Are you the type who, when facing an exciting challenge, is already thinking about what comes next?

If you answered yes, you are probably suffering from the Restless syndrome. In the book "Positive Intelligence", Shirzad Chamine describes the mind's saboteurs: automatic patterns that block our potential and generate unnecessary stress. Among them, a very common profile in today's corporate environment is the Restless (or Restless in English terminology).

Those with this active saboteur are often seen as dynamic, creative, and full of energy. But behind the façade of "high productivity," the Restless conceals a silent trap that, if not well managed, can sometimes end in burnout:

The symptom: A relentless pursuit of novelty. The project has barely started and the mind is already creating the next one. Boredom with routine is immediate, impatience is constant, and attention is perpetually fragmented across dozens of open tabs in the browser — and in life.

The lie it tells: "Life is too short. If I stop or focus on just one thing, I'll miss better opportunities." It leads you to juggle multiple parallel activities and tell your managers that you need more challenges and can take on more tasks.

The hidden reality: The Restless uses an excess of activities and constant motion as an unconscious shield to escape anxiety, complex problems, or difficult conversations. It numbs discomfort by keeping itself busy.

Not long ago, while working with a coachee in my mentoring process, he perfectly described the real impact of this saboteur:

"Early in my career, the Restless profile made me change companies every two years. I always fought hard for a promotion. When it finally came, frustration soon followed, and after two years I was already thinking about the next step. I lived under the illusion of thinking: 'I'm not a routine person, I prefer projects.' But the truth is that this led me to never consolidate any project or any team. As a result, I was seen as a manager who didn't develop people."

The career cost? Strategic projects left halfway through, chronic exhaustion, and burned-out direct reports struggling to keep up with a chaotic pace. In personal life: imbalance, family set aside, risk of stress, emotional instability, and burnout. Agility becomes anxiety disguised as momentum.

How to lead yourself and disarm the Restless?

1. Name the saboteur: When you feel the urge to abandon a long task or start something new without finishing the previous one, stop and acknowledge: "This is my Restless acting, not my actual business need."
2. Practice anchoring (PQ Reps): When your mind starts racing, bring yourself back to the present. Force yourself to focus for a few seconds on the weight of your body in the chair or on your breathing before making a decision.
3. Trade the pursuit of novelty for the pursuit of depth: True professional growth and genuine innovation happen when we sustain focus on what is complex, building lasting legacies and developing people.

Agility is an essential virtue in today's market, but it needs to be directed with intention — not driven by impulse.
Do you recognize yourself in this profile, or have you ever led someone like this?