The Tortoise vs the Hare
June 27, 2024
My family calls me hurricane Ariana. When I get into any project, whether it’s operational or just cleaning the pantry, it diverges into chaos, so I can find the patterns, in order to put it all back together in a better way. Kind of like Sherlock’s mind palace.
Although my family says it as a term of endearment, it’s also a loving warning to one another that I’ve got tunnel vision for whatever I’m doing and it’s best to give me some space.
I remember, one of my co-workers used to describe me as a wind up toy. Turn the dial and I go, go, go until the gears stop, then I’m unable to function. This hyperfocus is my superhero power, but it’s also my curse. It’s gotten me to where I am today, but it’s also caused migraines, panic attacks, inflammation, and strains in relationships. It has been, by far, the greatest contributor to any burnout I’ve had over the years.
In using this “strategy”, what I didn’t understand was that life and work are a marathon, not a sprint. The literal definition of a sprint is to “run at full speed over a short distance”. Sprints are to be used sparingly, with “short distance” being the key aspect. I see a lot of people early in their careers sprinting until their bodies or minds literally can’t take it and they break down. It just not sustainable.
So, what have I done to transition toward the marathon mentality? I force myself to take breaks. And honestly, I hate it. I fight it like a toddler does nap time, but the compound effects are profound.
If you are like me and need to be cornered into taking a step back, these three tools have helped me on my journey:
Stretchly: This tool pops open a full screen reminder on your computer to tell you to take a break (based on your preferred frequency). It’s like a doorman for your sanity.
Daily Stand Goal: On my Apple Watch, it tells me to stand if I haven’t in an hour. Because I like gamification, I stand to get my hourly “point” and usually end up taking a much-needed breather.
Accountability Buddy: In the afternoon, my husband will ask when I plan to be done with work. The fact that he knows what time I’ve said I will stop, lovingly guilts me into holding myself accountability to that time.
Fair warning —In the moment, I despise these tools. I hate that they are pulling me away from my flow, but in the long run they make my work and my life better.
In the spirit of practicing what I preach, Secret Ops will be going on a summer break in July. We will be resuming full episodes in August, but until then, check out our YouTube Shorts for some snapshots of strategies and stories from our guests.
In the meantime, try one of the strategies above, or better yet, send me a new one to try that has worked for you. Remember, sharing is caring!
— Ariana
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