
Episode Details
February 28, 2025
35 minutes
- The Struggle to Unplug – Doug and Jeremy discuss the challenges of leaving work at work and how overworking can actually make you less effective.
- Creating Space for Family – How they’ve learned to set boundaries and be more present at home.
- The Impact of Burnout – Why constantly being “on” isn’t sustainable and how it affects both work and personal life.
- The College Football Mentality – How their past experiences with pushing through challenges shaped their work ethic—and how they’ve learned to balance it.
- Knowing When to Step Back – The importance of recognizing when work can wait and when you need time for yourself.
- Intentional Focus – Why you can’t be everything to everyone all the time, and how to prioritize your energy throughout the day.
Featured Quotes
"Being ‘always on’ doesn’t make you better—it makes you burn out. Learning to unplug helps you be more present for your team and your family."
Jeremy Axel
"You can’t be everything to everyone at all times. The key is knowing where your attention matters most at any given moment"
Doug Cox
Episode Transcript And Overview
Do you know how to unplug from work? How about setting boundaries at home when you need time to yourself? In today’s episode, Doug and Jeremy discuss how to allocate your energy to be present and avoid burnout. Jeremy and Doug both struggled with leaving their work at work and being present with their families when they get home, and they share tips to help you balance your work and home life.
Jeremy and Doug begin by discussing how overworking themselves can actually make them less present during work. They move onto how they have created space for their families outside of work by learning to unplug. Finally, they discuss how they take time for themselves to recharge.
Timeline Notes
Jeremy struggles to disconnect from work outside of work hours, which creates pressure and makes it difficult to be there for his team.
Doug has learned to prioritize tasks and let go of non-essential work. This has allowed him to respond more strategically.
Playing through injury in college football taught Doug and Jeremy to push through challenges, even when they follow them into their careers.
Doug has improved at setting boundaries and disconnecting from work at home. He asks himself if his work can wait.
Burnout can also occur within families. Jeremy emphasizes the importance of taking time for yourself and communicating your needs to your family.
Doug’s work environment has improved since his previous job, which has helped him reduce burnout.
You can't be everything to everyone at all times. You have to focus your attention intentionally throughout your day to be at your best at work, at home, and with yourself.