Do Now: Turn overwhelm into clarity
Here we are, finally, at the final step in boundary prioritization: just doing the dang thing already. So.
What deserves your yes today?
I saved the Do Now step for last.
You get to the “do” once you’ve deleted, delayed, and delegated. This is where the shift from overwhelm to clarity really happens if we’ve gone through the other steps already. We need to clear the noise. Otherwise, your doing is scattered, resentful, and overextended.
Doing is the reward of a boundary that says, “This matters right now, so it gets my presence.”
When you choose to do something aligned with your impact, you’re practicing a boundary too. You’re saying no to distractions, no to perfectionism, no to doing it all, and yes to the work that matters most.
As I’ve written before, boundaries aren’t about building walls; they’re about creating spaciousness for your values and future self to flourish. This is what I call embodied boundaries: not just abstract rules, but real-time choices that live in your body and schedule.
Here’s a common story with clients. They come into coaching feeling like everything is constantly spinning. Every email feels urgent, every meeting request gets a yes, and by the end of the day, of course, they’re exhausted yet unsure if they've done anything that truly mattered.
When we bring in the Do Now practice, it’s common to feel resistance at first. “Everything feels important,” one client said. But when we pause long enough to ask: What actually deserves your full presence right now?
That one question was the turning point. This client began to see that many of her “urgent” tasks were really other people’s priorities, and typically a result of their procrastination and poor planning skills. Instead of scattering her energy across everything, she chose one aligned action at a time.
Her reflection still sticks with me:
“This process has been revolutionary. For the first time, I’m ending my day with energy left because I know I worked on what matters most, not just what yelled the loudest.”
As always, here’s the nuance for toxic dynamics
The power of Do Now isn’t about hustling through a longer to-do list. It’s about protecting your energy for the things that align with your values and impact. It’s boundary work in real time. Knowing how to settle your nervous system is a critical practice for folks who experience regular high anxiety or have neurodiverse brains. Otherwise, this Do Now step, paired with a 24/7 always-on work culture, drives you into the hyperdrive of a chronic burnout lifestyle.
Your practice for the rest of this week:
Take five minutes:
Write down everything you feel you “should” do.
Circle the ONE thing that’s truly aligned with your values or priorities.
Give it your full presence. Feel free to set a timer or time limit to this task.
Boundaries are about choosing the yes that keeps you aligned with the future you’re building.
It’s simple enough to tack up on a notecard. Here’s what a recent coaching client shared with me about this tool:
“The do, delay, delegate, delete was a game changer for me. I always thought that I was a pretty good delegator, and it turns out I wasn't. Normally, I would have been like, oh my god, how am I gonna do this? I don't have the time, and I would have kind of lost my mind about it. And then I was like, oh, I have a whole committee that can do this.”
If you’re craving more of this, join us in The Grove.