What's Your Opposite World?
In our interviews on high performing people who don't burn out, we saw an intriguing pattern. Most of them had an 'opposite world' outside of work. This is an activity/ hobby that put them into a state which was the direct opposite of the mindset they have at work (and recharges them).
In the last post, I shared the example of Vivek Rao, an Amazon product manager, who discovered his opposite world - Argentinian Tango – and the impact it had on his energy. I then asked readers what their opposite world was and over 800 people replied. A few personal highlights…
I tallied the responses and saw that people’s Opposite Worlds fell into 6 zones.
- Physical exercise
- Artistic
- Nature
- Animals
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- Volunteering
- Home tasks
When I look at these, I feel that most zones would not recharge me. But one or two feel in the sweetspot for me. Which feel most energising for you?
For all the decades of our life that we give to our work, it seems wise to spend some time in reflection and experimentation to discover what truly re-energises you away from work. It could be one of the most consequential discoveries of your career?
What is the opposite world activity that ‘charges’ you the most? Would love to hear your comments below.
Thanks to our research team on the Perform/Grow/ Thrive Project for uncovering these insights and more to come: Ryan Bricker Mitchell Stallard, Michael Campbell, Lisa Mackay, Meera Craston, Iain Cleland, Dr Cherrie Daley, Matt Bartlett-Bond MSc GMBPsS, Karrie Wainscott, https://lnkd.in/gn3XmazB, Melissa Muirhead, Ruth Prendergast, Simone Falkenstein
🏕️ Co-founder The Happy Startup School - Coach, mentor and community builder for purpose-driven founders and leaders
10moTatjana Harttung Svetlana Kim
Really interesting. Thanks. I seem to have opposite worlds in my actual work life. I am partly a productivity coach (though this seems to be increasingly about well being and avoiding burnout these days, but then, I always have talked about how it is more productive to take a break, or go for a walk than pushing through) and the rest of the time I am an artist who leads art retreats. So one side is really about cutting down, editing out, stopping, organising and the other is about being messy, many layers and lots of colour. Works for me. On a personal note, when I am stressed (which is usually to do with family matters, rather than work!) I go dancing which I find utterly resets me, and also reading chick lit is the escapisim into predictable storylines where the heroine always wins, very helpful.
Business Strategy Consultant. L&D Architect/Consultant. HRD. Developing people, strengthening organizations.
1yI like the idea of looking for patterns. Looking at your findings I seem to be an outlier here, which is nothing new for me. Based on my own Opposite Worlds I would have also expected to see the categories of Learning/Discovery, Spiritual, Travel, and Thrill Seeking.
What immediately struck me about this was that my daughter - approaching GCSEs - does several of the "well-ticked" activities here (dancing, musical instrument, horse-riding) and said she felt a lot calmer about some upcoming exams that her friends seem to be. Some of this of course is being well-prepared (she spent a good deal of the Easter break revising), but I wonder whether it is also because she has a number of "opposite worlds" that she also inhabits.
★ Writer and Keynote Speaker, Project Management and Time Management, Negotiation Skills ~ UK-based
1yWhat an interesting idea! The opposite of what I do - Training, with groups of people, indoors, time and mental pressure, adrenaline, creativity - would be outdoors, on my own, laid back, possibly physical, so Gardening, or Reading (in the sun on my balcony). Although I also like playing music in a band, which is pretty similar to training!