You need to stop.

Not everything needs your attention at all times.

During Hurricane Helene a few months ago, a Floridian colleague living on the path of the storm logged on to coordinate coverage and edit stories.

That person was lauded for their bravery and commitment to bringing fellow residents vital news.

What they did was important. They felt they were in a safe enough position to continue working, and so they did.

I could never. Not anymore. There was a time in my life when I would’ve been that person—and I pass no judgment on their choice—but for me, it’s a no.

After experiencing real loss and growing up in a family that swept things under the rug, I’ve learned that holding space for emotions (or the lack thereof) is as important as the work we do as journalists. We are people, after all, and what we report often impacts us, too.

In the past few years, I’ve been trying to set an example as a manager by not being available 24/7 because I’m not. Even if I’m just sitting on the floor playing with my dog, that’s as important to me as my work. This expectation that our value as a journalist, as a storyteller, as a human is tied to our productivity is neither fair nor sustainable.

Whether it’s your work, your creativity, your short temper, your neverending malaise, something has to give.

It’s such a cliché to say that on your deathbed, you won’t remember all the KPIs you hit, but it’s true.

Life slips away one day at a time, and before you know it, you've maintained a pattern of putting work before yourself for over a decade.

If you’re like me and large changes give you anxiety, maybe take a page from my book and perform small actions that add up. Every day, make sure you do something for yourself—something that has no monetary value, even if it’s just 5-10 minutes.

Later, when you go to bed, think of that treat you ate, that walk you took, or that video game you played. Try doing this every day for a week to see if you start to yearn for those stolen moments.

I don’t have the solution to Ayn Rand’s societal expectation that our worth is tied to production, but if you were looking for a sign that you need to slow down, this is it.