Founders are f*cking terrible at taking breaks.
Most of us can turn any open hour into an excuse to work. There’s always another task, feature, message, or problem. We can hit a wall after ten hours and still decide to do another hour. Sometimes that’s discipline, most of the time is just making sh*t worse.
This week, I went to Braga AI Builders at Subvisual. I have an insane amount of work to do. “I should stay and focus” I told myself on the way there. But, I forced myself to go. Because the value and importance of stepping away, taking a break, and especially being with other builders is invaluable.
I met people building a local tourism app, an options-trading agent, a memoir, an open-source mental-health resource, and projects across healthcare and interactive media.
Getting out of my own world and into a room full of people who were curious, open, and willing to share what they were working on. I left inspired, with new ideas and more energy than I would have found by forcing another night at my laptop.
If you’re not making time for stuff like this, you have to. This sh*t matters, especially when you’re a builder (founder, solopreneur, etc). Your project can consume your entire field of vision. Every thought, conversation, and free hour gives you tunnel vision. A good local community breaks you out of it, giving you fresh perspective with interesting people who are building right around the corner.
Going to a meetup isn’t wasted time. Sitting alone for another four hours with a fried brain might be.
Take the fu*king break. Close the laptop and go meet some people. Your project will still be there when you get home.
Shout out to Alex for organizing, he’s super busy but still works hard to bring people together; he’s very knowledgable about all things AI and I recommend you follow him.
Thanks Subvisual for hosting (with beers and snacks) Paulo 🐐!