As I talked about earlier this year in Lessons from a Bout of Holiday Depression, I typically feel a bit depressed over the holidays. I am most happy when I feel productive and I find that I have to expend three times more energy to feel productive during the holidays. This pattern tends to persist not only during the week of July 4th, but for the entire month of July.
Many VCs and entrepreneurs take vacations. Last-minute meeting cancellations are more prevalent. People seem to be less motivated to build new relationships, start new initiatives, or complete non-urgent tasks. Admittedly, I feel a bit this way too.
In the past, I've always fought against this inertia. I’ve worked three times as hard, despite my body’s and the universe’s signals to slow down. It has resulted in frustration and depression every time. When everyone else jumps into fall feeling refreshed, I feel tired.
This year, I am going to try to surrender to July. I am going to direct most of my energy to independent work and lower my expectations for responses and collaboration from others. I’m going to focus on the work I feel most inspired to do and work within my natural energy levels. I am going to take a bit more time to relax and recharge. This last one feels especially scary to me because it is so counter to my personality, and I’m nervous about the judgments you’ll make about me. But, c’est la vie.
Stay tuned.
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I am grateful for the clarity and inspiration this emotional time has afforded me. I am more driven to do work that matters than ever before. Because we still have a long road ahead, I'm going to take an emotional breather.
I find that I have to expend three times more energy to feel productive during the holidays. This pattern tends to persist not only during the week of July 4th, but for the entire month of July.
We sourced five startups from our Fund81 VC forum members to present for our June forum. Check out this episode to hear pitches from these incredibly tenacious entrepreneurs.
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