Since COVID-19 shutdowns swept the globe, and permanently altered the work of academic librarians, the concept of a “workplace emergency” has taken on new weight. With the pandemic behind us, but the repercussions still very much part of our day-to-day experiences, we can struggle to discern a work crisis from an unpleasant email. The service ethos of our profession compounded with our socio-political landscape pressures many librarians to work constantly and perfectly. As a result, our nervous systems are in disarray, and work can feel like a battleground. In this workshop, we will explore the concept of urgency and how it shows up in the workplace, specifically for academic librarians in a faculty and / or student-support role. We will unpack different types of urgency and the cultural contexts that exacerbate them. In small groups, participants will deconstruct common workplace situations, create strategies to set boundaries, and clarify their work foci to set boundaries so their jobs can be manageable. Attending with department colleagues is encouraged. Participants will leave the workshop with a set of practical tips and a sense of permission to de-escalate their work lives and (re)claim professional agency.