Mental wellbeing isn't just an important thing, it's the MOST important thing.
The pressure to be the best at your job is something that a lot of us grapple with, but when you're the visionary that is supposed to be leading others, it's exponentially more intense.
As a journalist I've worked at several content startups in their earliest stages. I've seen the toll it can take on leadership, including myself. The highs are like nothing else, but the lows are equally intense. You start looking for an edge, whether that means working obscenely long hours in pursuit of your goal or searching for outside influences that you convince yourself you need (drugs, alcohol, mentorship from people who don't have your best interests in mind, etc).
What I've learned over the years (I'm now 38 and have been doing this since I was 22) is that your mind and your body truly are a temple, and not in a religious way. It has basic needs that many people ignore.
Sleep, nutritious food, and water are the easy ones, but that only scratches the surface.
Spend time in silence. Spend time in darkness. Sit with yourself in a room without a TV on and your phone turned off. Remember who you are and take inventory of your thoughts and feelings, without judgement. Spend time in nature. Touch grass. Hug a tree. Sit in the dirt. Sweat. Cook food over a fire. Breathe.
The more we recognize what we truly need (and it's not the same for everyone) the more we gain perspective of what's important, what expectations are realistic, and where we need to compartmentalize our work and personal lives.
Sorry, I don't want this to sound preachy, but we're not that far removed from our ancestors who spent their days scanning the horizon instead of doomscrolling their social feeds. Technology, business, and social norms have evolved much faster than our bodies, so give yourself some "caveman time" every once in a while and you might be surprised how natural and comfortable it feels.
Mental wellbeing isn't just an important thing, it's the MOST important thing.
The pressure to be the best at your job is something that a lot of us grapple with, but when you're the visionary that is supposed to be leading others, it's exponentially more intense.
As a journalist I've worked at several content startups in their earliest stages. I've seen the toll it can take on leadership, including myself. The highs are like nothing else, but the lows are equally intense. You start looking for an edge, whether that means working obscenely long hours in pursuit of your goal or searching for outside influences that you convince yourself you need (drugs, alcohol, mentorship from people who don't have your best interests in mind, etc).
What I've learned over the years (I'm now 38 and have been doing this since I was 22) is that your mind and your body truly are a temple, and not in a religious way. It has basic needs that many people ignore.
Sleep, nutritious food, and water are the easy ones, but that only scratches the surface.
Spend time in silence. Spend time in darkness. Sit with yourself in a room without a TV on and your phone turned off. Remember who you are and take inventory of your thoughts and feelings, without judgement. Spend time in nature. Touch grass. Hug a tree. Sit in the dirt. Sweat. Cook food over a fire. Breathe.
The more we recognize what we truly need (and it's not the same for everyone) the more we gain perspective of what's important, what expectations are realistic, and where we need to compartmentalize our work and personal lives.
Sorry, I don't want this to sound preachy, but we're not that far removed from our ancestors who spent their days scanning the horizon instead of doomscrolling their social feeds. Technology, business, and social norms have evolved much faster than our bodies, so give yourself some "caveman time" every once in a while and you might be surprised how natural and comfortable it feels.
Take care of yourself and others.
:)
Usually I don’t read reboot articles, but this was amazing. Thanks for sharing your story!
wow. thanks for sharing this important reflection, sharing with students.
i def hope more stanford kids see stuff like this!
great post