If you’re someone that’s ambitious with their career, you might feel like you need to operate at maximum capacity all the time. You drag yourself out of bed and immediately start checking emails before your eyes are even properly open (because you genuinely think that if you don’t respond to a client query about a minor spreadsheet error within minutes of receiving it the entire business will suddenly collapse).
Some ambitious people trap themselves in this ridiculous cycle where being constantly exhausted is a badge of honor. You see it every single morning when you watch people practically sprinting to get on a commuter train just so they can sit at a desk and stare at a slightly different wall for nine solid hours.
Stop letting other people’s emergencies dictate your early routine. Here’s how you can still grow and do well professionally without completely burning out.
Don’t be afraid to take breaks and switch off
Taking breaks isn’t optional, it’s absolutely essential to doing your best work. Its so easy to get tunnel vision towards the task you’re working on, stepping out for a bit can give you fresh eyes when you come back.
You shouldn’t be spending every lunchtime eating at your desk without taking your eyes off the screen. The same goes for switching off at evenings and weekends. You don’t need to spend every bit of your available time working to get ahead.
In fact, if you do this you’ll just burnout faster and make more mistakes.
Don’t be sucked in by viral nonsense
It’s important to stop treating every single workday like a grueling survival exercise.
Lots of people think personal growth means reading fifty tedious business books a year and waking up at four in the morning to take an ice bath while listening to a podcast about stock options.
There’s so much noise on the internet, influencers faking success spouting rubbish to get you to subscribe to them and their opinions. The trouble is that they know they have to be a bit controversial to stand out, but then the internet becomes full of more and more wild ideas that they almost become ‘normal’ advice. These people showing off their lavish lifestyles with private jets and fancy cars, most of it’s fake and following their advice wont land you in the same position unfortunately.
Things that actually matter
Instead, focus your limited energy on doing a few basic things reasonably well instead of trying to optimize every waking second of your existence. Real professional progress usually comes from building solid relationships with your coworkers and actually delivering on the simple promises you make to clients.
You don’t need a perfectly structured morning routine or to lose yourself to your work. Find someone that offers leadership coaching and follow the advice of a professional, not someone faking it online. Maintain your relationships and hobbies outside of work and find a good balance.
