I was working on a strategic project with a tight deadline. One day, I spent hours on it, moved on to other tasks and was getting ready to wind down.
Just before I’d planned to go to bed, I decided to work on it for just 20 minutes.
That 20 minutes turned into 2 hours!
The next morning, I looked worn out, my brain was foggy, and I had to resort to consuming large doses of caffeine to keep alert.
To make matters worse, my exhaustion led me to lose track of my calendar and arrive 15 minutes late for a meeting.
That moment taught me that the ‘just one more thing’ mentality can have repercussions that ripple into the next day, affecting not just my performance but how others view me.
If you’re a relentless list-checker who habitually tries to get one last thing done before bedtime, then this episode is for you.
I’ll expose the risks of this behavior how it can be a slippery slope for women leaders.
Find the full transcript and other resources for women leaders at http://www.livingwhileleading.com/16.
Why It’s a Struggle for Women Leaders to Switch Off
It’s essential to set the context in relation to the ‘one more thing’ mindset. While this behavior is not exclusive to women, there are unique factors that make you especially susceptible to falling into this productivity trap.
Let’s dig into the reasons why you’re prone to this behavior.
- The Caretaker Instinct: You often juggle multiple roles—partner, mother, caregiver, and professional. The desire to excel at each of them can make it hard to switch off at any time of the day, particularly in the evenings.
- High Expectations: Society still holds you to unfair standards, expecting you to be perfect in everything you undertake. This pressure can cause an inner compulsion to set unmanageable expectations about how much you can realistically get done in any given day.
- Fear of Falling Behind: It’s quite possible that you work in an environment where you still have to perform twice as hard for the same recognition as your male counterparts. This inequity can make it hard to step back and say, “enough for today.”
The Hidden Costs on Mental Health, Productivity, and Relationships to Professional Women
Now that you understand the drivers of this behavior, let’s dig into why it’s detrimental to your well-being.
Mental Health:
- First is the cost on your mental health. Every time you decide to do “just one more thing,” you’re essentially robbing yourself of precious sleep time.
In the short term, you’ll notice increased stress levels and irritability. Over time, this can snowball into chronic stress, anxiety disorders, and in the worst case, even lead to burnout.
You’re practically putting your body in a fight-or-flight mode because you’re not getting the rest you need to recharge.
Reduced Productivity:
- What’s ironic is that you believe you’re achieving more by working late. In reality, it’s a classic case of diminishing returns.
You’re sacrificing sleep, a fundamental pillar for cognitive function and decision-making, for more work time. However, the quality of work done in these extra hours is often less than satisfactory since your cognitive skills are compromised.
The next day, you’ll find yourself with brain fog, slower reaction times, and yes, prone to even more mistakes. By trying to do more, you could actually be doing less!
Strained Relationships:
- Lastly, the repercussions of this habit spill over into your personal life. If you’re continually pushing the envelope on your tasks, you’re also invariably taking time away the people who matter most.
Whether it’s a significant other waiting for a shared bedtime or kids who want to tell you about their day, your continual state of ‘doing’ robs you of the magic of ‘being.’
Over time, this leads to emotional disconnect, feelings of isolation, and strained relationships.
3 Practical Tips Every Woman IT Executive Can Use to Transition into a Restful Evening
It’s essential to understand that all these drivers are interconnected. The state of your mental health affects your productivity, which in turn puts a strain on your relationships, and creates a vicious cycle that’s hard to break.
I’d like to suggest that you take a step back, and consider a healthier approach to winding down your days.
- Set Boundaries: Allocate specific work hours, even in the evening if necessary, and stick to them. Respect the schedule that you designed and shut down your work devices according to plan. I strongly urge you to move them out of your view so you don’t get tempted into checking them again.
- Wind-Down Rituals: Create a relaxing bedtime routine that sends cues to your body that it’s time to rest. This could be a warm bath, reading a light book—not industry news—or drinking a cup of herbal tea. Did you notice that none of these include using technology?
- Mindfulness Practice: Identify a mindfulness practice that suits you. Sometimes your mind needs permission to stop running. Mindfulness can help you focus on the present, making it easier to resist the lure of doing more.
I admire your drive to accomplish everything put in front of you, but don’t lose yourself or compromise your well-being in the process.
The best way to prepare for tomorrow is to be your best self today. A sure-fire way you can do that is to make sleep a non-negotiable appointment in your calendar.
Allow yourself to wind down gracefully after a busy day and give your mind and body the rest it deserves.
Remember, you’re the solution to claiming what’s important to you!
