Totally okay to push back on meetings that could be handled async, and you can do it without looking disengaged if you frame it around helping the team move faster. Lead with value like I want to keep things unblocked and protect focus time, here is a way we can still share updates. When a recurring check in has nothing for you, reply with something like Not seeing anything on the agenda for me this week. Mind if I skip and read the notes, and if you need me tag me and I will join live.
Send your update the day before in a Slack message or short email so you are contributing without consuming meeting time. Ask the organizer to mark you optional or to move the cadence to biweekly, and suggest a simple update doc where owners put status, blockers, and decisions needed before the meeting. Propose a rule of cancel if no agenda 24 hours ahead, or only hold the meeting when a decision is needed. In Google Calendar you can mark yourself Optional, click Propose a new time, or Decline with a short note, and in Outlook you can do the same plus use Scheduling Assistant to show conflicts. Block Focus time or Working hours on your calendar so auto invites land on top of protected time and give you cover. Try it as a two week trial and then share that nothing slipped and your turnaround improved, and keep attending 1 on 1s, planning, and decision reviews since those are rarely good email substitutes.
