As the world ushers in 2025, many people are setting audacious goals and embracing a high-performance mindset. While drive and ambition have their place, I’m stepping into this year with a different approach: balance and rest. It’s okay not to charge into the new year with an “all-conquering” mindset. In fact, it might be essential for our well-being to step back, recalibrate, and embrace the art of doing less.

The Perineum Period

The stretch between Christmas and New Year is unique—a rare moment when the world collectively pauses. No phone calls, no emails, just quiet. It’s the only time of the year when everyone downs tools, and for once, running a business feels less like running on a treadmill at full speed.

Yet turning off is never easy. This past year, I found myself taking work calls during my family holiday in Turkey and even on my 14th wedding anniversary. I’m not sharing this for sympathy—I chose to pick up the phone—but as a stark reminder that I need to take my own advice and chill out.

The Joy of Doing (Almost) Nothing

This holiday season, I embraced the proverbial sweet FA. Okay, maybe not entirely—over two days, I watched six films, demolished a full Terry’s Chocolate Orange, and built an Infinity Gauntlet out of LEGO. It was bliss.

The experience reminded me that downtime isn’t just a luxury; it’s crucial. Whether it’s rest days for athletes or cheat days for dieters, every high-performing individual knows the importance of balance. Yet society’s obsession with relentless productivity often drowns out this wisdom.

The Toxicity of High-Performance Culture

Around this time of year, social media floods with stories of hyper-productive routines: waking up at 5 a.m., meditating for 15 minutes, sending sales data by 5:15, doing 87 push-ups by 5:30. These timetables are exhausting to read, let alone follow.

I’ve been there myself. In 2018, when I was setting up my own business, I was full of energy and ambition. By Q1, we were live, signing PSLs by Q2, and had staff members starting in Q3. Success! But the relentless pace came at a cost.

I was wild-eyed and irritable, a whirlwind of productivity but utterly incapable of relaxation. My relationships suffered, and I burned out. The manic pursuit of external success had become my new addiction. Any form of addiction is toxic, and this one was no different.

A More Balanced Approach

What I’ve come to realise is this: the world doesn’t need more people obsessed with “high performance.” We need people who are comfortable in their own skin, who know how to calibrate work, play, rest, and connection.

Some of humanity’s greatest achievements—The Beatles’ Sgt. Pepper, Picasso’s masterpieces, Bevan’s founding of the NHS—weren’t born of relentless grind. They came from creativity, collaboration, and people being at ease with themselves.

Rejecting the Cult of Productivity

It’s hard to ignore the influence of social media and podcasts that glorify extreme productivity. These influencers often tout routines that prioritise individualism, competition, and external validation—values that often lead to burnout and disconnection.

Instead, we should teach balance: how to juggle work, rest, and play in a way that fosters contentment and connection. True fulfilment isn’t found in a packed schedule but in the ability to be present, to enjoy life’s small pleasures, and to nurture relationships.

My Hope for 2025

As I look ahead to this year, my goals aren’t about smashing targets or chasing perfection. They’re about living with intention: working hard, resting well, and making time for the people and things I love.

So here’s to 2025: a year of balance, joy, and the occasional Terry’s Chocolate Orange. Let’s leave the cult of high performance behind and embrace a more human way of living.