Why High-Achievers Need to Rethink Rest

NEWSLETTER

Hey Strivers,

10 years ago, if someone told me to take a break, I’d tell myself…

“I’ll sleep when the work is done.”

“Resting is a luxury I can’t afford right now.”

“My body doesn't need sleep. I’m resilient.”

In one sense, I was right. Back then, my body COULD handle it. But that’s the issue with being born and bred pretty tough and resilient. For some of us, the stronger we are, the more stress we take on, and the less rest we think we need.

If I had been born at any other time in history, I probably wouldn’t have made it past 30.

I'd like to think that this giant body of mine would have died in a blaze of glory on some battlefield somewhere 🤣⚔️.

And back then, it would've been absolutely fine to burn the candle at both ends.

It would've been okay not to look after myself. 

It would've been okay to have the amount of fun that I had with no consequence, and it would've been okay to reduce my stress with a couple of bottles of wine (or mead or ale or whatever they drank back then) each night without considering my long-term health.

But… As we age, our resilience starts to decline, and the damage we’ve done to our nervous system accumulates.

Most of us aren’t Vikings, and if we hope to survive and thrive a lot longer than our ancestors, we need to look after ourselves better.

By 40, my body couldn’t keep up, and because I’d developed such awful habits, it led to my burnout. 

Since then, I’ve made significant changes:

- My calendar now includes dedicated time for rest.

- I’ve become clear on my purpose and personal definition of success.

- Establishing and maintaining boundaries is now a top priority.

When that high-achievers guilt’ creeps in, I remind myself:

- I’m successful when I balance work with rest.

- I owe myself the time to unwind and recharge.

- My well-being enables me to be there for those who depend on me.

If you feel guilty for resting, I hope my story encourages you to take some time for yourself this week.

You deserve it and need it.

For a start, why not try my brand new 20-Minute Guided Meditation to Calm Anxiety? It’s the perfect way to ground yourself and find peace when stress hits.

If you’re ready for a deeper, more immersive experience, my new 40-Minute Guided Meditation to Soothe Anxiety offers powerful breathwork and mindful relaxation techniques. You'll create space to release tension, and you'll restore inner calm, peace and mental clarity.

Have a wonderful week everyone!

Chibs