You have 18 months to complete the ATPL exams from the time you take the first one.
Then you have 36 months to get an IR and CPL issued after you have completed all 14 exams.
I think delaying is a pretty good strategy.
If you haven't taken any of the exams, delay for a few months.
If you've alreadytaken some, and if at all possible, it probably is a good idea to delay doing all the exams if you still have lots of the 18 months left. Even if it's just one exam like VFR Comms, it'll give the economy a longer time to recover. Don't leave anything until month 18 though as you need to give yourself a buffer in case you need to retake anything.