Outlets, Ambition, and Mental Reset

Sia Savla
Sep 1
4 min read

My Story: Ambition, Outlets, and Keeping My Mind Fresh

I’ll be completely honest. When I first came across the WSJ article, I felt a mix of curiosity and skepticism. The idea that work-life balance breeds mediocrity is a strong statement. I’ve spent most of my life surrounded by high-achieving students, busy cities, and a voice that always says “push a little more, so I get where Barr is coming from. I know the pressure to chase goals, sometimes putting everything else on the back burner. But here’s how I see it.

My own ambition has always pushed me toward intense schedules and late nights. There’s a real thrill when you believe every hour could bring you closer to the future you want. Still, as much as I love the grind, I’ve learned that running on empty makes me less creative and a lot less happy, and that even those of us who thrive on ambition, productivity, and a few extra hours of striving need to recharge our mind, not just our calendar.

Some people talk about work-life balance and imagine pie charts or a schedule with neat boundaries. That’s never felt natural to me. Instead, I focus on finding outlets, things that aren’t work, but still let my mind breathe. For me, painting and writing are lifesavers. When I’m overwhelmed, I start a new piece. I put down my thoughts in writing. Suddenly, my brain isn’t stuck in survival mode. It’s playing and resting at the same time.

If I’m honest, I don’t think I’ll ever have perfect balance. That’s okay. What matters is giving my mind a break, even if my ambition never switches off. Our minds do so much heavy lifting and deserve to be cared for, even if our schedules don’t always allow for long stretches of downtime.

How My Outlet Became My Medicine

Recently, I started working on a collection of paintings that capture Mumbai, the chaos, the color, and the emotion, through my personal lens. Each canvas is busy and layered, a metaphor for all the energy and contradictions that shaped me. Art isn’t my career, but it’s how I keep my mind healthy and creative. It gives me permission to be messy, blank, inspired, or simply at peace. The process is a little chaotic, sometimes abstract, and definitely not scheduled. It helps me slow down and let my mind go blank. This isn’t about adding something new to my resume. It’s about staying sane when everything else feels intense.

What I love about having an outlet is that it makes rest feel productive, but not in the usual sense. If I create something meaningful while unwinding, that’s a bonus. The real value is just letting myself be, for a little while, and seeing where my thoughts go. Your outlet might be music, running, conversation, or just a mindful walk. It doesn’t matter what it is. The point is, our brains aren’t designed to run as non-stop productivity machines. They need room to breathe and moments to heal, whether you call it balance or just plain sanity.

Why Everyone Needs an Outlet (Even the Super Ambitious)

I get why some people want to go all in on their careers. Barr’s story is proof that putting work ahead of everything can bring big rewards. But I truly believe that, even if you don’t believe in work-life balance, your brain still needs a break. Outlets aren’t about slacking off. They’re about giving your mind a space to recharge. It helps me show up better when I am working hard, and to be honest, it saves me from burnout.

If I’m honest, my own sense of “balance” is always shifting. Deadlines pile up, late nights happen, and sometimes my to-do list looks unmanageable. But giving my mind a place to breathe (even for a short while) isn’t wasted time. It’s what brings me back with new ideas, more energy, and a kind of clarity that no amount of extra working hours would unlock.

That’s why I’ll never buy into the myth that rest makes you mediocre. What actually matters is treating your mind with care and curiosity. Whether that outlet turns into something beautiful, productive, or simply fun is up to you. For me, turning my downtime into art helps me process, relax, and return stronger. I think that’s the best investment anyone can make in themselves.

So whether it’s art, writing, a sport, cooking, or just hanging out with family, find something outside of work that helps you reset. If you want, turn it into something creative or productive. Or just let it heal you. The point isn’t how much time you spend away from work, but how good you feel when you come back to it.