Between the Lines

Between the Lines
Photo by Danny Howe / Unsplash
This post will be brief and non-technical, but I wanted to address this subject sooner rather than later.

The unseen:

We always talk about the moments of achievement and the story of our studies, as well as the trials we endure. However, what about the "in-between" time after you pass your last exam and you are in limbo before you take on the next endeavor?

Do we completely unplug for a bit? Do we study an adjacent subject? What are we to do with this time and how can it be used effectively?

The danger in comfort:

Time and time again, I see really brilliant people reach their desired goal and take a small break that turns into an extended break, eventually leading to complete disengagement. Taking time off is a well-earned aspect of achieving a goal; however, success is not the finish line.

A significant aspect contributing to this issue is the obsession with achieving a goal, title, or certification without fully understanding the implications of obtaining it. This short-sighted approach can be a slippery slope if left unchecked and not leveraged in a manner that maintains discipline.

Short and sweet:

With all that was said previously, we should not consider all hope lost upon reaching our goal, as this mindset can create less than ideal conditions for studying and testing. As mentioned earlier, short-sightedness is a slippery slope, but it can greatly ease our minds when starting out on the journey. Let me elaborate further.

It's crucial to set short-term goals to keep ourselves in check. Diving straight into crafting Zero days and engaging in the OSEE course without a plan will likely lead to swift and efficient defeat. To combat this, a strategy I've found effective is mapping out my intended pathway to success in a draft form. I want to emphasize the personal nature of this plan—MY pathway should reflect the aspects I aim to conquer. Likewise, your pathway should reflect yours.

A practical approach is to consider the upcoming year and determine where you want to be or what you wish to accomplish. From there, create a flexible skeleton pathway that is reasonable but not set in stone, understanding that life changes and some aspects will inevitably shift, whether we intend them to or not.

I have a map now what?

Now, you're probably thinking, "Cool, you explained how to properly set goals. But what about that awesome time off?"

Well, there's no easy answer to that one. I wish I could share some secret technique that would help you decide how long to take off between milestones and how to effectively get back into it, but the truth is, it's really up to you. We are all different—some people can take a weekend off and come back refreshed, while others may need a month to recover and ease back into their routine.

The only thing I can say for certain is to know your body and not push yourself until you reach the burnout phase. If you feel you need more time, take it seriously. Approaching burnout is risky but recoverable; however, once you burn out, it's a deep pit to climb out of, and you may not regain the same momentum as before.

The long road:

This journey we are on can sometimes feel like the loneliest path, but I want to assure you that you are not alone. There are many like-minded people traveling a similar path. Find a solid study buddy or group and support each other, as simply knowing you are not alone can make a world of difference.