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The Burnout of Overpreparing for Meetings
Description
Lucas and Luna explore how overpreparing for meetings drains energy and fuels burnout. Drawing on a 2025 study from the University of North Carolina showing that knowledge workers spend an average of 4.2 hours per week preparing for recurring meetings that don't require their full attention, they discuss the mismatch between preparation effort and meeting value. Lucas shares a case from a mid-sized tech consultancy that cut meeting prep time by 40% after instituting a 'two-bullet max' rule for internal status updates. Luna offers a personal anecdote about a former colleague who built elaborate slide decks for 15-minute stand-ups. They talk about the psychological cost of perfectionism in meeting prep and offer practical strategies: setting time limits, asking for pre-reads, and distinguishing between preparation that serves the audience and preparation that serves anxiety. The episode closes with a reflection on what it means to reclaim that time for deeper work.