I had a good chat with a friend about work styles. She used to work a consistent pace, which, since she’s a high achiever, meant she was giving 110% every workday. The eventual result? Burnout. She experimented for a while and eventually landed on a new approach that she refers to as “bursts.” She works hard for a set period (a week, month, or quarter). Then she works at a slower pace for the same amount of time. The result is that she operates at a high level overall but avoids burnout by recharging.

I enjoyed learning about my friend’s approach to working. It’s interesting to hear what helps others be productive and able to stay the course. From personal experience, I know it’s important for people to understand what they need to avoid burnout.