Escape Velocity, Vol. 3 — The Cost of Always Being “On”

May 24, 2025

Some people burn out because they hate what they do.

But high performers?

They burn out because they never stop doing it.

The work isn’t the problem.

It’s the uninterrupted availability — the mental tab that never closes.

Even your “off” time isn’t off. You’re still checking. Still catching up. Still subtly on call.

You’re responsive, reliable, sharp. It’s part of how you’ve risen.

But it comes at a cost.

Not all at once — but gradually.

Your sharpness dulls. Your ideas flatten. You stop thinking ahead. You become a high-functioning router.

And the real problem?

Everyone starts to expect it from you. And you expect it from yourself.

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Always-on is a tax on clarity

The harder part is this: “always on” doesn’t always feel painful.

It feels efficient. Responsible. Necessary.

You tell yourself:

– It’s just how the game works

– It’ll calm down soon

– I’ll rest after [insert next milestone]

But most systems reward availability — not foresight.

So you become better at reacting, worse at thinking.

And without noticing, you drift from high performer to high responder.

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Try this instead — real systems to escape “always on”

– Establish response norms, not rules

People learn your rhythm. A 90-minute reply isn’t slow — it’s focused.

– Create artificial latency

Even if you’re available, wait. Deliberate delay builds boundaries and elevates perceived value.

– Replace urgency with clarity

Preempt most fires by being proactive and precise once. No ping-ponging.

– Run one invisible system a week

Silence alerts. Pre-schedule replies. Protect your calendar like it’s billable. It is.

– Reclaim the mental margins

Don’t scroll between calls. Don’t fill the gaps. Let sharpness return in the silence.

These aren’t hacks. They’re micro-fractures in the system.

That’s how real escape begins.

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Coming up next

I’ll write more about leverage, identity, and the tension between ambition and detachment.

Escape Velocity