Before CSR, my workflow was aggressive.
Wake up early.
Start fast.
Back-to-back calls.
Caffeine-fueled sprints.
Minimal breaks.
Get sh*t done.
It worked—until it didn’t.
Central Serous Retinopathy didn’t just blur my vision.
It blew up the idea that I could run at max RPM forever.
Once I accepted that, I rebuilt my system—this time with recovery baked in.
Not as a weakness.
As the only way to keep doing great work long term.
What Broke (and Why)
- Stacked meetings = mental fatigue
CSR made my focus fragile. Back-to-backs fried me.
I now space everything. - No buffer = no flexibility
When stress hit, I had no room to respond.
Now, buffers are part of my structure. - The old workday = the old flare cycle
My old rhythm was the problem.
I didn’t need to do less—I needed to do it differently.
Here’s What I Changed (And Still Use Today)
1. 90-Minute Deep Work Blocks, Max
No more “all day grind.”
I set 90-minute blocks for real work—then break.
Anything beyond that leads to decision fatigue, eye strain, and cortisol spikes.
2. Built-in Reset Windows
I schedule 15–30 minute blocks between deep tasks.
No email. No scrolling.
Walks. Water. Staring outside.
Reset the system before it burns.
3. Standing Work Intervals
I alternate between sitting and standing.
CSR made me hypersensitive to tension—especially neck and posture.
This keeps blood flow moving and my body from freezing up.
4. Visual Work Limits
3–4 hours of screen-heavy work per day—max.
If it’s a visual task (design, editing, heavy reading), I keep it tight and spread it across the week.
Visual fatigue is a CSR trigger. I don’t mess with it anymore.
5. No Meetings Before 10 AM or After 2 PM
I protect my mornings for brain work.
Afternoons are for admin, calls, or recovery.
Evening is off-limits.
This used to feel like a luxury.
Now it’s non-negotiable.
The Best Surprise? I Became More Effective
With fewer hours, fewer meetings, and tighter constraints, I:
- Hit better flow
- Made cleaner decisions
- Recovered faster from stress
- Actually enjoyed work again
Because CSR taught me this:
Your work doesn’t suffer when you slow down.
It suffers when you don’t know how to stop.
Bottom Line
You don’t have to burn down your ambition to recover from CSR.
But you do have to stop building systems that burn you out.
I still work hard.
But now I build in a way my body can keep up with.
Because what’s the point of success if you can’t see straight—or enjoy any of it?
