A Better Way to Optimize (And the Illusion of “Balance”)

Setting a goal on the edge of your comfort zone and letting it consume you can be as meaningful and invigorating as it gets.

Whether it’s a big creative project, an athletic feat, or falling in love, there’s something to say about going all-in.

The problem occurs when we get such tunnel-vision that we leave behind other important parts of our lives and the qualities that make us who we are. We run the risk of becoming too narrow — and distress, restlessness, and burnout often ensue.

A better way to optimize for a specific activity or pursuit is within the framework of one’s core values, or the foundational tenets and practices toward which you aspire. In particular, the work is defining a minimum effective dose for each of your core values, and then sticking to it.

Let’s imagine that one of your core values is health. You practice it by exercising for 90-minutes every day, eating nutritious foods, and spending time with friends at least once a week.

You are entering a period during which you want to optimize on a big creative project. How can you uphold your core value of health, even though you’ll need to de-prioritizie it?

Maybe the 90-minute workout becomes a 30-minute one. Maybe the weekly time with friends becomes…