The start of the NFL season is here, and for a lot of people (including myself), that means Sundays are full of football. Even if you’re not the biggest fan, you can’t ignore the energy and hype that football brings. It’s a fast, strategic game, and it’s full of constant motion. Well, mostly. Between all the touchdowns and the snacks, it’s hard for me to stay focused.
Something I realized while thinking about the start of the season is that football can sometimes feel a lot like life and business. I’m running plays (via the plans I make) and shifting strategies (like pushing off the launch of my Organize Your Life workshop until Q4). And when something doesn’t go as planned, I pivot and lean on my resources (the team that’s supporting me). It’s exciting to be a business owner, but in my opinion, it can also be exhausting.
The way I see it, whether you’re a business owner or not, life is a lot like football. It’s a game, with ups and downs, breaks and pauses, and huddles that are more like family or business meetings. Even if we think we can sprint for four straight quarters, we can’t. We won’t survive! Even the pros know they can’t sustain that level of intensity for 3+ hours.
Human beings are the same way. We need the excitement, the forward motion, and the thrill of progress. But we also need those breaks. Yes, even if we never want to take them. Fall slows the calendar down, and I am here for it! As a self-proclaimed introvert, I love the rush, but I also love those times when I don’t have to be “on” every single second.
I have those moments of off and on throughout the year, though. It’s one good thing to being childless. My life gets to be as steady as I want it to be. And yes, I know I’m lucky. Because in September, the outside world seems to speed up, with the kids going back to school and new routines being formulated. While everyone seems to be ramping up, my switch stays off more often and I get more downtime. This is when I start planning new adventures for my business, my goals for the new year, and I shift toward more cozy evenings. It’s my slower season.
Just like football, we need seasons of both elevated excitement and necessary rest. Think of it like taking time for action and taking time for recovery. You can still hustle throughout the season, but you should also remember to take a timeout. Without both, we are bound to experience burnout and end up on injured reserve. Without both, we won’t survive the season.
So as football kicks off, again, even if you’re not a fan, let it be a reminder for you: your life and your business need systems and structure so you can run your plays efficiently. And it also needs breathing room. As the human running it all, you need to honor those pauses.
What season are you in right now—fast-paced plays or well-deserved downtime? Regardless of which it is, remember, laziness is not a negative thing. It’s a strategy.
