I’m on a brief break from travel, as well as juggling a bunch of projects and catching up on work I have fallen behind on, so the instinct to tighten up—grit my teeth, grind, exert more effort and control over my schedule—has been palpable.

Perhaps that’s why one of my first pieces for Forge, “Why Trying Too Hard Can Backfire,” has been on my mind a lot lately. Trying harder only goes so far, and the ensuing pressure can end up getting in the way.

Keeping loose is fun, of course, but that doesn’t mean it’s not essential too.