When You’ve Given Up On Working Hard!

There comes a time in every high achiever’s career path when they say, "I’m done working so hard and I just want to coast."

Maybe you’ve been there or maybe you’re there now…

Wondering how to win the lottery
Or asking around who’s got a trust fund to share
Or maybe you’re fantasizing about selling it all, buying a one way and moving far far away. 

Whatever it is, I’m here to tell you it’s not only normal to feel this way, but as a high achiever it’s actually expected!

Why is it expected that at some point in your career, you’d feel D.O.N.E. done with working hard?

In addition to being a high achiever and finding validation in hitting your goals, we’re unspokenly sold the idea that when we achieve success everything should just suddenly (poof!) feel easy, fun and joyful. But in most people’s cases, that’s simply not how it goes!

Instead, what happens is that when you’ve built success with a certain model, the reward is actually just more work! And those shiny feelings of ease and satisfaction were never ever going to part of the picture.

If you want to change how you feel, you also have to change your energy and mindset around your work! 

If you’re thinking, “does that mean I have to ditch my career that I’ve worked so hard to build and find something totally different?” My response to this is, “maybe for some people that feel right, but that’s certainly not the only way!”

Many people find joy and fulfillment in their career right where they are with some help and guidance to put yourself on a new path. The first step is really about letting yourself off the hook for the pressures that you’ve put on yourself and reconnecting to yourself in new ways, so you can find new meaning in your life and work. 

Here’s some ways to start:

• 1. Name Your Core Values
  What are your values NOW in this season of your life, not what were they when you started your career? If you’re defining your personal values by your company’s values, that’s just another trap. Once you name your values, take an honest look at your life and see where it aligns to those values and where it doesn’t. Here's a worksheet to begin!

• 2. Take Real Rest!
  We often think that rest is going to make us more lazy, but it’s actually a necessary part of the process to shift. If you’ve been nearing burnout, your nervous system holds all that tension. Imagine what it could be for you to create the most nourishing, generous rest period for yourself. This could start with a day of pouring into you, or it could be something much more expansive, like a sabbatical.

• 3. Find Your Zone of Genius
  And work from that place. A term coined by Gay Hendricks, the Zone Of Genius is the sweet spot where your talents meet your passions. When your work aligns from this place, you’ll tap into your natural energy and your work will feel like an extension of who you are. 

Let me know what most resonates with you! And if you’re in this place right now feeling drained and frustrated, you’re certainly not alone and know you don’t have to navigate it alone either! 

With ♡ and gratitude,
Jennifer