Burning the candle isn’t a badge of honour
2 min read
Mental health, Leadership, Founder life, Burnout, Work habits
In the push to launch Diverge, I caught myself ignoring the advice I’d given others. A reminder that burning the candle at both ends always comes at a cost.
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A former boss mentioned recently that he’d read one of my articles about how projects can take a toll on your mental and physical health, and how important it is to look after yourself.
The timing wasn’t lost on me.
The last few weeks leading up to the launch of Diverge had been intense. Lots of moving parts, lots of late nights, and a growing sense that I wasn’t practising what I’d been preaching.
So I did something very unglamorous. I stepped away from the schedule and went to the gym.
I felt noticeably better afterwards. Clearer headed, calmer, and far more capable of dealing with the work waiting for me.
Burning the candle at both ends is often treated like commitment or resilience. In reality, it’s a false economy. It leads to burnout, poorer decisions, and knock-on effects that show up everywhere else, including at home.
None of this is new or clever. It’s just easy to forget when you’re deep in the middle of building something you care about.
This was a reminder to myself first. Taking time out isn’t a luxury. It’s part of doing the work well.