Deliberate Rest

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Deliberate rest

It is a play on the term “deliberate practice” and it means engaging with restful activities that are often vigorous and mentally engaging.

It is not a continuation of work, but a way to find activities that let you recharge from your workday, while still being mentally productive.

Why we don't take time off

We think more work should equal more output: we see productivity not as doing more with less. But simply doing more.
We’re afraid of being “left behind”: not only could we miss out on some important conversation, but we worry that we’ll be left behind.
Work has become a larger part of our identity: we feel personally connected to the work we do. Taking time away opens up all sorts of questions that can be hard to face.

During periods of deliberate rest

Be unreachable: the more available you are to requests, emails, and messages, the more likely you’ll be to give up on your resting time.
Focus on the important, yet non-urgent tasks on your list: things like exploring new skills, finishing side projects, or sharing your work and engaging with your community.
Connect with people you’ve been meaning to: a simple conversation with someone who makes you feel good can give you a cognitive boost you can carry with you.

“Work and rest are actually partners. They are like different parts of a wave. You can’t have the high without the low. The better you are at resting, the better you will be at working.”