Sean McVay is the youngest Head Coach to win a Super Bowl. He understands a common delusion among high performers – that endurance equals excellence. That working yourself down to a nub somehow equates to success. Reflecting on his early career, he admitted, “I used to like almost think it was cool to be able to get away with not sleeping… That is the dumbest sh*t I’ve ever heard.”

Hard work matters. Let’s be clear about that. But maximizing the output of a shell of oneself just doesn’t make sense. If professional drive degrades physical wellness, performance suffers.

Physiologically, chronic overextension activates the body’s stress response. Cortisol levels rise, sleep quality decreases, and emotional regulation weakens. Psychologically, one might begin to lose the ability to reflect, innovate, or connect. The leader who once inspired others becomes drained and irritable, mistaking exhaustion for discipline.

McVay’s realization came from experience: “When your job is to deal with people, you gotta establish healthy habits that are in alignment with sustaining [it] when there’s a lot of external stressors.” Take care of yourself so that you can take care of others. An obvious but overlooked truth.

I used to almost think it was cool

to be able to get away with not sleeping…

That is the dumbest sh*t I’ve ever heard.

-Sean McVay, Super Bowl Champion

Exhaustion vs. Performance

The modern leader is in constant motion. We delude ourselves into thinking that there is no time for a walk, or to take a longer lunch in search of healthier food and a good laugh with a colleague. Making time for certain activities can replenish, invigorate, decrease stress and increase bandwidth.

If only there were more hours in the day, right? Sure, but more hours of what? A day spent in a relative haze, fighting the urge to not nod off and experiencing the cognitive and creative detriment that comes alongside a degraded physical state?

I recently presented a leader with an easy math question: would you rather have a 1lb bar comprised of 85-100% gold, or a 1.15 lb bar of 50-65% gold? He pulled out his phone for a quick calculation, though the answer was obvious.

No one who is aimed at productivity would want a greater quantity of lower quality.

And yet we make those decisions all the time. We forget that health and wellness impact our abilities, so we squeeze the dried fruit of our exhaustion even harder, somehow expecting to extract what’s no longer there. We have to slow down. Take time to refresh.

We are not designed for continuous performance. We are a “work then rest, work then rest” species. Our brains and bodies need cycles of rest to consolidate learning, regulate emotion, and restore creative capacity. Research shows that the prefrontal cortex – the area responsible for planning, judgment, and empathy – functions best when supported by adequate sleep and balanced physiological states. Let’s give it what it wants.

How unfortunate, that so many of us step on our own toes in pursuit of high achievement. So, let’s shift the narrative. Instead of constantly pursing more, more – and of course – faster, faster. Let’s pursue better. More good work. More quality. More speed if possible, but more deliberation where appropriate. Let’s focus on impact, purposeful action, and effectiveness.

“Better” requires intentionality. It requires decision-making and the identification of which efforts align with purpose, and which do not. It demands clarity of thought and emotional steadiness. The modern workplace is increasingly distinct from previous versions, in which we might be turning lathes in a precision parts factory. The modern world and its intricacies demand adaptability and creativity.

In practice, this means valuing quality interactions over quantity of tasks. One or two great meetings over thirty meaningless ones. It means creating time for strategic thinking, deep work, and recovery. The most effective leaders schedule reflection with the same rigor they schedule meetings. They view rest not as a reward after performance, but as a prerequisite for it.

Moving Forward (Sustainably)

Leading from a place of wellness is not indulgence, it’s responsibility.

Not a nicety, but a necessity.

I recognize this firsthand, since my early career was defined almost completely by “the grind” mentality. First to the office, last to leave. But frequently exhausted and sometimes cranky. So I evolved.

I admire McVay’s openness about the concept. When he changed his approach, he became not only a more effective coach but also a more grounded human being. On the field, he is 102-63 as a head coach, with a Super Bowl trophy and NFL Coach of the Year award already on his shelf. Wellness it not the enemy of performance.

Doing more can feel satisfying. It might make you feel accomplished, in the short term. But doing “More Better” – working with clarity, intention, and recovery – produces enduring results.

Leadership that endures is not about constant acceleration. It is about rhythm. Effort and recovery. Action and reflection. Speaking and listening. A leader who honors that rhythm creates a culture where people can perform at their best without burning out.

Leading well depends on the wellness of the leader. The instinct to do more is human – but the wisdom to pause, rest, and recalibrate is the sign of a mature and, likely, effective leader.

This post is part of #slowchathealth’s #MicroBlogMonth, where educators from around the world share, connect, and inspire. Take a moment to explore more posts, connect with contributors like Jim Davis, Ed.M., MA, RSCC*E and if you’re feeling inspired… we’d love to hear your voice too.

Check out Jim’s work with The Good Athlete Project AND he also has a very popular podcast.

Pair this post with:

Get Steady: Essays at the Foundation of Sustainable High Performance by Jim Davis (Jim’s new book JUST dropped!)

Rethinking Productivity for School Practitioners by Ryan Fahey

The Power of Good Nutrition: Does Your Behavior Match Your Goal? by Jim Davis

Heroes of a Healthier Future by Jim Davis

Three tips for self-care as an educator by Pran Patel