GNT #020: The 85% rule for doing your best work

Read time: 3 minutes

"Slow down to achieve more."

For most of my career I've been a "give it 110%" -er.

And I've also dealt with anxiety most of my life because of that.

Recently, I came across a podcast that changed the way I strive to work.

It was an episode of the Tim Ferris Show where he was interviewing Hugh Jackman about his life, daily routines, and mindset.

Jackman discussed being a chronic perfectionist and self-imposed over-worker. He also dealt with severe anxiety and burnout. 

(👀 You have my attention, Hugh!)

He then brought up a story about Carol Lewis, a track and field star who won nine Olympic gold medals. A sprint coach was examining Lewis' running and couldn't explain why Lewis would always be in last place after 40 meters, but then go on to win the 100-meter sprint.

Many thought Lewis was just a slow starter that took time to ramp up.

However, after examining race footage, the sprint coach discovered that was not true.

Jackman goes on:

"What he realized Carl Lewis did at the 50-meter mark, 60-meter mark, was that he did nothing. His breathing was exactly the same. His form is exactly the same as it had been between meters 25 and 50. Whereas everyone else starts to push to the end — “Gonna try a little extra harder!” … their face would scrunch up, their jaw would tighten, their fists would start to clench — Carl Lewis stayed exactly the same, and then he would just breeze past them."

Jackman called this approach the 85% rule.

As a chronic over-worker myself that continually manages anxiety and burnout, I've been using the 85% rule to do better work, allow for more creative flow, and chill the heck out.

Today, we're going to discuss how to apply the 85% rule in your life to find your greatest output.
 

Work at 85%, not 100%

Your work, your mental load, your schedule, you name it.

The trick is to work at 85% capacity vs. 100%.

It's not as easy as you might think.

Especially right now when we're facing stressors from every angle telling us to stay at 110%.

But the truth is...

Going pedal to the metal all the time works against us.

When our mind is relaxed, we're able to produce better outcomes using our whole brain.

But exactly HOW do we get to the 85%?

This will look different for everyone based on your role, life, and current load. But here are a few ideas to get you started with 85% thinking:

• Read.
• Journal.
• Be present.
• Build your team.
• Practice silence.
• Make time to have fun.
• Identify what's essential. 
• Stop saying yes to everything.
• Put your darn phone away. (ME!)
• Pay attention to what gets your attention.
• Get up from your desk at least once per hour.
• Focus on the people or project in front of you.
• Delegate what you can. Accept that it won't be done perfectly.
• When you feel the weight of stress, try breathing to reduce anxiety.
• Keep a % notebook and score your day. Why did you give it that %?
• Visualize keeping at the current pace of work. Could you continue this indefinitely?
• Be realistic about how long something might take to set more reasonable expectations.
• Drive the speed limit. (Seriously, a slower pace on a physical level will help you slow down mentally and emotionally.)
• Do you feel like it's your job to save the world? Accept your limitations and give yourself some margin. Our planet will keep spinning if you say no.
   
  

Takeaway

If you're an over-worker and want to pace for the long-game, slow down to speed up.

Give 85% a try and tell me what you think.

I hope this was article was helpful.

See you again next Thursday!



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