I don’t know what I did to deserve the change in my algorithms on social media, but I am seeing more and more posts on how hustle culture is actually killing your progress.
If you are like me you were raised to believe that if you worked hard, you would be rewarded. While I believe work ethic is an important trait and contributes to success, reward isn’t necessarily the result of hard work. Being good at your job can sometimes mean you get to do someone else’s job, without additional compensation. It’s essentially a punishment for being an efficient and effective employee. If that doesn’t promote mediocrity in the workforce, I don’t know what does.
I have a lot on my plate and don’t get a lot of time to myself other than a soak in the tub a few times a week where I can mindlessly get lost in social media reels and posts. It’s the one place I feel I can somewhat disconnect from my professional life and unbeknownst to my friends, I often catch up with them during this time as well. It’s important to me to cultivate relationships, so I like to let them know I’m thinking about them. I will often schedule reminders in my calendar regarding events or other important things going on in their lives so I can follow-up and ask about it. Being a good friend is a priority for me.
I remember as a kid going to my room to “clean” or “study,” but really, I was just wanting some alone time. I would panic if someone would knock, and I would immediately engage in whatever task I had staged for such an interruption.
Why do we think we always have to be doing something? There are scientific studies that show there is an upside to having downtime. Afternoon naps have been shown to restore focus and give you more energy. Now, this isn’t a 3-hour deep sleep, but rather it is said that a 20-minute power nap can be sufficient for more adults. Further, 90 minutes will typically allow for a complete sleep cycle. I know what you are thinking, who has time for a 90-minute nap? I thought the same thing but started to allow myself one day on the weekend (usually a Saturday as I don’t like to mess up my sleep schedule) for a 60-minute maximum rest. I set an alarm and often wake up before it. I have found that I am far more productive after allowing myself this rest period.
I am big on scheduling and routine. I book all of my fitness classes two weeks in advance, and it automatically syncs with my calendar. I also have a few separate calendars for clients and my personal appointments/events that I have merged together so I have them all in one location. Scheduling myself is extremely important to have a little peace of mind. If you struggle with anxiety (like me), being organized can really help combat this.
Tip: if you are feeling extremely anxious, I recommend taking 10-15 minutes to organize something. Whether that is your calendar, your desk, or perhaps your kitchen pantry. I have found that my anxiety has a lot to do with loss of control and feeling scattered, so this has been instrumental for me.
Ultimately you need to listen to your body. If you are feeling drained mentally, physically, emotionally, it’s time for a recharge. You aren’t going to be doing your best work if you aren’t at your best.
Bright & Bare Sassed 