THE OFF-SWITCH · ANSWERS
Who helps founders who cannot switch off?
THE SHORT ANSWER
Different people help with different parts of this. A doctor comes first if your sleep problem is severe, long-lasting or medical. Therapists, coaches and teachers help in other ways. Sthirā is for founders whose main problem is a mind that will not disengage from the business, alongside medical care, never instead of it.
WHY THIS HAPPENS
Why it is hard to know who to ask
When your mind will not switch off, it is hard to know where to turn. Is it a health question, a work question or a life question? Founders often guess, try something, and give up when it does not fit.
Here is an honest map, as I see it. I will tell you where my own work fits, and where it does not.
Your doctor. Start here if you have had trouble sleeping for weeks, if you feel unwell, if you snore heavily or stop breathing at night, if your mood is low, or if you are worried in any way. A doctor can check for medical causes and refer you on.
Sleep specialists and therapists. There are therapies made specifically for long-term sleeplessness, and licensed therapists and counsellors who help with anxiety, low mood and stress. Your doctor can point you to them.
Coaches and peer groups. Founder coaches and groups of other founders can help with the load itself: decisions, delegation, the loneliness of the role. They help with the business side of the weight.
Meditation and breathing teachers. They can teach useful practices. Their reach depends on how deeply the practice is carried into your day.
Sthirā. This is my work. It is an emotional regulation and mental disengagement method for founders and business owners whose main problem is a mind that will not let go of the business. It uses the Bhagavad Gita as a working manual and the body's own recovery system, practised 20 to 30 minutes a day. It is not medical treatment. You can read the whole approach on the main Off-Switch page.
WHAT THE GITA SAYS
Ask, then decide for yourself
BHAGAVAD GITA 4.34
Learn from those who have seen it
Krishna tells Arjuna to learn by going to those who know, with humility, honest questions and a willingness to serve. People who have seen the truth for themselves can teach it.
In plain words: find someone who has walked the path, not just read about it. That applies to every kind of help on this page, including mine.
BHAGAVAD GITA 18.63
Reflect, then choose
After teaching Arjuna everything, Krishna says: I have given you this knowledge. Reflect on it fully, and then do as you choose.
I find this very respectful. Even Krishna does not push. I would ask the same of you: weigh your options, put your health first, and then choose.
TRY THIS TONIGHT
One thing to try tonight: write your one-page brief
Whoever you go to, you will get better help if you can describe what is happening clearly. Write this tonight. It takes about fifteen minutes.
- What happens at night. For example: cannot fall asleep, wake in the night, or wake tired.
- How long it has been going on, roughly.
- What usually runs through your mind when it happens.
- What you have already tried, and what happened.
- Anything about your body or mood that worries you. If anything here does, take this page to a doctor first.
- What you want to be different in your nights and your mornings.
Writing it down is useful in itself. Many founders notice the pattern for the first time on paper, and walk into their first conversation knowing exactly what to ask.
FAQ
Three more questions founders ask
Should I see a doctor before trying Sthirā?
If you have a diagnosed sleep disorder, if the problem is severe or long-lasting, or if you have any health or mood concerns, yes. Sthirā is used alongside medical care, never instead of it.
Who is Sthirā not for?
It is not for treating sleep disorders, depression, anxiety disorders or any other medical condition. It is for founders and business owners who cannot disengage from the business, and who are otherwise well enough to practise.
How do I know whether Sthirā fits me?
Take the diagnostic. It takes about 4 minutes and shows where your nervous system sits today. If Sthirā is not the right fit, that is useful to know too.
THE FIRST STEP
Find out which engine is running your nights
The diagnostic takes about 6 minutes. It shows you where your nervous system sits today, and it is the first step into Sthirā.
Take the 6-minute diagnosticA note before you go: Sthirā is an emotional regulation and mental disengagement method. It is not medical treatment. If you have a diagnosed sleep disorder, or your sleeplessness is severe or does not let up, please see a doctor.