How long can you live on 100% intensity?

It’s been a full week, in a very positive way.

Work’s been exciting and moving forward.

I felt alive in my personal life.

On Wednesday I even took entire day off and headed off into nature, fully disconnected and just present.

I expected to keep on going on this wave of fulfilment and joy, yet Saturday hit me mercilessly with a low battery mode.

How the hell? It should have been the opposite - battery full of life!

Right…?

You know this feeling too.

The body said no.

I wanted to celebrate the amazing week with a fun and joyful weekend.

The body said no, again.

Was it burnout?

No, I did not overgrind, I did not overperform.

The battery was simply empty - it got drained by the intensity which showed up in a positive way, both on the professional and personal side.

And then the Guilt arrived: You are wasting time that’s meant to be exciting and full. You have failed.

Shiver down my spine. Damn it, I am seriously wasting the weekend. The weather is great, my friends are inviting me to join them for lunch, and I haven’t had the time to exercise in the last days - I should do it today.

But then it dawned on me - I saw myself at the table surrounded by my friends, yet somewhat transparent. Not engaged. Not really there. Tired. Frustrated. I saw myself in the gym. I felt the sensation of heaviness in my chest when trying to lift the usual weights.

I am not wasting my weekend, I talked back, I am recharging after an intense week.

But you took Wednesday off, isn’t that enough rest? - Guilt really didn’t want to give up.

Sometimes joy can drain you more than effort.

She got the message. I chose to listen to my body over the fear of missing out.

I didn’t go for a sauna session.

I didn’t reach out for a handful of biohacking supplements.

I didn’t do yoga.

What I did do - I took a nap. Cuddled with my dog. I read a book. Went for a walk.

It was so unimpressive it’s funny to see how easily it came after the Guilt gave up.

And once Monday arrived, I was back with my batteries fully charged.

The Guilt is not just my companion. I know she’s yours too, and I know she will pay you a visit.

She always does.

The question is how do you handle that conversation once she shows up.

Will you listen to her blindly or first stop, take a breath, and check your battery level?