The other end of the candle

I had zero concept of how to manage my energy sustainably early in my career.

Eager to do well, I worked long hours, took few breaks, and slept very little. Initially, I accomplished a lot but, perhaps as you may have predicted, I quickly burned out and was unable to accomplish anything.

…turns out sleep is important for you or something.

This experience was a perfect example of burning the candle at both ends.

Throwing all you’ve got at a problem is fine in the short term when you need it in a pinch. In fact, this can feel really rewarding.

Ensuring that you have the stamina to stick around for the long game, however, requires a different play style:

It entails prioritizing some basic but vital things: a good night’s rest, spending time with people close to you, mental and physical exercise and breaks when you feel like you need them.

When you compromise on these things, you deduct energy from the future; when you prioritize them, you extend the life of the candle — you create energy for the future.