#1 Thing to add this preseason

Welcome back to another Leech Letter,

Let me know if this sounds like you.

You're an absolute caffeine junkie. You're fired up for preseason and can't wait to get after it with the kids every single day. You love being on the go. Practice. The weight room. Scripting tomorrow's session. Hunting for an edge in the film room. Finding one new wrinkle the other team can't stop on Friday night.

And that's just the coaching hat. You're also a teacher, a father, a son, a husband.

So the idea of taking 10 minutes to stop and do nothing sounds like a waste of time. If you read that list and checked every box, this lesson is for you. Because there's a difference between accomplishing a lot and just getting a lot of things done.

That go-go-go motor is going to come back to bite you. It's the same thing we see in our athletes who love to do too much. All that extra eventually bites them too.

And what do we tell those athletes? Take a break. Slow down. Rest.

Then we refuse to take our own medicine.

I just had Cyrus Baetz on the Gridiron Warrior Podcast, and we talked about how slowing down can be a superpower. Ten minutes off the adrenaline and dopamine cycle gives you clarity and focus. It also keeps those thoughts from coming back on a revenge tour when your head hits the pillow and you can't fall asleep.

One of the best things I've done this summer: after three hours outside with the guys, I take 10 minutes and do nothing.

At first, it sucks. Your brain wants to replay mistakes, draft emails, and stack up the work that still needs to get done. For those 10 minutes you can't do any of it. You just listen to the thoughts and let them go.

Every single time, I walk out of those 10 minutes better. I know what actually matters. I know what I can let go of. And I attack the rest of the day stronger than if I stayed foot on the gas from sunrise to sunset.

Meditation and mindfulness aren't just for your athletes' preseason routine. It's the busiest time of the year. Practice what you preach. Slow down. Come back down to baseline.

You'll be better for it.

Keep the Fire Burning,

Leech

P.S. The full conversation with Cyrus goes live Monday morning. Insiders can listen right now.