Something happens around January 22.
The fake cheer is gone.
The grace period expires.
And suddenly everyone is in a hurry.
Emails get shorter.
Texts start with "Hey quick question—" (it is never quick).
People act like whatever they just thought of is now your emergency.
And I've decided I'm not participating.
THE CONFESSIONAL
I've noticed a pattern.
If someone is stressed, they will immediately attempt to make it a group project.
If someone is behind, they will announce urgency like it's contagious.
If someone wants something now, they will frame it like it should have already been done.
It's fascinating.
Because the louder the urgency, the less important the thing usually is.
Real emergencies are quiet.
Real problems don't text "???"
Real deadlines don't need six follow-ups in one afternoon.
What people usually mean by urgent is:
"I don't like waiting."
And respectfully — that's not my issue.
MID-JANUARY ENERGY CHECK
By now, we all know:
- January did not magically organize itself
- motivation did not arrive as promised
- and life did not suddenly become efficient
So the sudden push for speed feels… suspicious.
Like everyone collectively realized they're tired, behind, and annoyed — and decided to take it out on whoever usually handles things.
If you're competent, you feel this first.
Congratulations.
You're the bottleneck.
WHAT I'M NO LONGER DOING
I am no longer:
- rushing because someone else panicked
- answering immediately to prove I'm responsible
- rearranging my day to accommodate invented emergencies
I will respond when I have an answer.
I will move when it makes sense.
And I will not apologize for being calm.
Urgency is not authority.
Volume is not importance.
Speed is not the same as effectiveness.
A SIMPLE OBSERVATION
Things that are actually important tend to survive a pause.
If something falls apart because it had to wait a few hours, it was already unstable.
And I'm not interested in stabilizing chaos anymore.
THE BENEDICTION (VERY LOOSE USE OF THE WORD)
May your inbox calm down.
May you stop mistaking panic for leadership.
May you remember that not everything needs a response today.
Your urgency is not my priority.
And honestly, that feels reasonable.