Roberto Tonino

Do less, but finish it

If you are a curious person, you probably know the feeling of starting a new activity. It's unique: you feel empowered, innovative, ready to fully dedicate yourself to that activity.

Such great feelings, though, can bring one to start too many things and not end any of them. This activity-creep is counter productive for your self-development.

Fear not! The solution to this problem is simple: do less activities, but finish them all. Get to the full stop at the end of the sentence and don't stop reading halfway through.

I received this feedback from my Team Captain at work, around March 2024. Until that date, I was: working a full time job, finishing my master's degree, participating in a student association, seeking for a coding side project, learning Ukrainian. One could argue that I was well set for a burnout. Since the day I received the feedback I exited the association, stopped seeking for a side project, postponed learning Ukrainian after graduating. I suddenly found myself having lots of free time, which I mostly dedicated to my studies.

Being a curious person is amazing, but can become a double-edged sword and burn you out. Remember the mantra: do less, but finish it.