Our output, physiological load, or “stress levels” and the relative amount of time we spend in each state of being or state of productivity can be represented by a normal distribution curve (or bell curve).
The “grey zone” is common in both the workplace, as well as in athletics:
- Typical 9-5 day in a cubical, with frequent meetings, email and social media checking, phone calls, work travel.
- Typical “exercise” program for general population: 5km run 2-3 times per week. General motivation session with a personal trainer.
The extreme top end is the focus area of professional athletes on game day or perhaps an executive facing a key company wide decision, or typically when stakes are very high.
Physically, we are also in the top end with heavier weight training, sprinting, maximal jumping etc. When we are at the limits of our potential.
The opposite end, the extremely restorative end is represented by theta brain waves, decreased heart rate and blood pressure, deep sleep, deep meditation, retreats, and healing spaces.
Complete rest. Most people do not even get here on their annual holiday, as they are still unsure how to not carry emotional tension and stress away with them.
The thing is, the total area under the curve, or energy we have to expend is fixed. We don’t have the potential to just add more to the top end without looking at the rest of the curve.
Blowing up the tails, or focusing on polarities, is the idea of carefully selecting what we allow to creep into our energetic space during our everyday activities.
It’s outlining how you are going to focus on high output work and performance, as well as focusing on a full-spectrum restorative practice.
The goal isn’t to work (or work-out) more, the goal is to work smarter, more effectively, more efficiently with basically a higher stimulus, then have the restorative and down-regulation practices to back it up.
The grey zone is sometimes needed, but often inefficient, fraught with distraction and frustration and generally gets us nowhere quickly, while still making us tired.
