I Used to Think Burnout Was the Price of Success—Until I Learned This.

Getting out in nature has always been so nourishing for me.

For years, I equated productivity with self-worth. If I wasn’t filling every available moment with something useful—work, networking, self-improvement—I felt like I was falling behind. It was a pattern reinforced by everything around me: the culture of hustle, the praise that came with being “always on,” the belief that success meant squeezing as much as possible into every hour.

It wasn’t until 2022, during a major life transition, that I truly questioned whether this approach was sustainable. My calendar was packed—every workday meticulously scheduled, every weekend planned months in advance. It was all important, but at some point, I realised I needed a break from my own life. Not a holiday or a quick weekend away—something deeper. I needed space, not just time.

So, I started scheduling white space into my calendar. Unstructured, protected time with no agenda.

At first, it felt... wrong. A luxury I hadn't earned.

Why Rest Feels Uncomfortable for High Achievers

I’d spent so long measuring my days by output that when I deliberately left space open, I felt frustrated. Shouldn’t I be using this time more effectively? Knocking out tasks? Getting ahead?

And yet, when I forced myself to rest, I didn’t feel rested. I felt bored, restless, even guilty. It was an odd sensation—like I was doing something irresponsible by not being busy. It took me a while to recognise what was actually happening: my nervous system was coming down from a chronic state of overdrive. I had become so accustomed to busyness that slowing down felt unnatural.

And here’s the surprising part: it wasn’t boredom I was feeling. It was withdrawal.

Breaking Free from the Cycle of Constant Busyness

I decided to stick with the experiment, but it wasn’t easy. Work commitments crept in. Invitations to events made me hesitate. But I worked hard to protect my white space fiercely. I had to remind myself constantly: this wasn’t wasted time—it was necessary time.

Over the next few weeks, something shifted.

As I adjusted, I noticed my mind had space to wander again. Instead of constantly jumping from task to task, I had the capacity to be curious, to let ideas breathe. I found myself reading for pleasure, experimenting with new recipes, letting creative solutions emerge naturally rather than forcing them in a scheduled brainstorming session.

It reminded me of something Paul Polman once shared during a leadership programme I used to run. He posed a powerful question:

In a world where there’s always more to do, how can we embrace the fact that sustainable ambition requires rest?

That was the moment it clicked for me. Rest and recovery aren’t indulgences—they are essential to high performance. The same way athletes prioritise recovery to sustain their peak, ambitious professionals need intentional space to sustain success without burnout.

The Shift: From Seeing Rest as a Reward to Seeing It as Fuel

For so long, I had treated rest as something I could earn—only allowing myself to slow down once I had done enough. But the reality is, rest isn’t a reward for hard work. It’s the fuel that makes meaningful work possible.

Turns out, slowing down didn’t set me back—it moved me forward.

Once I freed myself from the cycle of over-scheduling, I found clarity in areas I didn’t even realise had been clouded. I had the energy to approach challenges with a fresh perspective, the creativity to develop new ideas, and—most importantly—the ability to enjoy the life I was working so hard to build.

Bringing This Into Your Life

If you’re someone who struggles to slow down, I get it. The pull to keep going, to maximise every moment, is strong. But I challenge you to ask yourself: What if the thing that’s missing isn’t another strategy or productivity hack—but space?

Try this: ✅ Block out one or two non-negotiable periods of white space in your calendar next week. ✅ Resist the urge to fill it with something “productive.” Let it be empty. ✅ Notice what comes up. Is it discomfort? Restlessness? Pay attention—your mind might be recalibrating.

Busyness is overrated. White space is where the good stuff happens.

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I help ambitious professionals break free from autopilot, navigate change with confidence, and create a life that feels as good as it looks. Ready to make a shift? I’m always open to a chat to explore how I can support you. Book a free discovery call here.