Read time: 3 min.

These last few weeks, I've taken a massive step back from work.

• I took a break from posting on X

• I went to one of my favorite festivals

• I booked a 3-week trip to Thailand

Quitting ''monk mode'' was scary because I love growing my business.

But more than scary, it was necessary.

I'd put my eggs in the wrong basket.

The turning point came when I heard about the ''Rat Park'' experiment.

Rat Park experiment

The experiment is simple:

They put a rat in a cage with two water bottles.

One is clean water.

The other is water laced with drugs.

Rat ''X'' lived alone in an isolated cage.

It tasted the drugged water, got addicted, and drank it until it died.

Rat ''Y'' lived in "rat park" with toys, space, and other rats.

They also tried both bottles.

Surely, they too would become addicted to the drug-laced water.

But no, they rarely drank it.

They preferred the clean water and lived happily ever after.

Why?

Because, like us, rats are social animals.

They need connections and a rich environment to be happy and healthy.

I was a workaholic

It made me reflect on my monk mode period:

• I skipped social events to focus on my business.

• My only source of dopamine was work.

• Vacations were a rarity.

I realized I'd created my own isolated cage, with work becoming the drug.

That's when I asked myself:

"Why did I become an entrepreneur?"

My goal isn't to retire young, make millions of dollars, or become the next Elon Musk.

It is to be happy, spend time with loved ones, and have work I don't want to retire from.

Fix your priorities

Once I re-evaluated my priorities, I took steps to implement change in my life:

1. Block off no-work hours in your agenda

2. Invest in relationships at least once a week

3. Go on a vacation at least once a year

And to be honest, I haven't been happier in a long time.

Work ethic is good, but it's easy to lose sight of your core values.

Final thoughts

You might think being a workhorse is the best strategy for an entrepreneur.

But it turns life into a stressful, one-dimensional experience.

Leave room for spontaneous play and childlike wonder.

You’ll be happier, less stressed, and your work will benefit as well.

Much love,

— Martijn