The One where I went from Overwhelmed to Reset: Lessons Learned
•hit•pause•hit•reset•
Originally captured in this tweet storm and then I thought, I might as well just turn it into an article.
Dated: Friday April 12th, 2024.
I failed this week. Severely.
For many reasons I just couldn’t pick up a lot of things that were on my table. Not that I didn’t want to, I just couldn’t. I gather it happens to the best of us. I felt overworked and overwhelmed; personally and professionaly. It also didn’t help that my sleep pattern lately has been messed up, cascading effortlessly into eveything else.
A few people could tell that I was struggling.
An unofficial mentor of mine who’s been building for over 3 decades had been intermittently reaching out asking how I was and could sense all was not well. He asked me to buy him ice cream / lunch. A very on-the-whim request which I obliged to and was at location within 90 minutes. Ice cream became brunch and to level the playing field, he started out by telling me the life defining challenges he’s faced in life and that which he’s currently dealing it. He was cheerfully sharing all of this and the entire time I thought to myself; I guess my problems aren’t a quarter as bad. In Nigeria we have this saying that goes; “If everyone were to bring out their problems and openly share, you would end up putting yours back in your pocket because you would then realise that yours isn’t as grand as you thought it was.” And this is exactly what happened to me. He highlighted that my challenges are solvable and I should take action on this, that, and that…The goal is to decide—indecision or delaying decision making wouldn’t move the needle and I need certain needles moved today.
I can’t even fully express how relieved I felt just leaving that impromptu brunch meeting. It was what I didn’t know I needed.
“If everyone were to bring out their problems and openly share, you would end up putting yours back in your pocket because you would then realise that yours isn’t as grand as you thought it was.”
The takeaway?
Find yourself mentors and coaches who are well ahead of you in the journey; because I grow really fast, my benchmark is 15-30 years ahead of me.
Surround yourself with trusted aides. Take full advantage of your support systems.
A problem shared is half-solved…this is true. Talking through / workshopping problems goes a long way. Share that problem with people who’s perspectives are logical, trusted, and true.
You need a routine to excel. Daily yoga? Exercise? Waking up at 5AM? Setting one is easy, the difficult part is the follow-through. This is where you will require utter discipline, especially on days when you just want to cave into your human desires.
Listen to your body and mind, and to those who know you best when they say you need to take a break.
hit reset. often. You will find yourself here more times than you may think.
“Workshopping problems goes a long way.”
This digest wasn’t overly thought out. Writing this from a first person POV.
Do what you must with it.
