Find Your Recharge
When we were building Aster Data back in 2006, the first 10 of us were all under 25 years old. We were fuelled by excitement, adrenaline and a healthy dose of caffeine. We would sometimes go for weeks on end without a day off. In one particular stretch, I literally worked 3 months straight…but that’s a story for another day.
I’m not trying to glorify this type of schedule (this is not hustle porn). But in the early days of a startup — especially when you’re young — the simple act of building can be invigorating.
But that adrenaline can only last for so long. Startups are a marathon, not a sprint. Long-term success requires you to pace yourself. It’s essential that you uncover the things that deplete your energy and what you need to replenish it. You need to find your recharge.
Some people recharge by being in nature. For others, it’s reading books or playing video games. One person might get energy from dancing or going to a rave in the desert while another wants nothing more than solitude.
My wife is very much an extrovert. She gets her energy from being around other people. For her, recharging involves going out and socializing — and it doesn’t matter who with. She gets as much energy from being around complete strangers as she does her closest friends.
It took me a long time to figure out what I needed to replenish my energy — well into my 40s, in fact. Not because I wasn’t recharging along the way, but because I hadn’t needed to consciously think about it. When I was single (and even well after I got married) I did the things I needed to recharge without realizing it.
It was only after I had kids and found my free time all but vanish that I had to think about what I needed to recharge. I often found myself exhausted and stressed, despite not being able to point out anything specific that was wrong. I was sleeping well (or, at least, as well as one can with young kids), exercising regularly and was generally enjoying work. It didn’t add up.
It was only after one of my frequent conference trips that I finally figured it out. After attending a 3-day conference packed with networking events, I was completely exhausted. All I wanted to do was lock myself in a room and not see anyone for a week. And that’s when it hit me like a ton of bricks: I’m an introvert. I need time alone.
Despite the fact that I’m frequently out in public, speaking at events and interacting with founders and others in the tech ecosystem, I’m actually a default introvert. When I was growing up, I would recharge by playing video games, reading, watching TV or cooking. As I grew older and became fully-immersed in the world of startups, I continued to do these things. At least once a week, I would stay home by myself and play video games. I frequently hosted dinner parties where I would cook for hours alone. After I got married, my wife would often tell me how “cute” it was that I loved to watch cooking shows.
For me, recharging means disconnecting. I’m the exact opposite of my wife: she recharges by being around people, I recharge by being alone.
That realization allowed me to re-incorporate some of the things I find replenishing into my schedule in a more intentional way. Now, I cook something new at least once a week (as opposed to before, where my cooking was ad hoc).
A few of my books
I make a point of spending an extra hour or two at the end of each week alone in my home office before jumping back in with the family for the weekend. Sometimes, I’ll read. Other times, I’ll play video games. Setting aside time to do what I need to replenish my energy has been a game changer for me.
Sometimes, I build
What I’m talking about here is different from hobbies (though some of your hobbies may also be replenishing). I love exercising and playing sports, but those things don’t recharge me. What recharges me is solitude.
Understanding what recharges you and incorporating it into your weekly schedule in an intentional way can be a game changer for your productivity, well-being and happiness.
I found my recharge. What’s yours?
