Free AI web copilot to create summaries, insights and extended knowledge, download it at here

1928

Abstract

But it’s not. We need periods of purposeful rest, every single day.And don’t get me wrong, I love the work. I love working. But the problem was I couldn’t stop.You could say I was highly productive. But the ultimate goal shouldn’t be productivity. It should be balance. It should be wellbeing.Fast forward to now, and I’ve taken sick leave from work. I can’t work out. This isn’t success.<h1 id="4906">What can we do about it?</h1>The fact that I’m sitting here, writing this article in the middle of a burnout episode illustrates the fact that I have yet to figure this out.However, I was listening to a podcast with Tim Ferriss and Derek Sivers, and their discussion was very timely:<blockquote id="2769">Derek: “Every time people contact me, they say, ‘Look, I know you must be incredibly busy . . .’ and I always think, ‘No, I’m not.’ Because I’m in control of my time. I’m on top of it. ‘Busy,’ to me, seems to imply ‘out of control.’ Like, ‘Oh my God, I’m so busy. I don’t have any time for this shit!’ To me, that sounds like a person who’s got no control over their life.”</blockquote><blockquote id="37e1">Tim: “Lack of time is lack of priorities. If I’m “busy,” it is because I’ve made choices that put me in that position, so I’ve forbidden myself to reply to “How are you?” with “Busy.” I have no right to complain. Instead, if I’m too busy, it’s a cue to reexamine my systems and rules.”</blockquote><blockquote id="ec0f">Derek: “I do things, but I stop before anything gets stressful. . . . “You notice this internal ‘Argh.’ That’s my cue. I treat that like physical pain. What am I doing? I need to stop doing that thing that hurts. What is that? And, it usually means that I’m just pushing too hard, or doing things that I don’t

Options

really want to be doing.”</blockquote>We need to analyze our systems and rules, and regain control over our lives.Derek advises us to be mindful of the internal cues that may be signaling that we are doing too much, and to stop when we feel this.Listen to your body.Stop if it’s too stressful. If you can’t stop (i.e. it’s a work project you need to get done in a timely manner) evaluate where in your life you can pull back a bit, or see if you can get an extension.We can’t be productive if we’re burnt out.So there’s no point pushing through.As soon as you start feeling busy, step back and re-evaluate. What is out of balance? Are you living in accordance with your values? Where are your priorities?Look at your schedule and make sure you have time for purposeful rest.Some examples of purposeful rest might be:<ul><li>Watching a movie</li><li>Reading an entertaining rather than educational book</li><li>Walking outside without a podcast or audiobook in our ears</li><li>Meditating</li><li>Sitting in mindfulness</li><li>Hiking</li><li>Painting</li><li>Dancing</li></ul>Just something that allows you to switch off, and lets your brain rest.We need to prioritize our rest if we want to be successful.<h2 id="6f42">Want to improve your health, one habit at a time?</h2>Sign up for my free weekly newsletter, <a href="https://momentumhabits.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=web&utm_source=subscribe-widget&utm_content=28179428">Momentum</a>. Each week you’ll receive one new habit to try. I’ll explain why it’s important and how to make it easy. This newsletter will help you to create the momentum you need to move towards a healthier and happier future.</article></body>

Being Busy Isn’t a Badge of Honor, It’s a Lack of Priorities

How to prevent burnout.

These days, we think busyness = success.

But it doesn’t. Busyness = a lack of priorities. And while this may sound harsh, I’m saying it in the hope it will help someone as I sit here, sick and completely burned out. I’ve been busy, thinking I needed to be busy to be successful, and now I’m flat on my back.

It’s been a wake up call, and a sign that I need to re-evaluate my priorities.

Busyness leads to burnout

Burnout is a word that’s getting thrown around more and more.

But what actually is burnout? I always thought it would come from being stressed and never having any downtime. I pictured a corporate worker, working a 9–5 job that ends up being more like 7am-10pm with no time for fun or family.

So I never worried about it. I’m not stressed. I get loads of downtime. I have a life.

But I was always busy. Starting from the minute I woke up, I was doing something. Reading educational books, writing notes on these books, reading emails, writing articles, working on my newsletter, etc.

When I ate lunch, I’d check my Twitter notifications or read emails.

If I had any downtime, I’d be reading books about business, or researching some other topic.

If I went for a walk, I was listening to a podcast.

I thought my exercise was a break from my work and my work was a break from my exercise. I thought that was enough.

But it’s not. We need periods of purposeful rest, every single day.

And don’t get me wrong, I love the work. I love working. But the problem was I couldn’t stop.

You could say I was highly productive. But the ultimate goal shouldn’t be productivity. It should be balance. It should be wellbeing.

Fast forward to now, and I’ve taken sick leave from work. I can’t work out. This isn’t success.

What can we do about it?

The fact that I’m sitting here, writing this article in the middle of a burnout episode illustrates the fact that I have yet to figure this out.

However, I was listening to a podcast with Tim Ferriss and Derek Sivers, and their discussion was very timely:

Derek: “Every time people contact me, they say, ‘Look, I know you must be incredibly busy . . .’ and I always think, ‘No, I’m not.’ Because I’m in control of my time. I’m on top of it. ‘Busy,’ to me, seems to imply ‘out of control.’ Like, ‘Oh my God, I’m so busy. I don’t have any time for this shit!’ To me, that sounds like a person who’s got no control over their life.”

Tim: “Lack of time is lack of priorities. If I’m “busy,” it is because I’ve made choices that put me in that position, so I’ve forbidden myself to reply to “How are you?” with “Busy.” I have no right to complain. Instead, if I’m too busy, it’s a cue to reexamine my systems and rules.”

Derek: “I do things, but I stop before anything gets stressful. . . . “You notice this internal ‘Argh.’ That’s my cue. I treat that like physical pain. What am I doing? I need to stop doing that thing that hurts. What is that? And, it usually means that I’m just pushing too hard, or doing things that I don’t really want to be doing.”

We need to analyze our systems and rules, and regain control over our lives.

Derek advises us to be mindful of the internal cues that may be signaling that we are doing too much, and to stop when we feel this.

Listen to your body.

Stop if it’s too stressful. If you can’t stop (i.e. it’s a work project you need to get done in a timely manner) evaluate where in your life you can pull back a bit, or see if you can get an extension.

We can’t be productive if we’re burnt out.

So there’s no point pushing through.

As soon as you start feeling busy, step back and re-evaluate. What is out of balance? Are you living in accordance with your values? Where are your priorities?

Look at your schedule and make sure you have time for purposeful rest.

Some examples of purposeful rest might be:

Watching a movie
Reading an entertaining rather than educational book
Walking outside without a podcast or audiobook in our ears
Meditating
Sitting in mindfulness
Hiking
Painting
Dancing

Just something that allows you to switch off, and lets your brain rest.

We need to prioritize our rest if we want to be successful.

Want to improve your health, one habit at a time?

Sign up for my free weekly newsletter, Momentum. Each week you’ll receive one new habit to try. I’ll explain why it’s important and how to make it easy. This newsletter will help you to create the momentum you need to move towards a healthier and happier future.