Level 1: Boredom
There’s no stress. There are no deadlines, commitments, or responsibilities.
There are a few things to do, but they seem inconsequential.
You are often bored.
Level 2: Am I Living My Best Life?
There are to dos, and they feel manageable. You know how to perform the tasks. It’s clear what a good result is and how to get there.
These tasks can feel routine or repetitive. It makes you question: “Am I living my best life?”
Level 3: One Big Rock
There’s a big goal that you’re determined to achieve. I call it a big rock.
It creates stress. You’ve never solved the big rock before, and you have to learn as you go along.
There’s a deadline, and it’s consequential. If it doesn’t get done, you disappoint others or yourself.
You continue to schedule and complete small rocks (to dos). But you forget to dos or unintentionally cut corners because the big rock occupies so much of your mental space and time.
Level 4: Several Big Rocks
You have several important goals that you’re tackling simultaneously. You’re making progress, but the burden is obvious to you and others. You smile less. You have restless nights. You aren’t present.
You apologize a lot. You may even start saying “no” to things. You’ve realized you can’t do it all.
Level 5: Balls Get Dropped
The number of commitments exceeds your ability. You trudge forward, but you’re counting the days to the next vacation.
You miss details that you used to catch.
You don’t even apologize anymore. You’ve been pushed beyond the brink. Survival is the new goal. The fact that you showed up for the day is the win.
Level 6: Rollercoaster
You feel queasy, and you want to get off the rollercoaster of stress.
You complain profusely. You don’t even care if you make progress on your rocks. You feel entitled to a break. It doesn’t matter where or when.
Level 7: Let’s Stop the Ride at Any Cost
Life is painful. You need it to stop.