Capacity ≠ Commitment
Have you ever said yes to something just because you knew you could do it, even when you didn’t have the bandwidth? You’re not alone.
Many of us conflate capability or commitment with capacity. But they’re not the same.
You can care deeply, be highly capable, and still need to scale back. You can love your work, your people, your goals, and still opt for not right now. That’s not a lack of dedication. It’s a reflection of your just being human.
When we don’t make space for this truth, the impact shows up, not only as stress and burnout, but resentment, disconnection, and eventual depletion. Research shows chronic stress doesn’t only affect our mood or sleep. It triggers neuroendocrine and inflammatory responses linked to cardiovascular disease, immune suppression, metabolic dysfunction, hormonal imbalance, and mental health challenges. (Source: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5476783/?utm_source=chatgpt.com)
That was a scientific mouthful! But you get the point.
So, how might you start unhooking commitment from capacity, not out of disengagement, but to honor your well-being? Here are just a few things to try:
✅ Name the difference: Practice saying, “I care about this, but I don’t have the capacity right now.”
✅ Track your bandwidth: Use a capacity calendar for a week to notice your energy peaks and dips.
✅ Create space for honesty: Normalize regular check-ins with yourself and the people around you.
✅ Prioritize with intention: Use a ‘must / maybe / later’ system to decide. Or ask what can be paused, delegated, or delayed before adding more. (If you’re me, this will obviously be color-coded)
✅ Practice temporary no’s: Try “Not this week” or the corporate classic “Circle back in two weeks” instead of a reflexive yes.
✅ Create energy zones: Identify your highest-energy times and reserve them for key work tasks or quality family moments. Protect these zones to prevent burnout and boost presence.
→ What’s one way you protect your capacity without compromising your values?
