57. Take a break

Sometimes working doesn't work.

Sometimes you have to have the self-awareness to be able to look at yourself and be like,

You know what? I'm not creating any work. I'm not making any leeway. This problem is not going away.

Being able to recognise when you need to step back is essential to take another step forward.

Yet, there is often this notion that we don’t need a break. The idea that we can put in 12 hour days 24/7 and get great success is a fallacy.

One of my favourite stories I have heard that struck home is one about two lumberjacks that Simon Sinek proposed.

Here it is- I hope you find it helpful.

Sharpening your axe is going to be different for everyone.

It could mean just going for a walk outside, reading a book, or doing some drawing.

I think it's very easy to get into these routines and think we must stick 100% to them all the time because it’s produced results.

But it has produced results for now.

Long term consistency trumps short term intensity - Bruce Lee

If you are pursuing something you really care about, which hopefully you are, you probably want to be more successful in the long term.

Being intensely focused is the number one way to destroy that dream.

Yet we don’t listen because busyness is often perceived as success and we don’t want people to view us as lazy.

We go to nine to five jobs and we are expected to work for eight hours (if not longer) non-stop. It’s an outdated model.

We are burning the candle both ways through this and ultimately something we previously enjoyed can become something we hate.

So what is the solution?

Intentional, smart, organised breaks.

But what actually is that?

David Hieatt, the CEO of Hiut Jeans and the Do Company, shared the idea that those working jobs that use their mind require a break which is manually draining - and vice versa.

The average person goes home after a day at the office and watches TV, reads, or listens to a podcast.

It is information overload.

Not only are we not resting but we are creating more stress.

We need to do some digging, get outside, remove ourselves from technology.

The result?

We come back with our axe sharpened, ready to make some amazing work.