Some Lessons Can Be Learnt Only When You Decompress

I’ve been on a sabbatical for 6 months now, and as I decompressed, I began to identify things about myself — how I tend to react to certain situations, and why I react that way. For example, I am a completionist. I feel the need to complete things I start. This can be good (a half-cooked meal is useless) and bad (I feel compelled to complete tasks that are no longer serving me well).

As the months went on, deeper insights about myself began to surface, like peeling an onion.

When we’re rushing through life, we must stay focused on the task at hand. As you’re rushing to a meeting, there’s no time for deep self-reflection. Even if such a wayward thought surfaces, you’ll banish it. That’s why you need to decompress to access these inner layers of your mind. Just as a reservoir must be drained over months to inspect the dam wall, your mind needs to be decompressed over months to access certain parts.

It’s not about doing — it’s about letting it happen. And runs counter to today’s impatient world, where actively doing things is put up on a pedestal. So it requires patience. Decompression is like meditation: you have to slow down and let it happen, not demand peace right now.

So if you want to grow, decompress for at least 2 quarters. This can mean not working at all, or working only 8 hours a week. However you do it, give your mind the space to decompress, so you can understand yourself deeply and grow.