Embracing Recreation and Rediscovering Self

Time for a deeply personal journey that has shaped my perspective on life and work.

At 34, my world was shattered as I bid farewell to my beloved mother. In the midst of grief, I found myself desperately running after success – living abroad, pregnant with my third child, and leading a team on an ambitious AI project. The weight of responsibilities felt overwhelming, and I pushed myself to prove my worth, to succeed at any cost.

Now I know that "to succeed at any cost" is very dangerous thinking. The price to pay now seems too high to pay.

Sacrificing Self-Care And Ignoring Vital Whispers

As time passed, my relentless pursuit of success led me to neglect the most crucial aspect of life – caring for myself. I disregarded the whispers of my body, the signs that it needed healing and restoration. My health suffered, but I was consumed by the relentless drive for achievement.

The Call For Renewal

It wasn’t until I reached a breaking point with thyroid dysfunction and depression that I realised the importance of change. Now I was forced to take time for myself. At first I wanted to be the first one who recovers quickly. I thought 2 weeks would be enough to recover from depression. Now I can only laugh about my naive thinking. Through months to come I learned to transform my approach to life and work. And that’s when I discovered the profound impact of play and recreation.

Embracing Play To Reconnect With Joy

As a coach, I know that play isn’t just for children; it’s a powerful tool for adults to reconnect with their joy and creativity. By embracing recreation, we unlock new perspectives, untapped potential, and a refreshed sense of purpose. Play helps us rediscover ourselves and find the balance between success and well-being.

Play with your children, play with your animals, play with your style, play music, play what you used to play as a child. At the beginning it will feel hard, chewy or icky, but keep going. With time will come joy into your play.

Prioritise Your Well-Being

Dear tech enthusiasts, in a world that celebrates relentless ambition, we do not have to accept it. No matter what everyone else says and does, we can have life and work on our terms! We defined our own success! When someone talks about work-life balance, remind them that without a life there is no work. Block time in your calendar for self-care and play. Investing in your own well-being ultimately enhances our performance, fuels innovation, and breeds lasting success.

Categories: : mindset