Let It Go
About three thousand years ago, King David said, “I am fearfully and wonderfully made.” And you know what? The guy was onto something. A new neuroimaging study from the University of Zurich reveals that every person has a unique brain anatomy. You read that right… EVERY person. The research found that our uniqueness results from genetic factors and life experiences. With that in mind, Kate and I started talking about the typical online lists of how to combat burnout. They are so repetitive, uninspiring, and not really helpful. They go something like this:
End work by 5 or 6 (Not possible for some service workers)
Plan vacations (Some of us can’t afford)
Ask for flex hours (Many companies do not provide)
Create healthy boundaries (More complex than three little words)
Take movement or breathwork breaks (Difficult with back-to-back work meetings)
Our question... why is there a simple list when we as individuals are unique with complex lives? For example, many how-tos have an early-to-bed, early-to-rise type suggestion. See number 1 on the above list. It works great for me because I’m a morning person. In fact, I’m writing this fifteen minutes after climbing out of bed. However, by late afternoon, my writing/creative skills vanish. Then there’s Jessica, our production manager. You should see her work at ten o’clock at night. The girl’s a wiz! Clearly, I don’t want her working crazy hours, so when she rolls in late to the office, I don’t care because I know her best work is to come.
Oh, and here’s another zinger (see number 5 above). If I interrupted my writing for breathwork, it would take me 15 to 20 minutes to get back into the same headspace. Honestly, I may not be able to rediscover the same creative flow. Talk about stress. Yuck.
So ladies, don’t take these lists to heart and feel guilty when you can’t execute the suggestions. You’re not broken or wrong. Remember, we’re all fearfully and wonderfully made, which means what works for one person does not always apply to another. These lists are merely suggestions.
Lean into YOUR life, workflow, and interests, and embrace what brings YOU joy. As for the rest... well, as Elsa said, “Let it go!”
