I used to say yes to almost everything.
A new collaboration? Yes.
Another committee? Sure.
One more side project? Why not.
It felt like the “successful” thing to do — proof that I was hardworking, capable, and willing to go above and beyond. That’s what ambitious women do, right?
Except… my days got so full that my creative ideas were getting squeezed out. I was constantly moving, but rarely moving forward. The irony? All that yes-ing left me with no time, energy, or space to do my best work.
The myth that success = more
Somewhere along the way, we bought into the idea that the most accomplished people are the ones who take on the most. We measure worth by how much we can handle without breaking.
But here’s what I’ve learned:
The women making the most meaningful impact aren’t the busiest — they’re the most intentional.
They’re not filling every spare minute; they’re protecting their capacity for the work (and the life) that truly matters to them.
My turning point
For me, this shift happened when I started using my values as my filter.
Instead of asking:
Do I have time for this?
I started asking:
Does this align with the impact I want to make?
That question was a game-changer. I said no to a few “prestigious” opportunities that would have eaten up my energy without moving me toward my bigger goals. I let go of roles I’d been holding onto out of obligation, not passion.
The result? I suddenly had space — mental and physical — to explore new ideas, take risks, and actually innovate. The best part: my work got better, and so did my wellbeing.
Rest is a flex
There’s this quiet power in not running yourself into the ground. Rest is not a luxury; it’s a strategic advantage.
When you’re rested, your brain is sharper. Your creativity flows. You can spot opportunities that the “too busy” version of you would have missed entirely.
In other words: rest is not what you do when you’ve earned it — it’s the thing that helps you earn results that matter.
The values filter in action
If you’re tired of overcommitting, here’s a starting point:
- Get crystal clear on your values — the non-negotiables that define the life and career you actually want.
- Evaluate opportunities through that lens — if it’s not a clear yes and it doesn’t align with a top value, it’s a no.
- Trust the ripple effect — when you clear the noise, the right projects (and people) have room to show up.
Saying no doesn’t make you less ambitious. It’s the thing that protects your ambition from getting watered down by too many obligations.
If you want to go deeper into this work — learning how to align your life and commitments with your values so you can have more impact with less burnout — you can watch my free Aligned by Design masterclass replay on demand.
Get instant access here.
