We're now approaching the second year since we opened our virtual doors to launch the Sative store. What an exciting journey it has been for us so far. May you please join us in celebrating this milestone.
When we started, we held a lot of preconceived notions about how to be a success. We were going to work very hard. Harder than anyone.
The narrative around achieving any success is to outwork everyone. But when you look around you, everyone is stressed out. People are overworked and not getting enough rest.
Take no days off cause the grind doesn't stop - That's the most popular advice right now. The self-proclaimed 'motivational gurus' on YouTube all preach that message. That's a bit of terrible advice.
Unless you want to have a nervous breakdown and completely squash any glimmer of well-being and fulfilment in your life. Attaining sustainable success is a marathon. It's not a sprint. If you run yourself into the ground, you are no good to your friends or family. You've got to approach it with a long-term view.
I had to learn that lesson the hard way. If I wasn't working on improving even the most minute details that no one would even notice. I was reading about something that would further our chances of succeeding. I kept working until I burned out. I went through a period where zero work got done. I was feeling empty and mentally exhausted all the time. The most terrible thing about burnout is you lose all care and interest. And trying to push through the exhaustion and continuing as you have been will only cause further emotional and physical damage. Eventually, you may feel like you have nothing more to give. Anyone can become exhausted. But, what is poignant about burnout is that it mainly strikes highly committed people. You can only 'burn out' if you have been 'alight' in the first place.
Yes, if you want to make something of yourself, you've to put in the effort. You've to stay persistent. You've to work hard. But, that doesn't mean you neglect your physical and emotional needs. It doesn't mean work has to be the only thing you care about in the world, the only thing that matters.
I know how easy it is to get consumed with your passion. Nothing you do is ever enough. It doesn't matter how many hours you spend working because you never feel comfortable taking a break. It doesn't matter how hard you push yourself because you still feel like you haven't done enough.
On some days, you consider yourself lazy, even though you spent your day running from place to place, bouncing from task to task, trying to get everything done. You rarely take a step back to admire everything you've accomplished. You're focused on how much more you could've done. You're hard on yourself for taking a slightly longer break than usual to eat your lunch or wasting time talking to your friend on the phone for an hour. You frown on yourself for spending a few minutes on Netflix streaming your favourite show. You feel guilty whenever you take a second to yourself.
When you're determined to succeed, you make excuses for treating yourself poorly. You convince yourself you're doing the right thing by working until you burn yourself out. You don't think you need a break because you have to make sacrifices. But, It will not be long before you start paying the ultimate price. Our bodies need rest. We need to reset. Refocus, so we can do more of what we love and achieve more.
Here is the simple truth behind any success. It's doing the work. It's not doing the work that is easy for you to do. Not doing the work that makes you look good. It's not doing things when you feel inspired. It's just doing the work.
You might not be a brilliant writer, but if you write something each week, you'll be better than most because you are doing the work. You might not be an incredible content creator, but if you stay consistent, you'll be better than most because you're doing the work. You might not be a savvy business person, but if you make a point to serve your customers each day, you will be better than most because you're doing the work. And so it goes for any and every challenge we face.
Working long hours doesn't mean you're doing the work that matters. Take that break when you need it. There's a difference between keeping busy and being productive.
It's okay to pause and do things that make you smile no matter what field of work or study you're in, don't forget to take care of yourself.
I'm sending you so much love while I take care of myself.
Thank you for being here. I love you guys.
9 comments
@Arnold, yeah it’s like that sometimes. We get into a groove that everything just flows perfectly. You get so much done that you’ll not want to disrupt that. But then we then over do it sometimes and end up burning both sides of the candle… as a consequence we resulting in not being productive at all…
Thank you so much for leaving a comment 🙏💛
I always go through periods of doing aot of work at once and periods of doing no work. I had no idea I overwork then burnout. I have been trying to change my patterns as I realize there is more to life than work. I praise your good writing. Keep going, I’m sure this is just the beginning.
Elijah 😊 you have no idea how much your kind words mean to me. Thank you so so much. I will always come back to your comment whenever I need some motivation and reminder. Thank you 🙏💛
i am so proud of you for being here, and taking necessary steps to still being here. i donʼt think it is meant to be easy, unless you would not have reached this point. you have really laid out points that are valid, and not because it sounds right or well written, but because i can personally see the intention and experience from these words through your ethic. keep moving.