Working 6 Hours per Day

I work 6 hours per day. And during those 6 hours, I work very efficiently. There's been a hype lately around focus and distraction, not that these are new things. But with the stream of information that people have to process nowadays, perhaps it requires more attention.

Let me frame why I find this important. I think back to June 2021, the corona period is almost behind us, we're stiff with stress, work pressure, and we're isolated from society. There's a light at the end of the tunnel and then suddenly, BAM, the diagnosis of a brain tumor. I'm 40 and my life is just beginning.

The surgery was successful, 'That was the easiest part', the doctor said. And then it began, a long road of treatments and rehabilitation. The impact was huge, and still is. My kryptonite: focus.

Imagine that you're a walking battery, a bomb of energy. Nothing could stop me before. Working more than 40 hours per week during the day job and then renovating a house afterwards, until late at night. Why? Because we're passionate about it, of course. Hobbies, side projects, a full social life,- why not? That's what life is all about.

And then you suddenly get told that the battery no longer has the same capacity as before. Much lower, even. Instead of charging once, at the end of the day, you have to do this multiple times per day. Otherwise you won't even make it to the end of the day.

And what drains my energy the most? The doctor had me write down every day where my energy was going the most. Besides my children, to whom I gladly give all my energy :-), also driving and concentrated work. Things that require a lot of focus.

Distraction is negative focus, but focus nonetheless. So also energy-draining. You'd be surprised sometimes how focused we can be on useless things.

So I've learned to live by thoughtfully giving my attention to the right things. And regularly incorporating mental rest breaks. As a 'normal' or healthy person, you don't always think about this, maybe we should do that more.

Sometimes it's also nice to do nothing for once, as long as it's a conscious choice and you don't have to feel guilty afterwards.

I was triggered today by a podcast episode by Geert Hoffbauer with Hannah Noeth:
https://lnkd.in/e9n5n768
There's so much truth and wisdom in this short but powerful podcast.

Thank you.