prioritize, Refocus, and Move Forward with Intention

If you’re reading this, odds are you’re juggling a lot—work, family, maybe a business, maybe a side hustle (or three). I get it. I’m right there with you. In fact, as I celebrate episode nine of The Priority Report (a third of the way through my podcast year—OMG!), I’m reflecting on what it means to make progress, even when things aren’t perfect.

Celebrating Small Milestones and Progress

Let me start by saying, every little milestone counts. I practice this with my clients, and I’m practicing it here with you. Honestly, I’m starting to enjoy this long-form content thing more than I expected. If you know me, you know I’m pretty verbose—so it makes sense that I’d find my groove here. I’m reminded how much growth happens outside our comfort zones. Every small step step into the limelight is a stretch for me, but it’s a benchmark. I encourage you to do the same. It's easier to sit in the discomfort when there's a process and a plan that structures it. I don't know if it looks like it from the outside, but there is a very strategic process for how I'm building this business, and you best believe, it follows the principles that I teach. Thank you for being in it with me and together, we’ll look back in another year—or in five years—and see how far we’ve come.

The Client Story: When You Pivot Too Quickly

Recently, I had a great conversation with a client who runs several businesses and a homestead—talk about a full plate! They noticed a pattern: whenever something wasn’t working, they’d pivot, which, don't get me wrong, is an important skill! Many people double down when something isn't working because of the opportunity cost. However, if we pivot before there is a chance to truly succeed or fail, we undermine our own potential.

What this looks like in practice:

• over-committing / spreading ourselves too thin

• giving up too early

• not structuring our goal with a process and a long-term plan

The truth is, when we’re quick to pivot or say yes to everything, we end up with a thousand irons in the fire. And while having options is great, spreading yourself too thin means nothing gets your full attention. What you give your energy to is what grows. If you’re not tending to all those irons, nothing moves forward. If you have too many irons, you're either not prioritizing, or prioritizing by default.

Why Prioritization Is Everything

You can only focus on so many things and actually make progress. The more you try to juggle, the slower your progress—and the more likely you are to feel burnout or overwhelm.

So, what do you do?

1. Narrow Your Focus: Don’t try to work on ten things at once. Pick your top three to five.

2. Order of Importance: Even your short list needs a clear order. I love the Eisenhower Matrix for this—focus on what’s both urgent and important.

3. Intention Over Outcome: Are you doing things for the right reasons? Focus on delivering value, not just chasing quick wins or external validation.

   
   

The Power of Non-Negotiables and Solid Routines

When you’re overwhelmed, go back to basics. For me, that means my morning routine—making the bed, eating breakfast, letting the dog out, a quick meditation. These non-negotiables set the foundation for my day. If I skip them, everything else feels off.

Your non-negotiables may look different, but the principle is the same: identify the habits and routines that set you up for success, and treat them as sacred. When overwhelm hits, our routines bring us back to a sense of knowing and control. They teach us the discipline we need for when we set goals that push us outside of our comfort and our day-to-day. Non-negotiables root us in what is fundamental to taking care of ourselves and how we treat ourselves.

Present Awareness: The Key to Choice

The not-so-sexy truth is, you have to bring conscious attention to your present moment to make changes to your habits. Notice when you’re spread too thin, when your actions aren’t aligning with your values, and when you’re operating from a place of scarcity or fear. That awareness gives you the power to choose differently.

Ask yourself:

• What’s my honest intention here?

• Do my behaviors align with my values?

• Am I making choices that move me toward the person I want to become?

Plant Your Seeds and Tend Your Garden

Success—whether in business, health, or life—isn’t about instant gratification. It’s about planting seeds, tending your garden, and giving things time to grow. You can’t harvest what you haven’t sown, and you can’t expect results from work you didn’t do. So, narrow your focus, set your priorities, align your actions with your values, and be patient with the process. When you faulter (and we all do), begin again. The process is a practice. Practice self-mastery.

Action Steps for Practicing Self-Mastery:

• Catch yourself in the moment: Notice when you’re overwhelmed or off-track.

• Revisit your honest intention: Are you operating in alignment with your values?

• Make your non-negotiables truly non-negotiable: Build routines that serve you.

• Take action: Even the smallest shift today is an investment in your future self.

Remember: You can never save time, you can only choose how you spend it. Here’s to getting 1% better, one choice at a time.

Ready to clarify your priorities and build habits that stick? Check out the latest episode of The Priority Report and let’s connect—DM me “priorities” or “habits” on social. I'll reach out directly. Or join the email list for more weekly slow living solutions and strategies.