In Japan, a common sickness occurs every year around May.

Termed the May sickness, 五月病 (gogatsu byou = May Sickness) is not a specific disease per se, but more a disorder created by the rhythm of the Japanese year.

Symptoms include sleep deprivation, appetite issues and demotivation.

April marks the start of a new school semester, and for most Japanese companies, this is also hiring season or a time to reassign staff to new departments.

Many Japanese people go in with the mentality of “I will do my best” and “I will go above and beyond” for this new time.

But after an exciting and exhausting April, alongside a society packed with high expectations - they enter a period where they cannot keep up with their new roles anymore.

May then indicates the peak period of all the symptoms I listed above. a.k.a, they suffer from massive burnout.

Does this sound familiar whenever you start something new?

In April 2018, Zurich Life surveyed 1,000 Japanese people between the ages of 20 to 59 - with the central theme being “Have you ever suffered from May sickness?”. 21.6% of men and 25% of women answered “yes”, with an overall 23.3% - making it apparent that 1/4 people had suffered from “May Sickness” at some stage.

That’s a lot of people.

This brings me back to why I’ve written this short article for you today.

Often, when trying to improve yourself, you’ll do your best to be consistent - which is excellent.

But there’s a line, and often - you may cross that line.

What do I mean by this exactly?

• Working out every day

• Tracking every calorie, protein, fat and carb meticulously

• Never making time for yourself or having any off time

• ”Grinding 24/7”

• Feeling super guilty if you don’t hit your steps goal

• Getting sick and not prioritising your recovery

All whilst continuously sacrificing things like sleep, family time, the company of friends, creative time etc.

Don’t get me wrong, occasionally is fine - and will be necessary if you want to progress. One thing I’ve always said, after picking it up from James Clears’ book, Atomic Habits - is that the ultimate productivity hack is learning how to say “no”.

But continuously doing all of these things listed above and never scheduling in time to yourself will result in burnout.

Before you reach that point, you must realise this by prioritising self-care.

Some ideas could be going for a massage, a meal with friends, a short holiday, reading a book, drawing, being creative, hiking, etc.

Whatever it is, make sure it’s something you enjoy - because on the back of a solid amount of consistency, having a break is the best thing you can do for your long-term progress.

My personal favourites?

A short break away, spending time with friends, reading, and hiking somewhere I’ve never been (I’ll be going to Mt Takao in 3 days, just outside Tokyo, and I’m super excited).

So, if you’ve been super consistent recently with 0 time for yourself, I want you to make me a promise - to ensure you schedule some ASAP, preferably within the next two weeks. Don’t feel bad about taking the day off entirely if needed.

One of my favourite mentors within the fitness industry, Mark Coles, always emphasises that “a cluttered brain can’t be creative - for you to grow, you need to be creative.” 

Make sure you spend some time with a clear head. Be more selfish with your time. Being selfish isn’t a bad thing when it’s for the good of your mental health.

Not sure where you have time for creativity and growth?

Add up all the time you spend doing things that add zero value to your life. That’s where your time can be replaced with “you” time.

Finally, if you’re unsure how to balance the process whilst simultaneously getting to your goals (with summer pretty much here, too), click here.

It’s an inquiry form about working with me, as I’d love to work with you too.

Speak soon,
Leo