Powering Through is Overrated
As those of you who regularly read my blog know, last year I suffered a concussion that changed my life. One of the things that changed was my understanding of myself and my abilities. I used to pride myself on being able to make things happen on a whim, to summon energy seemingly at will, and power through long days, stressful times and difficult situations. So, when I hit my head, and life as I knew it came to a standstill, my identity as a powerful person was challenged.
In hospitality we earn stripes from pushing the limits. Who can carry the most on a tray? Who can take the biggest station? Who can suffer burns and keep putting out food? Who can keep smiling when a guest or manager is ripping you apart? This is how you demonstrate fortitude, confidence, stability and determination. This is how you show you’re “all in” and truly committed. At Per Se we used to share this riddle in order to inspire ourselves: “At breakfast, who’s more committed, the chicken or the pig? Answer: the pig.”
Thus, “be the bacon” was our mantra, our battle cry and our badge of honor. Be the bacon, kid, show you’re committed, give it 110% and power through! Trust me, it’s worth it.
When I was recovering from my concussion I discovered that I could no longer push the limits of my own life and I definitely couldn’t power through the healing process. It was a wakeup. For so many years I had prided myself on being able to push through just about any challenge that came by way and now this ability had abandoned me. What now? How do I get back to my life if I cannot power through and make things happen? This question plagued me, but there was only one solution.
I couldn’t power through, so I didn’t power through. It was just that simple.
What I’ve realized is that powering through is overrated. This notion that by doing more you’ll feel more committed, more accomplished and get more done is rubbish. It doesn’t really work, it just fills your hours with effort and illusion. Fact is, when I was recovering, I couldn’t plan on my energy being high enough to get work done so when I had a moment of energy or clarity, I had to seize the moment.
I started to see patterns: in the morning I felt the best, and as the day went on I got more weary and weak. So, I began to use the few morning hours to get my work done: write blog posts, send emails and work on my materials. Then I would head back to bed to rest and recover. Oddly enough I got a lot done this way.
Because I had finite energy, I used it gratefully, fully and respectfully. Because I had finite hours of clear-headedness (before nausea took over) I was streamlined and focused in my work. And on the flip side, when my energy would flag, my head would ache, and I was nauseated from using the computer, I simply stopped. I gave in. I rested and listened to what my body was telling me. My method became: use the hour you have and focus your efforts. No distractions because distractions take away from productive time.
So now - thankfully! - my energy is back. And it is sometimes tempting to jump back in the saddle, fill my calendar and try to “be the bacon.” But in truth the temptation to return to that mindset is very small…I am thankful that I still retain the habit that I had built while on the road to recovery.
And I now see clearly that powering through, my old friend and ally, was really an enemy to my health and wellbeing. I filled my time because time seemed endless. When time felt so very short, I began to honor my time and protect it with my life. And this is a mindset that I am truly committed to maintaining; minute by minute, day by day, and into the new year.
