What have you been up to lately?

Charles Umeh
Jul 6
2 min read

Maybe You're Not Lazy. You're overwhelmed. I've heard this before, but it took time for it to sink in.

The Workplace Needs a New Rhythm. But if you think you are lazy, you can let this insight pass. However, if you doubt and are inquisitive, come with me.

One of the oldest stories I learnt the hard way was a quote by Albert Einstein; I had to make it my sign-off for my emails, so it stuck.

"Everyone is a genius, but if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing it is stupid."

The truth?

Most people aren’t lazy—they’re running on empty.

Most times, we are also like that fish out of water, looking for a tree to flex our muscles and to look multitalented, and then we burn out. In order not to make this story repeat itself in my mind, years ago, I made it my email sign-off to remind myself how to find new waters rather than trees when I start to get bored. In a changing world of flux, one way to go in circles and burn out is to forget this fish story and never forget you dont need to do the basics and master it.

The modern workplace is full of talented people like you who feel:

Stretched thin
Emotionally drained
Distracted but trying
Performing instead of processing

In our quest to be productive, we’ve abandoned something vital: intentional reflection to who we were called first.

But here’s what the data (and experience) show us:

Burnout doesn’t just come from overworking. It comes from under-reflecting.

Common Challenges We’re Seeing:

Mental Clutter People walk into meetings with their bodies present but minds full of noise.

Disconnection from Purpose Work starts to feel mechanical—and passion fades quietly. No, you don't always need this passion to be there; you just need to continue the momentum. It's like the excitement of driving your brand-new car, only to be on the motorway for 5 hours on a 6-hour journey. You don't need to be passionate to finish the journey; you simply need to continue the momentum. Momentum is the drive to keep in shape and maintain the flow

Emotionally Reactive Teams. When self-awareness is low, feedback feels personal, and growth becomes hard.

Leaders With No Space to Reflect. Even those guiding teams rarely pause to guide themselves.

🥥 The Coconut Journal: A Tool for Workplace Reset

To respond to these silent challenges, we created something simple yet powerful. For the last six months of 2025. July, August, September, October, November, December

🌴 The Coconut Journal – July Edition A daily 10-minute rhythm to help you — and your team—reconnect. Coconut July Journal 2025

Each day includes: Coconut July Journal 2025