Notes from Paris: Rest is not a reward
From now until I return from sabbatical on the 7th April, I wanted to continue sharing the ideas that clients most often return to - the ones that spark reflection, shift perspective, and help make work a little more human.
Most high performers think of rest as something they’ll get to after the work is done. But neuroscience shows that recovery isn’t the reward for performance; it’s the prerequisite.
When we’re under-recovered, the very parts of the brain that handle judgement, emotional regulation and perspective shut down. If you’re leading from a tired brain, you’re flying without the tools you need most.
And this week’s thought from a coffee table in Paris…
I’ve now been in Paris for 3 weeks. I’m a beginner. A beginner at the language, at the culture, at the navigation of daily life. I even tried skiing a couple of weeks ago which, as a beginner at my age, really makes you feel like… well… a beginner. Novice. Green. One thing I’m getting pretty good at these last few weeks is being a beginner. It’s fabulous, because I can almost feel my synapses connecting in new ways. Learning new skills, and learning more about the world, are some of the things that make me feel most alive. It’s also exhausting. ABSOLUTELY EXHAUSTING. There’s almost no autopilot.
So… where in your life are you a beginner? Cut yourself some slack if you’re feeling tired out as a result, and let yourself rest. Or conversely, are you in perhaps a little too much of a well-worn groove? If so, where might you shake things up a bit?
Until next week, au revoir
Madeleine
PS I’m back on deck from 7 April. If you’d like to book in coaching or a workshop ready for then, simply email Nicole here or phone her on (02) 8005 1604.
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