Why Stopping Isn't Always the Answer

Can't Stop, Won't Stop?

Last week, a client confessed: "My team is exhausted from constant change, but I know we can't stop." I tried to tell him: it's a marathon, not a sprint.

But is that still true if everyone feels like they are running endless sprints with no finish line in sight?

I ran a marathon once. At the end—as I laid on the ground—an older guy came by and said, "The worst thing you can do after a race is nothing." Then he stood over me, waiting. So I took the hint and walked over to the tent for the best oranges and cheap beer I've ever tasted.

This Week’s Focus: How to Help Your Team Recover While Moving Forward

Burnout rarely stems from the amount of work we are given. I know because I've watched dozens of growth-stage companies struggle with this: everyone has more work than time to get it done.

I blame lost purpose and muddy priorities. When team members can't see why their work matters or what's most important, even moderate demands feel crushing.

So they stay up late. They come in early. The list doesn't get shorter. They crash—not from the list itself but from its psychological weight.

Elite marathon runners don't recover by crashing. They practice active recovery: light movement that keeps their muscles engaged without taxing them further. Sleep is great, but too much sitting around prolongs the inevitable: you need to move to recover.

Most teams need a similar approach: limit what you are working on, understand why it is important, and get a few wins. The list won't get shorter but it won't feel as crushing.

And by all means give people a day off if they need it. You too. But if people start talking like they need an escape, a break isn't going to be enough.

Try This: Ask each team member if there is anything they can't stop thinking about. Figure out the added weight they are carrying around in their mind. Then tell them: "Hey, I get it. And I give you permission to stop thinking about that."

Three Ideas to Take You Further

⚡ Quick Insight: Next time you're about to say "push through," ask instead: "What would make this push worthwhile?" Teams don't burn out from hard work, they burn out from meaningless work.

💡 Mental Shift: In ​The Power of Defining What Your Company Isn’t​, Madeleine Rauch and Sarah Stanske argue that having an anti-identity, a clear description of what you don't do, can be as meaningful as your positive identity.

📖 Deep Dive: Teresa Amabile's The Progress Principle​. After studying thousands of diary entries, she discovered the single biggest factor in engagement is making meaningful progress in work that matters. A day without progress leads to frustration. When your team feels burned out, create opportunities for them to see their forward movement. Small wins are psychological fuel.

Ben Larzabal

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