Lessons for Chronic Over-Achievers: Finding Your Balance Between Productivity and Well-Being

I write this message as Katie slowly recovers from the worst case of stomach-flu I have ever seen her experience, and as I prepare to pack up a shipping container for my cross-country move. So I suppose it should come as no surprise that when I sat down to reflect on this week’s Insight topic what came loudly to my mind was REST.

Rest is a difficult thing for the highly committed high performer. When a growing to-do list looms over our heads, the feelings of guilt and fear can be so strong that it makes rest far from restful. We work so hard on productivity – to help our teams and ourselves do more – but how do we also find ways to recoup and recharge?

I have faced this struggle both in my previous career leading large, multi-level teams and now in running my own business. While I believe I will forever need to self-monitor this area, I have also learned some lessons along the way that help me carve out the space I need to rest and recharge.

Lesson 1 - Perpetual Progress, Not Perfection

Rest begins with changing your expectations. The to-do lists will never stop growing and there will always be emails to read, meetings to schedule and projects to complete. Work is not a state of being complete or incomplete but rather a constant flow of things that are done, partially done, and yet to be done. If we wait to rest until everything is finished, the rest will never come. 

By changing this mindset I’ve built a balanced workflow for task management and wellbeing. I created a clear system for logging status and next steps, learned to be critical of what are true priorities and what are nice-to-haves, and to give it all my best until my personal cut-off time. From there I make peace with what I was able to accomplish and can set aside the list for tomorrow’s fresh energy and clear mind. For as much as there will always be additions to the list, there will also be more days ahead to accomplish it.

Lesson 2 - Sleep is Restorative 

It is amazing the troubles a good night’s sleep can cure. For many years of my career this seemingly simple form of rest was something I often overlooked. I would regularly wake up at 4am to catch the early train into Manhattan and even a handful of nights would work overtime and sleep in my car for a few hours before starting the next day of business. Now looking back, I am shocked that I could function. At that point it was almost a pride point for me; that my willingness to sacrifice my rest indicated my commitment to my work. But there are costs associated with this way of operating and eventually that lack of sleep catches up with our bodies. It was a lifestyle of burning until you crash. Now I have learned that long-term, sustainable work flow is a marathon, and to run that race my body needs a full night’s sleep.

Lesson 3 - There are Many Ways to Rest

The purpose of rest is to recharge. We often associate rest with relaxation but sometimes we need positive energy to recharge our batteries. For me this can look like listening to my favorite music and hitting the elliptical, taking an extra 30 minutes on the couch in the morning with my coffee, cooking a nice dinner with my significant other, going on a hike, or having brunch and catching up with a friend. I have found that for my spirit to feel fully rested, I need to consistently incorporate what brings me energy into my life.

Lesson 4 - Rest Takes Discipline

Putting off rest is a slippery slope. Your calendar begins to fill with meetings, the to-do list keeps growing instead of shrinking, and work hours bleed into personal hours: the external demands speak louder than the hush of rest. Yet, we need to remind ourselves that rest is essential for productivity. To be our most effective, efficient selves and to show up prepared and present, we need to stay committed to our rest. Lessons One, Two, and Three are mindsets and actions — this lesson is about the internal dedication to uphold these practices. To ease our internal voices of guilt and insecurity and feel empowered to invest in a balance between productivity and well-being. 

As I approach the weekend and a very busy week ahead I feel a bit tired but I don’t feel anxious. While my to-do list is very long, I am on track with all my priorities and I have carefully selected what to do and what not to do. Would I have liked to have completed more, Sure! But I am also glad that I had eight hours of sleep last night and made time for a workout this morning. I have a fun weekend ahead of me, complete with a concert in Atlantic City, and I know that with fresh energy on Monday I will continue making progress along my path. It's been a long lesson to learn, and if you can learn it sooner than I did, you’ll save yourself a lot of headache. Learn to slow down to speed up and make sure rest has a place within your priorities.