I love reading your content! I always look forward to hearing your perspective and I always get at least one idea or nugget that I can use in my life. That's really hard to do as a writer...and you do it every time!! Muchas gracias.
Thank you so much, Todd! Meeting you in 2024 was such a gift. If we hadn't partnered, I never would have started using Grammarly—thank you! And I wouldn't still be writing today.
This was such an excellent post because it gives language to explain the cliff after the productivity produces the output. And perhaps our brains naturally will always go “wait… if X is possible to achieve within {time limit/pressure}, then let’s try Y next!”
As I’ve been called a “high output person” by many work/personal connects, rephrasing the exhaustion as a reset that is not a bump, but instead should be the default is a breath of fresh air on the journey of acceptance of not what my brain/body want to do, but can actually handle.
You're so right, Elizabeth. We confuse what we want with what we must do, and often for the most ambitious and capable people, we don't listen to the signals our bodies send us to help us sustain our output.
Slowing down to go faster is not just a mantra; it's how nature works. And I'm so happy that my piece landed for you. I hope you can give yourself permission to rest so that you can continue to be the "high output person" you are, but minus the exhaustion.
I laughed out loud at your description of impulse-buying the 8Sleep. Bcause I've been there!
It's wild how quickly high achievers will throw money at a problem once health starts fraying, but balk at just... doing less.
Yes! I didn't think of that way. Doing less, pacing ourselves, taking breaks -- those are a lot less expensive :)
And some changes in our bodies might benefit at times from a little external support, too.
But starting with a slowdown earlier is always a better path.
I like that idea… especially with hustle culture pushing us to our limits until we burn out, it’s nice to slow down.
Hi Kathy-
I love reading your content! I always look forward to hearing your perspective and I always get at least one idea or nugget that I can use in my life. That's really hard to do as a writer...and you do it every time!! Muchas gracias.
Thank you so much, Todd! Meeting you in 2024 was such a gift. If we hadn't partnered, I never would have started using Grammarly—thank you! And I wouldn't still be writing today.
This was such an excellent post because it gives language to explain the cliff after the productivity produces the output. And perhaps our brains naturally will always go “wait… if X is possible to achieve within {time limit/pressure}, then let’s try Y next!”
As I’ve been called a “high output person” by many work/personal connects, rephrasing the exhaustion as a reset that is not a bump, but instead should be the default is a breath of fresh air on the journey of acceptance of not what my brain/body want to do, but can actually handle.
You're so right, Elizabeth. We confuse what we want with what we must do, and often for the most ambitious and capable people, we don't listen to the signals our bodies send us to help us sustain our output.
Slowing down to go faster is not just a mantra; it's how nature works. And I'm so happy that my piece landed for you. I hope you can give yourself permission to rest so that you can continue to be the "high output person" you are, but minus the exhaustion.