Hi Reader,

The other day, I was standing in the shower and realized I was bone tired. I realized I am standing here because this is the only quiet place away from my to-do lists, productivity hacks, and constant mind chatter.

I spend so much time thinking about what I need to do next, what I still have on my todo list, and all the other things I want to do that are in my head. And now, with AI, it's even easier to fall into that pattern because suddenly we can do more. Or at least, it can feel like we should.

For the past few weeks, I've been getting 5-6 hours of sleep most nights. Maybe 6.5 hours on a good night. So yesterday, I listened to my body. I finished work early and met a friend for a walk. We met at 4pm and walked for about 40 minutes before finding a lovely cukrarna with a garden. We hadn't seen each other in months, and there was a lot to catch up on as I savored a latte and a slice of rich chocolate cake.

The afternoon energized me.

When I got home, I still had a podcast to finish. But what I needed was sleep. So I left the podcast for today, even though that meant it would be a few hours late. Posting on the same day each week matters more to me than posting at the exact same time. And instead of staying up to perfect everything, I gave a task to Claude Cowork as I was going to sleep. I asked it to do some SEO research around keywords for me. That was a huge help.

So here are a few things I'm reminding myself this week:

• Rest is not always the thing you do after everything else is done. Sometimes it has to come before the work can be good (enough).
• Consistency doesn't have to mean rigidity. I can post on the same day each week without turning the exact hour into another rule to fail at.
• AI can extend what I'm able to do, but it can't replace paying attention to my body.

And seasons matter. I'm working harder this week because I'm traveling for work next week. I know from experience that work travel takes a lot out of me. The days are long, and the social energy required can be draining.

So next week, when I have a few minutes, I'll be reading my book, going for a walk, and using the gym or sauna if there's one at my hotel. I won't be pushing myself to work after hours.

Knowing why you're pushing matters. You can sustain a harder pace for a stretch, but you need to know when the rest is coming. It helps to be open to possibility. That's also why I'm hosting a workshop this Saturday.

It's for people who are thinking about freedom, self-trust, and making space for your desires. We'll be talking about solo travel. If that's something you've been sitting with too, reply to this email and I'll send you the details.

Here's what I'm holding onto this week: do the meaningful thing, but don't abandon yourself to do it.

Joyfully,

Damianne

PS. If you're tired in the way I described above, some of it might not even be yours. If you tend to absorb other people's emotions, this free guide can help you start releasing the guilt, shame, and social conditioning that make your sensitivity feel like a burden instead of a strength.

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