Challenge Detroit spotlights every fellow in the cohort over the course of the year and recently it was my turn to reflect on the year for all to see. A conclusion I came to during that reflection was that my goal for the year was to give Challenge Detroit and Rock Ventures 150% for the entire year and that by many ways and means, I accomplished that goal. I maybe even exceeded that goal in establishing a work-life integration lifestyle that I really do enjoy (check out my previous blog post on this one). However, my success in this goal definitely did not come without a few road blocks and wrenches straight to the face. I learned A LOT of lessons about how to NOT be successful in giving 150%… Here are just a few of those takeaways.

1. Anyone who claims to be able to do it all is a dirty liar.
Disclaimer: Shonda Rhimes had a hand in teaching me this lesson. In college orientation I was taught that in the play-sleep-study triangle, you can only ever successfully have 2 of the 3. That was definitely true then and one year into my professional career, it is still true, just with a few differences. And let me be clear, you can claim to do everything, but you definitely aren’t doing everything well. When I’m slaying at work and Challenge Detroit, my social life is probably pretty boring. When my body is feeling healthy and strong, and I’m enjoying time with my friends, my life at work probably isn’t where it should be. It is so cliché to claim that balance is the answer. The real answer lies in the acceptance that giving 150% doesn’t mean achieving full success 150% of the time. Recognizing this constantly shifting state of imbalance in the different parts of your life is part of the end game. The faster that you can become honest about the state of your life (I haven’t done laundry in weeks, but I worked out every day this month OR things at work or going really well but I haven’t called my family in weeks), the faster you can focus on directing your efforts where needed and making adjustments to achieve success.
2. You CAN be doing too much…
Doing the most is not a good thing unless you’re Batman and even he had Robin. The people with a laundry list of things that they are doing are definitely guilty of #1 above. Doing everything is good while you’re trying to figure out what you want to do. But once you figure that out, you have to start to say no. Saying no is beautiful. I learned from my job this year that you don’t make an impact by saying yes to everything, you make an impact by saying no. Going deep is much more impactful than going wide and sprinkling yourself. I did too much and had a laundry list of involvements this year – guilty. But as the year went on, I started saying no. and I started to feel a stronger sense of control over my own life and the impact I was making on the lives of others. Say no, don’t be doing too much.
3. Give yourself a time limit.
Burnout is REAL – very, very real. If you’re going to do what I did and make a commitment to 150% there has to be a time limit on it. And it has to be reasonable. I didn’t pick up my entire Virginian life to move to a brand new place in a different part of the country so that I could slack off for a year and just coast. But there had to be an end goal in mind and I had to be able to play a long game. Giving 150% is exhausting, stressful, and emotionally tolling. If there is a finish line, you’ve added a motivator to your journey and put some perspective around your goal.
4. Healthy Mind, Healthy Body
Bodies need good care and rest. When you are giving 150% the following are always easier said than done: Sleep in REM cycles. Drink lots of water. Watch your caffeine intake. Nourish your body with healthy food. Exercise. Practice Yoga. Take breaks to go on a walk. Wash your face before bed. Never sleep in your contacts. Or your makeup. Don’t binge eat. Don’t forget to eat. Stretch your muscles. Take the stairs. Take lunch breaks. Give yourself a facial. And a hair mask. Brush your teeth twice a day. Take your meds. Call your mom.
Here’s to the end of my 150% percent year quickly approaching. And here’s the fact that this year I learned more than the 150% that I gave.

Cheers,
Kayleigh