let it sit
Subconscious rumination can be a potent thing. I’ve observed this before, but have had it reinforced personally lately in both small and not-so-small ways. When it comes to the former, in one instance, I felt fully stuck on something and wasn’t sure how to proceed. Later, in an unexpected moment, a great solution became clear. On another occasion, I thought I had landed on an approach, but was later struck by another that was superior across multiple fronts.
That’s the power of distance and time.
When we are always on the go-go-go: finishing one thing and directly sending it off, then moving immediately to the next, switching tasks constantly, checking one item off the list only to add three more—filling every moment of time—the space for this type of magic doesn’t exist. There’s no room for it. I have lived a good deal of my life and professional career squarely in this zone.
There’s benefit to this forward motion, of course. There’s the work you are completing and the productive feeling that comes with getting stuff done. But there are downsides as well.
When I’ve been in one of these go-go-go modes for a period of time, it often means I’m falling asleep at night as the things I need to tackle are swimming rapidly around in my head. I wake up thinking about my to do list before I even realize I’m doing so. When in the midst of this cycle, I find it very hard to extricate myself.
But sometimes life forces us out of cycles like this. Something BIG happens that puts the minutiae into perspective. I’ve had the stress of one of these events in my life recently. As a result, I am actually on leave as you read these words (which were written ahead of time). I’m incredibly thankful for the amazing individuals on the storytelling with data team who are keeping everything running in my absence. I plan to be back in the new year.
Related to this, I’d like to share two lessons:
First, recognize the benefit that comes with any big life event. While the good parts are more obvious with positive events, there are almost always constructive lessons and reminders that accompany the not-so-great ones, too.
Second—and this is one you can do at any time—is to create intentional space in your day or in your week. Reap the benefits of letting things percolate. Get physical and temporal distance from the problem at hand, the challenge you’ve encountered, or the project you’ve completed. On the physical front, you might move into another room to work or go for a walk or run. Let time pass. Undertake activities that leave some brainshare free for your mind to wander. This time of year—the holiday season—can be an excellent time to practice creating this kind of space.
Give things time to ruminate in your subconscious. A superior solution or approach may strike you.
