I’ve come to believe that finding balance in life is a bit of a myth for anyone that’s motivated.
If you’re motivated then no matter how much of everything good you have, you’re always going to want a little bit more of it.
If you have good grades then you’re going to want great grades.
If you have a lot of friends then you’re going to want a whole lot more.
If you enjoy your life then you’re looking to have an amazing life.
This constant desire to want more makes balance impossible.
Every time you find a balance you’re going to catch yourself losing it when you realize you’re looking for more.
There is never a moment when you’ll stop and think, “everything is correctly balanced.”
If you’re really on a roll then you might feel like it’s almost right but hitting the correct balance just never happens.
Instead of balance I’ve come to accept balance through cycles.
I will be busy at times.
I will be relaxed at times.
During the busy times I’ll be enthusiastic about it. I’ll push myself and it will feel great because I’m really making big things happen. I’ll feel it and love every second of it because, I know, no matter what, I will allow myself to relax when the stressful times are over.
When the relaxed times come, many motivated people start getting a bit antsy.
They start feeling a bit of guilt for a lack of productivity.
I used to think that way.
These days I tend to think about how many large predators sleep most of the day.
There is nothing wrong with saving your strength and stress for the moments when you really need it. (And through these times, I usually end up doing some of my best thinking. In some ways, thinking is the most valuable work you can do.)
This is the balance that I like to focus on.
I could (and used to) spend my whole life stressfully trying to achieve big things. Those big things rarely worked out. Once I started letting myself stop to relax my productive moments seemed to go significantly better.
Of course, this is my preference.
I don’t think there is too much scientific about it.
(There are studies that suggest short term stress like fighting bears or skydiving is good for you and long term stress like working all day is bad for you. That seems only somewhat related to the point though.)
I’m just saying this tends to work for me. It might be worth giving it a try.
Have you ever sabotaged your success doing this silly little thing?
Ever procrastinate?
You only procrastinate the stuff that sucks. You don’t say, “Ahhh… I’ll read that text from my crush later.” Nope. Now… Any pause is intentional and coordinated to respond better.
Here is the problem with academics:
You probably think most academic stuff sucks – at least a little. (Especially compared to other things you could be doing.)
And the thing is:
FORCING YOURSELF TO STUDY JUST MAKES IT WORSE!
You’re slowly hardening your association of school and being miserable.
You need to create positive associations with academics. You want your brain to be getting hyped up and positive when you’re thinking about studying and giving into this internal oligarchical instinct to force yourself to studying – ain’t helpin’.
Chill the internal dictator for a moment…
A big secret: You need to STOP forcing yourself to study so much.
But, if you’re not forcing yourself then how are you going to see those killer straight-a’s that you’re always dreaming about?
WAKE UP!
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