As of late, through sheer willpower, I’ve been reminding myself of this on what seems like a daily basis.

At the end of a long day when my energy tank is empty, I have the urge to compulsively think about one task, flaw, or really anything and fixate on it.

I have the insatiable urge to get it done or “fix it”. The nagging seems endless, and the task always looks so daunting and all-important. It can’t wait until the morning. It has to get done now. Or else.

Of course, that fixation only leads to me burning out even more energy, and if I fully cave into it and work like a madman, the next day is usually not a very productive one.

So, when I’ve been catching myself in this cycle, I stop, take a breath, and tell myself, “it will look different in the morning.”

And you know what? It does. Every single time.

What I felt was so important that I needed to get it done NOW or perceived as too overwhelming turns back into its actual size. I have the renewed energy to tackle the task. Instead of letting my exhaustion drive me, I have the bird’s eye view to form a game plan and act with purpose and clarity. And, get it done.

Life lesson learned: R&R serves for more than just the sake of having a life outside of work. Stepping away, recharging, and facing tasks with a new perspective is critical to the quality of the work itself.

So, to whoever needs to hear this, it’s okay. It will look different in the morning.