The One Word Leaders Say That Signals Overwhelm (Hint: You’ve Used It Today)
(And How to Fix This)
Welcome to Linked And Lift, your weekly guide to thriving in your career and designing a life you love for entrepreneurs and ambitious professionals. Each week, you get research-backed insights and we break down the skills, strategies, and mindsets you need to stay ahead of the curve.
I’m always refining this newsletter to make sure you get the most useful, relevant insights for your growth.
Take 15 seconds here to make sure the next editions speak directly to you.
I wanted to start today’s newsletter with something personal.
A few months ago, I decided to start going back to the gym. I committed to lifting weights three times a week and walking 6–7 days a week. It felt small at first, but honestly, it’s one of the best decisions I’ve made in years.
Why?
Because it wasn’t just about fitness.
It was about creating intentional space for my energy, my clarity, and my leadership.
That one habit reminded me:
we don’t always need more time.
We need better focus.
We need smarter systems.
As leaders, we wear our busy-ness like a badge of honor.
But the truth is working harder isn't always working smarter.
And that’s what today’s issue is all about.
If you’ve ever caught yourself saying, “I’m just really busy right now,” this one’s for you.
What’s in store:
7 small behaviors that quietly scream: “I’m overworking”
Practical mindset shifts to reclaim your energy
This week’s Linked & Lift Picks (book, podcast, quote)
🕐Read Time: 5 minutes
If You Recognize These Habits, You’re Not Alone…
These aren't the dramatic signs of burnout. They’re the everyday patterns that creep in when you’re running on autopilot, and slowly draining your capacity to lead, think, and grow.
Let’s name them so we can change them.
1. You say “Busy” when someone asks how you are
Sign: “Busy” is your default answer, even when you’re not sure what you’re actually getting done.
Fix: Swap “busy” for honest reflection.
Try: “I’ve been juggling a lot lately, but I’m working on creating more space.”
👉 Quick win:
Say something different next time someone asks. You might surprise yourself.
2. You eat lunch at your desk with crumbs in your keyboard
Sign: Lunch isn’t a break. It’s a 10-minute multitasking sprint between Slack pings.
Fix: Treat lunch like a meeting with yourself. Even 15 unplugged minutes can reset your brain.
👉 Quick win:
Have one fully screen-free lunch this week.
Protect that time like you would a client call.
3. You check email while walking to the bathroom
Sign: You can’t not check something, even during a 60-second break.
Fix: Build no-phone zones. Your brain needs whitespace to think clearly and creatively.
👉 Quick win:
Try “no tech” breaks: bathroom, meals, and the first 10 minutes before bed.
4. You haven’t taken a real vacation in years, and you say it like it’s impressive
Sign: You feel like the business will fall apart if you unplug.
Fix: Time off isn’t optional. It’s leadership maintenance. If your system breaks without you, it needs better systems.
👉 Quick win:
Block 1 personal day in the next 30 days. Non-negotiable. No email. No catch-up.
5. You have 47 browser tabs open, and you “need them all”
Sign: You’re mentally scattered, constantly context-switching, and struggling to focus.
Fix: Use tab managers like Toby or OneTab to reduce digital clutter.
👉 Quick win: Close anything you haven’t looked at in 48 hours.
If it’s important, you’ll find it again.
6. You say “I don’t have time” while reorganizing your inbox
Sign: You’re stuck in reactive mode, doing what’s easy instead of what’s essential.
Fix: Lead with strategy. Schedule your most important (and energy-heavy) work first.
👉 Quick win:
Block the first hour of tomorrow for deep, needle-moving work, before you check your inbox.
7. You feel guilty when you're not working
Sign: Even your downtime feels like procrastination.
Fix: Reframe rest as an essential business activity. Because it is.
👉 Quick win:
Journal or voice-note this: What would it look like to lead from a place of rest, not depletion?
Action Plan:
Create Space for What Really Matters
You don’t need more hours in the day.
You need space to think.
You need systems that support you.
You need permission to stop over-functioning and start leading.
Try this:
Choose one of the habits above you saw yourself in.
Implement the quick win this week.
See what opens up mentally, emotionally, and creatively when you take your foot off the gas.
Linked And Lift Picks
Book: Do Less by Kate Northrup – A roadmap for ambitious women ready to lead without burnout.
Podcast: Women Who Lead – Season 4, Episode 4: Burnout, Boundaries and Bold Leadership – with Kelly Swingler
Quote: “You can’t lead powerfully from a place of depletion. Rest is strategy.”
✨ Closing Thought
You weren’t meant to burn out for your business.
You were meant to build something beautiful, without losing yourself in the process.
So here’s your challenge this week:
🧹 Clear one hidden habit that’s draining you.
🧹 Choose one micro-shift that supports how you want to lead.
🧹 Honor your energy like it's your greatest asset, because it is.
📩 Share the Lift: Know someone who needs this message? Share this newsletter with them to help them.
⭐ Rate This Edition: Your feedback shapes Linked And Lift! Let me know what you want to see more of.
👉 If you couldn’t use the word busy to describe yourself this week, what word would you choose instead?
👇 Hit reply and let me know. I’d love to hear your story.
And thank you for being a part of our Linked And Lift community!
Until next time,
Veronique Barrot
Founder, Linked And Lift
Coaching leaders to grow inside out.
Follow me on LinkedIn where I share self-leadership and growth insights 6 times a week.
When I stopped trying to do it all, I finally built a brand that worked with my lifestyle, not against it. If you're ready to work less, lead more, and show up powerfully on LinkedIn, let’s talk.
P.S. I help ambitious, mission-driven female leaders, founders, entrepreneurs grow their presence on LinkedIn, in a way that’s strategic, sustainable, and aligned with who they are, so they can attract the right opportunities for themselves and their business.
✨ When want more guidance on that journey, you’re welcome to apply.