The Downfall After Success

The easiest way to change your paradigms

There is always a period after a successful big (personal) project when your energy level drops to an absolute low.

Whenever that happens, when you put a tremendous amount of effort into something and then finish it, you fall into this kind of low-dopamine “hole” where you could sleep all day long.

While this is probably exactly what the body and mind need, it can be both pleasant and unpleasant at the same time. Pleasant, because lying in a hammock is relaxing. Unpleasant, because the mind is constantly poking itself with questions like, “Shouldn’t you be productive right now?!”

After many such situations – projects, concerts, exams, etc. – I come to realize that this low is completely normal and something we should expect. And so far, the energy and productivity has always returned. So why not enjoy the process and just relax?

Sometimes it’s hard for me to realize that in order to be productive or happy, you need periods where you’re not productive or where you're feeling down. Where you need to relax. It’s the other side of the same coin.

So next month when you complete a project of yours, give yourself some time to unwind. Let's begin with this month's Retro and Planning ✨

✏️ Retro

(Like always, you can download the Notion template to take structured notes.)

What goals did you set for yourself last month, and how well did you achieve them?

Make a list of your goals (even if they were only implicit) and score them from 1 (low) to 10 (high). You are not allowed to pick a 7. Take notes as you go.

Is there something that is blocking you?

What held you back last month? What can you do to avoid this next month?

What did you learn?

Did you learn something about yourself, your environment, or about the work you do?

🔭 Planning

What are your top 3 priorities next month?

Why are they important to you?

What goals do you set for yourself in light of these priorities?

To beat procrastination, make sure to split every higher-level goal into small subgoals.

What are potential obstacles or challenges you may face?

How can you prepare for them?

🌈 Bonus

How can you reward yourself next time after an intense period of work?

Rewards can be emotional, physical, mental, etc. What don’t you usually allow yourself to do?

🙏 Thanks!

Thank you for being a part of Mental Garden. I sincerely hope you found this email useful.

The project that inspired this email was a two-week residency called ZuBerlin where we brought together people from interesting areas in tech and also focused on the more emotional aspects of being human. I experienced immense joy in connecting with everyone on a deeper level and seeing others do the same. But this also took a lot out of me, so I’m currently just taking some time to breathe.

See you next month!

With gratitude,
Marc