😴 Forget 'finish strong'

If you look at a real river, it doesn't just rush forward relentlessly. It has eddies – calm pools behind rocks where the water swirls back and rests before rejoining the current.

In our careers, we are often told to "finish strong" or "sprint to the end of the year." I'd argue the best way to finish strong is not to power through, but to pause.

This week, I'm recommending you find an eddy.

Stop trying to push forward when all signs point to the need to rest and regroup. Close those tabs. Ignore the LinkedIn "Year in Review" posts. Honor your Out of Office autoresponder.

If you do, you'll be in good company: Charles Darwin used periods of rest intentionally to work better (perhaps he was overdue for some rest on that particular “very stupid” day). Luminaries such as Marie Curie, Georgia O’Keeffe and Lin Manuel Miranda have incorporated seasonal variations into their schedules to be more effective.

Sustainable navigation requires a rested captain. The river will still be there in January, and it will be much easier to navigate if you've actually taken a breath.

And on that note, just a heads-up that Explore Your Career River will be on holiday break next week, returning to your inbox in the new year. Wishing you and yours a restful holiday season. 😌

Happy navigating,
Bridget

P.S. If you want to get ready to put your refreshed self into action when you return, the $25 From Applicant to Explorer online course is still open. Sign up now, forget about it for a couple of weeks, and we’ll pick up the paddle together on Jan. 6.