- š I love this place!
- š¤ I'm spending a LOT more time here.
- š± Oh my gosh, I'm completely addicted!
- šāā Eating? no. Sleeping? not really. Hiving? YEAAAAAHHHH!!!
- š...I fried my brain, and I'm done.
Those are the five stages of Hive addiction. hahaha
And I wonder where you find yourself?
The point of this post is to prevent most newbies (and even oldbies who haven't managed their energy as efficiently as possible) from reaching that final stage: the "wipeout" stage.
I loved this example stated in a book The Waveriders that specifically was talking about the tendency of people suffering from bipolar to push themselves to the point where they exceed their limitations, and then cause the crash (the wipeout). In order to maintain a healthier, more sustainable balance, Irwin (the author) offered this image of "riding the wave".
Though this example was specifically tailored to people suffering from bipolar, I really see this as a general application that can be utilized by every one of us who tend to push in varying degrees past our safety borders!
One of the BEST things that I've ever learned and applied in my life : write breaks into the schedule.
If you are anything like me, or even a LITTLE like me, you can become so focused on the goal, that you fail to realize how important it is to take BREAKS from the pursuit of that goal.
It seems counter-intuitive to many people. "Why would I pause when I can go a little harder, a little longer, a little more focused?"
The simple answer is - because most journeys are about the daily steady steps instead of a hard & fast push. There are times for sprinting - but those are short little bursts that deplete a lot of energy and REQUIRE rest, relaxation and restoration. The body requires fuel, and maintenance. If you don't write in breaks - and HONOR those breaks, you will only be breaking down YOUR capacity to achieve more in the long run.
One of the things that I love about DreemPort is that we take every weekend OFF. I know that a lot of companies would laugh at that. "The weekend??? But that is when you can get the MOST time out of people! They have no work, they have fewer obligations. Soak up that time and tie them even MORE to you!"
Hm. Sure. that's one way to look at it.
But all of us at DreemPort believe that people should always outrank money. When you treat your users as batteries to charge the machine, they will not only feel that - but you will too. When you honor them as people, and give time BACK to them, value them as individuals and give them the tools to rest - they'll have more energy and JOY to give back with full hearts and minds.
That's OUR commitment - but people fail to understand one simple piece of the puzzle:
YOU actually have the ability to do this WITHOUT anyone else's permission.
Your mind is your own, and how YOU choose to spend your time is completely up to you. Having the ability to balance your time and energy will allow you to ride that wave for as long as possible. As you feel yourself getting dangerously to the top of that crest of the wave, pull back and ride gently for a bit.
When you have enjoyed the ride down that wave and feel like you have more energy to scale it again, use your momentum to push a bit harder and soar to the top again.
- Balance your Hive addiction.
- Write in breaks.
- Take care of your body and mind.
When you do, your body and mind will thank you in ways that will surprise you. You'll likely have more clarity, more joy, more creativity, more support for others, more motivation, and more peace.
I have been away on my own little break - tending to my body and mind for the past few days. I've not written a post for several days. Some people missed me, some haven't. LOL But here is the thing, taking a short break from Hive (or any other social media) will not make you obsolete. It MIGHT reveal some opportunities for you to manage your expectations.
That's all good! When you come back, take the time to re-evaluate the best use of your time in the most concentrated arenas where you are thriving! Breaks are a necessity! Start adopting them and evaluate how much more effective you become - and avoid that wipeout!