Kind of makes sense though that while your car is being tuned up, you’re not able to just gun it around town at top speed.
This Emperor listening feels (to me) like that kind of tuning up process. Occurring over a period of time. Like going through rehab to strengthen an injured arm. You don’t go back to the gym when you’re right at the beginning of rehab. You can still lift things, but at first you do it carefully. It’s because your primary job at that time is to heal and to build a stronger, improved structure. (replacing that V4 engine with a V8 or even V12 engine).
If this metaphor is accurate, then I think what makes sense is to work on your tasks, but to do it in smaller steps, and allow yourself to be a little slower at first. You can still get them done; just wait until the tune-up is done before you press the accelerator all the way down. As the change takes and becomes integrated over time, you’ll be able to do more and more. And ultimately, you’ll be able to do much more than you were originally able to do before that tune-up/upgrade process.