Don't over-prep!

Remember why you prep: to give yourself cool stuff to say, to speed up play, to shore up weaknesses, to hone your craft, and to give yourself permission to play hard and inflict real consequences. With that in mind, prep only:

• 1) What you need to prep, like stats for a monster the PCs will fight, or a love letter to a player who missed a session
• 2) What you can't easily improvise, like a map, a threat's impending doom, or a complex political web
• 3) What you want to prep, because it brings you joy, reduces stress, or helps you meet a goal or grant a player's wish

Specifically, resist the urge to prep a plot or every potential path the PCs might take. Prep what you need, what you can't improvise, and what helps you be your best. Then play to find out what happens.