So the other day, as I sat in bed, doomscrolling on Linkedin, I couldn’t help but feel 95% happiness and 5% jealousy as my peers shared stories of their success. Man, it really stings when your semi-successful serotonin rush is trumped by someone else’s spit-water-out success moments (and it especially sucks if that person is a frenemy from high school).

BUT, here’s the thing, these stories very rarely come with their process timelines. No one is ever going to tell you exactly how much time, energy and all-nighters go into achieving success milestones because, let’s face it, that’s not sexy.

I completed a full marathon in under 3 hours: flex.
I trained for 5 years with an app called ‘Couch to 5k’: * silence *

My 2-month long internship got converted to a full-time: let’s gooooo!
I basically did coffee runs for 2 months AND wore formals AND worked a five-day work week AND started greying: *empathetic silence *

In the end, the common thread is that people invest their time, take breathers, and sometimes even dive into a meditation retreat, even if it means a slightly longer path to success. And that’s okay! In fact, it’s often necessary.

Time off is like a permission slip to explore all the choices in your catalog.
Constant pressure to succeed can weigh heavily on your mental health. Taking a break can recharge you, offer a fresh perspective, and help establish a sustainable routine.
Time off doesn’t mean stopping; it’s about unlearning and restarting. Use this period to meet new people, expand your network, and attend workshops, seminars, and conferences. Seek advice, empathy, and allies!

Success isn’t a race, and it certainly isn’t about matching someone else’s timeline.

Sure, a fast-food burger is convenient and widely loved but only people who’ve ever cooked a 72-hour long broth tend to make it Masterchef.

Pro tip: don’t procrastinate.