The classic overachiever believes a free afternoon is their opportunity to be as productive as possible. Here’s another opinion…

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A few weeks ago, I (unexpectedly) found myself with a wide-open afternoon on my schedule.

Initially, I was excited, looking forward to everything I could accomplish without distractions.

As the afternoon unfolded, my excitement turned to restlessness as I floated between different projects looking for something to sink my teeth into. The next thing you know, it was 2:30, and I began to feel guilty that I hadn’t “achieved” more with this gift of free time.

Can you relate?

Overachievers assume that every moment must be filled with productive activity. We struggle with big gaps in our calendars or days without deadlines. Our brains crave the dopamine hit that comes from solving problems requiring immediate attention.

After some reflection, I’m challenging myself to look at these “open afternoon” moments as the perfect opportunity to practice being in the moment and embracing the restlessness.  

Wish me luck…

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—CJ McClanahan

Speaker | Advisor | Recovering Overachiever

CJ McClanahan