There are a few things I should do less of in life—like eating gummies when I’m supposed to be winding down or starting a new streaming show at midnight (who really needs sleep, right?). But another thing I’ve realized? I need to stop picking up the slack for other people.

Look, I believe in letting people fail. I really do. It’s through those stumbles that people learn, grow, and get better. But every now and then, I find myself swooping in, fixing things on their behalf, taking over when they drop the ball. I don’t do it often, but when I do, I find myself with extra work piled onto an already busy schedule. And here’s the thing: I have no one to blame but myself.

There’s something oddly comforting about being the “fixer.” It gives a sense of control, makes things move faster, and ensures that projects don’t fall apart. But the problem with constantly stepping in is that it enables others to never fully step up. By picking up the slack, I inadvertently make it okay for them to be less than optimal because, well, I’ll be there to catch it.

The reality? I shouldn’t. Not every issue is mine to resolve. Not every failure is mine to prevent. There’s value in people realizing the consequences of their actions, or lack thereof. And while my instinct to help comes from a good place, it can end up doing more harm than good—both for them and for me.

So, here’s to letting go a little more. To allowing others to fail, to trust that they’ll learn, and to believe that my world won’t crumble if I don’t fix it all. My gummies and late-night shows can stick around, but this? This habit of doing extra work that isn’t mine? That’s what I’ll be doing less of. Because life is busy enough without taking on other people’s responsibilities.

Time to step back and let others step up.