How to Reset a Chaotic Week
Chaotic weeks are part of leadership, especially in mission-driven work. This piece offers a practical way to reset, not by doing more, but by returning to what matters most and reestablishing focus, rhythm, and perspective.
Ever have one of those weeks where everything you asked for shows up all at once? That was me recently. A full calendar, preparing for a speaking engagement, board responsibilities, client work, and still making space for family and personal commitments. All good things. And still, it felt like a lot.
There is a kind of pressure that comes with that kind of week. Not because anything is wrong, but because everything is moving at the same time. The margin gets thin. The pace increases. And if you are not careful, you start moving from intention to reaction. By the time the week ends, you are not always tired from the work itself, you are tired from the way you had to carry it.
For me, the reset came on Saturday. My wife and I were volunteering at our church’s food distribution center, something we have intentionally set aside time to do. It is a space where we serve without expecting anything in return. There are no competing priorities, no shifting expectations, just a clear purpose. It gave me the opportunity to put my head down and focus on something simple and meaningful.
In that moment, I was brought back to two values I try to live by, service and temperance. Service grounded me in something bigger than my own workload, and temperance reminded me not to let the moment carry me too far. With that came a perspective I needed. Be thankful that you are getting what you asked for, because it could be the opposite.
Chaotic weeks do not always require a different plan. Often, they require a reset in how we think, how we prioritize, and how we stay connected to what matters most. When everything feels urgent, it becomes even more important to slow down just enough to see clearly.
A reset can start with a few intentional steps. First, name what is actually happening. Not everything is urgent, and not everything holds the same weight. Separating volume from priority brings clarity. Next, reconnect to why the work matters. Purpose has a way of reframing pressure. Then, simplify your next move. Instead of trying to fix the entire week, focus on the next right step. Progress restores momentum.
It is also important to build in a small moment of stillness. Even a brief pause can reset your thinking and create space to respond instead of react. Finally, return to gratitude. Not in a surface-level way, but as a grounding point. There is a difference between being overwhelmed by what you have and being thankful for it.
Leadership will always have full weeks. That is not going to change. But how you move through them can. Sometimes the reset is not found in doing less. It is found in seeing clearly again.
