"Things which matter most must never be at the mercy of things which matter least." Goethe
We promise ourselves that next time we'll just work a little harder or do it a little better. We can't cut anything out because, "It's all important!" We'll just get up a little earlier or go to bed a little later.
When we inevitably fail, we blame ourselves because we can't run faster than a speeding bullet, aren't more powerful than a locomotive, and don't leap tall buildings in a single bounce. And our stress levels rise. It impacts us and it impacts those around us.
The truth is we're trying to do too much. Any juggler can only juggle so many balls in the air before they all come crashing down. When we don't learn the lessons, our problems just change clothes and march back into our lives.
Not everything is important. When we say that everything is important, it becomes impossible to prioritize. This irrational belief scatters our attention and defuses our focus. Allow yourself to recognize that not everything is important.
Work smarter, not harder. Say to yourself, "Working harder doesn't work for me. I need to do it smarter. I need to choose what is important and make good solid managerial choices."
Leadership is all about getting things done through others. People are anxious to follow those who have a vision. Use your leadership skills to get others to do the things that you need done. These will be things that can be easily delegated to others or you may need to pay to have them done.