Hey Reader,

Taking a break is inevitable.

Maybe it’s an illness.
​Maybe it’s a demanding job, kids, or burnout.
​But eventually, you need to restart.

That’s where I am right now.

I’ve been sick for two weeks. Before that, I had family in town.

That’s three full weeks of zero work.

I feel completely behind. My momentum is gone, and work is piling up.

And the thought of “catching up” is... overwhelming.

But here’s the thing: successful people don’t “catch up.”

They use a proven framework to restart fast.

This week, I’m using that framework to get back on track, and I’m sharing it with you.

Let's go.

1️⃣ Immediate Reset

When we fall behind, our brains trick us into thinking we need to “catch up.”

But we don't, because we can’t make up for lost time.

I can't magically pull three lost weeks out of my pocket.

No one can.

So instead of stressing over what I missed, I’m cutting the backlog and starting fresh.

2️⃣ Quick Wins

After a break, motivation is very low.

Trying to tackle big, important tasks will make it worse.

So today, here's what I did:

• I wrote this email
• I updated a YouTube thumbnail
• I went through my inbox.

Nothing groundbreaking, but that’s the point.

Small wins create momentum.

3️⃣ The 80/20 Rule

Here's the thing: 80% of what I missed was noise.

Now I focus on the 20% that would have made a difference.

For me, that means:

• Re-engaging my audience (emails, videos, stories)
• Planning my next videos (and rethink strategy)
• Hitting the gym again (healthy body = healthy mind)

Everything else is a waste of time.

4️⃣ Slow Down (Yes, Really)

Most people will make the mistake of trying to jump back to 100% immediately.

That’s a one-way ticket to not getting anywhere.

Instead, I’m slowing down intentionally:

• Day 1: 1-2 hours of deep work with one priority task (this email)
• Day 2: 3-4 hours of work, focus on high-impact tasks
• Day 3+: Going back to baseline

By the end of next week, I’ll be back at full steam.

5️⃣ System Rebuild

Before this break, I was dialed in. Focused. Productive.

So instead of starting from scratch, I look at what was working.

Systems are what make everything feel easier.

If it worked once, it will work again.

I’m not reinventing my workflow. I’m reintegrating it, one step at a time.

​

If you’ve been stuck too, don’t overthink it.

Just take one step today.

Talk soon,
​Rob