Balance Ambition and Burnout

We are high achievers. There was a time when we did everything within the constraints of a detailed routine and plan. If something had to be done by Friday, we would finish it by Wednesday. 

We had to plan in advance. We had to plan in advance because tools we had available to work with were slower. We had to actually read articles and books to learn. We had to actually write our own material. We had to actually speak to someone face to face when discussing important issues. And we had a routine that allowed us to schedule those things.  

Somewhere along the way, though, we’ve normalized trying to squeeze so much into each day. We want to build the best relationships, be the best at work, have the nicest home, be crazy productive, live our best life, give back. 

But no one told us (or if they did we weren’t listening) that as you get older, you are slower to respond to the lightning fast technology around you. You are slower to realize that things aren’t going according to plan. You are slower in a world that is going faster and faster. 

What happens is that when things start getting out of control, we have no time left in our day and no energy left in our mind and body to handle it. We are overextended. In a bad way. 

The first sign of being overextended in a bad way is not just not doing anything until it absolutely has to be done, but pushing the boundaries on what truly constitutes a due date and pushing that boundary. Or, never doing it at all because there is no real accountability or consequence. We negotiate with ourselves. Does this really even need to be done at all?

The second sign of being overextended in a bad way is lowering the quality of our work. We start negotiating with ourselves. Does it really have to be done like that? Can we short cut here, there? No one will know the difference. 

And it may very well be true that you don’t really need to do whatever it is, and it may not really need to be perfect if you do. There are a ton of things in life that fit this criteria. 

The challenge is being in the right mindset, having time and energy to make that call honestly. To be in control of your routine and schedule. To say YES to the things that do matter. To say YES to the things you know must be done today for a better tomorrow. And to say NO to the things that infringe your boundaries.

Do not wait until a crisis to begin a new path because by the time crisis hits, you’ll be unable to influence significant positive change.

Start today on the positive change you want to see tomorrow.