I used to think 100-hour weeks were just part of the deal. You sacrifice everything else. Sleep less, work more, push harder. That’s what successful people do, right?
The turning point came when I realized I couldn’t remember the last time I’d gone an entire hour without thinking about work. Not during dinner. Not on weekends. Not even on vacation. My brain was stuck in a loop, churning through the same problems over and over without actually solving them.
I needed an escape route.
The Problem with Half-Measures
I tried the usual things. Gym sessions where I planned product roadmaps between sets. Yoga that lasted three sessions before I gave up. Business books that just gave me more to worry about.
Nothing worked because nothing actually stopped my brain from working.
Then I realized something: I needed an activity that wouldn’t let me think about business even if I wanted to. Something that demanded so much attention that work thoughts couldn’t sneak in.
For years, motorcycles did that for me. Helmet on, engine roaring, and suddenly the endless stream of decisions and anxieties would disappear. Full concentration on the road, the bike, the moment. It was the only time my mind actually went quiet.
But eventually, even that became too automatic. I’d catch myself thinking about work mid-ride.
Total Absorption
I needed something more demanding. Something where one moment of distraction actually mattered. That’s when I started learning to fly.
Flying doesn’t give you a choice about being present. You can’t check Slack at 8,500 feet. You can’t half-listen to air traffic control while thinking about a pricing strategy. Miss a radio call, botch your approach, or forget to switch fuel tanks, and you’ve got real problems.
It was something I’d always wanted to do. But it took almost burning out to finally give myself permission to try.
It forces total absorption in a way nothing else in my life does. That’s when my brain finally started getting real breaks again. Complete disconnection. Actual reset time.
Making Better Decisions
Now, whenever I’m stuck on a difficult decision, I know what to do. I step away completely. Go fly. Take the bike out. Something that demands my full attention.
And almost every time, when I come back, the answer is obvious.
Not because I had some revelation while I was gone. But because my brain finally got the space to process everything in the background.
That’s what real disconnection does. It’s not about avoiding work. It’s about giving your subconscious room to actually do its job.
Finding Your Escape
I know what you’re thinking. “Great, so I need to get a pilot license now?”
No. That’s not the point.
The point is finding something that demands 100% of your attention. Something where you literally can’t think about your business even if you tried.
I know founders who boulder. Others who build furniture. One took up boxing at almost 40. Another races mountain bikes.
The activity doesn’t matter. What matters is the complete mental absorption. If your “break” still leaves room for your mind to wander back to work, it’s not actually a break. You need something more demanding.
Downtime Is Not Lost Time
I thought downtime was wasted time. I wore my work hours like a badge of honor. I believed that if I just pushed harder, worked longer, sacrificed more, everything would work out.
All it got me was heading toward burnout and bad decisions.
Now I know the real work happens when you stop working. That’s when your brain processes, connects dots, and finds solutions you couldn’t see when you were grinding.
Here’s my question for you: When was the last time you spent an hour NOT thinking about your business?
If you can’t remember, that’s your sign.
