One More Week

Things aren't slowing down anytime soon, so pace yourself

I was walking across campus one early fall day in 2007, lamenting to my then-boss how busy the preceding three months had been—and how busy we still were.

We had just transitioned from 12 decentralized IT departments into one IT division, and it was … a lot. I was brought into IT from Continuing Education, so this was my first exposure to the rhythm of the IT business.

“Don’t worry,” he said. “It’ll slow down in October.”

Fast forward six months. I whined to my boss that October had come and gone and things were still incredibly busy.

“I didn’t say which October,” he wryly responded.

Just One More Week

I’ve spent the bulk of my career since then waiting for October to arrive. Waiting for things to calm down. (Spoiler alert: they never do.)

I’d like to say that I’ve found more balance since 2007—and maybe I have in the last couple of years, finally. But it’s still precarious, like a muscle I’ve only just begun to strengthen.

And right now I find myself once again pushing hard, trying to hang on for one. more. week. Maybe you are too?

It’s one week until schools close for the holiday break. One week until colleagues set their OOO replies and say “sayonara” to the year.

One more full week of work before attention turns anywhere but work—and everything gets pushed to January.

There’s Always Something

It’s easy to rationalize the push. Also … did I mention I joined a startup recently?

It’s a new job. There’s so much to learn. It’s planning season. I want to prove myself. And yes—I genuinely love what I do.

We never lack reasons for the busyness.

We convince ourselves that things will slow down and we’ll find balance once this month is over, this project is complete, or this role no longer feels new. Once this period, whatever it is, has passed.

But there’s always something else that takes its place, and that elusive slow October never seems to come.

For the Long Haul

A colleague nudged me this week to slow down and pace myself. They reminded me that I’m needed “for the long haul.”

It was a good reminder: this is a marathon, not a sprint.

Your team needs you to slow down too. They need you healthy. And they need you to lead by example so they can find their own balance.

Burning out early—or at all—isn’t a great option. Been there, done that, would not recommend.

We can be new, passionate about what we do, and carrying a heavy workload—and still set boundaries, step away, and take care of ourselves. We can create our own balance, even if that slow October never comes.

This holiday season, I hope you find a way to do just that—and carry it with you into the New Year.

---

Bonus read: A gently reminder to take time off work when you need it, not when it’s convenient for others (because it never will be).

It's Not A Good Time

Cover photo credit: Photo by Towfiqu barbhuiya on Unsplash