Health as Leverage
To gain leverage is to increase output within the same unit of time.
Leverage = ⬆output / time
i.e. can I get more output in an hour of my time than I usually do?
This is different from “can I do more things” in an hour of my time. “Doing” is counting inputs. Increasing inputs is productivity. Productivity sometimes increases leverage - but not always.
i.e. Let’s say I’ve increased my email response rate from 50 to 100 emails an hour using shortcuts and productivity hacks. This has leverage if (and only if) answering emails is a valuable output for me. If answering emails is unsubscribing from junk mail — I’ve increased my productivity but gained zero leverage on my time. An hour of my time is now spent answering more emails than ever before, but not actually creating meaningful output.
Leverage is about increasing outputs. Leverage is about results.
Similarly, negative leverage is decreasing output within a unit of time. We have negative leverage when we’re distracted and it takes 2x the amount of time to build a presentation.
There are a million bestselling business and productivity books giving tips on batching email, time blocking, and optimizing meetings, but most are missing the biggest piece of leverage out there — our health.
Being healthy is one of the highest leverage activities we can do.
When we’re exhausted, have brain fog, and are in a bad mood — there’s no way we’re maximizing (or even maintaining) our output.
Hour for hour, minute for minute, being well rested, clear minded, alert, and in a positive frame of mind is higher leverage than any productivity hack out there.
Suddenly the choices become clear.
Should I eat this donut for breakfast?
Should I sleep or push myself to work more?
Should I grab drinks with the person who is always negative and down on life?
Taking time to be physically, mentally, emotionally, spiritually, and socially healthy is extremely high leverage. An hour of exercise can boost energy for the next 12 hours of work. Eating fresh foods can eliminate the need for an afternoon nap. A 30 minute conversation with a close friend can wipe away stress (stress is always negative leverage).
It’s an important paradigm shift: being healthy doesn’t take time — it makes time. Or more specifically, it increases what we’re able to do with our limited time on this Earth.
Being healthy is the ultimate leverage.