Give It A Rest

Resting is antithetical to producing. Or so we’ve been led to believe.

This has led many to turn periods of rest into opportunities to “multi-task” with work or reject rest as laziness. Ironically, this typically keeps us from our best work while simultaneously leaving us exhausted. Then we wonder why creatives burn out so quickly.

Writing an article like this comes across as having it “all figured out.” Wrong.
I do exactly zero (0) of the following suggestions perfectly - or even as well as I’d like all the time.
But here are three short things that have helped me learn to rest better.

1. Be where you are.

You will rest better if you are present.

Slacking when you’re supposed to be working actually leaves you more exhausted.
Similarly, “multitasking” with work during family game night effectively eliminates a state of restfulness.

Multitasking doesn’t work. It’s not even a real thing.
And the “divided mind” that it brings certainly doesn’t bring rest.

When it’s time to grind? Be present and outwork everyone else.
When it’s time to rest? Be present and give yourself a break.

2. Choose to disconnect.

Log out of your email. Better yet, turn your phone off completely. Shove it in a drawer and go live your life. I tried this a few weeks back and LET ME TELL YOU: it’s even harder than you think.

But I can’t begin to tell you how refreshing it was to (literally) shove my phone in a drawer and ignore the pings, dings, and countless other things clamoring for my attention.

Typically, the biggest objection to this sort of extreme disconnect is “But what if they need me?”

If the objection to disconnecting for an evening/day/weekend is “What if they need me?” chances are you have made yourself too important. You’ve likely failed to delegate well and you (and your team) will suffer for it in the long run.

The constant demand on your energy and attention will consume you and interrupt your rest. And if you don’t rest, you will burn out.

3. Get out of the office.

Or your work-from-home space. Or literally wherever you typically plop yourself down to work.

A major way to avoid burnout is to get your mind out of the rut.
This only happens when you interrupt the pattern. A change of scenery is essential.

I started doing this earlier in the year at the prompting of Paul Goldsmith.
On (most) Tuesday mornings, I pick a coffee shop and hunker down in the corner.
I show prep for the day. I write articles like this one. I start planning out how to move “big rocks” for the show.

Being in a fresh space opens my mind to be more creative.
By the time I come back to the office, I’m refreshed.

Do it weekly. Put it on the calendar.
You’ll be glad you did.

Refusing to rest will catch up with you eventually and effect your work. You are not a content-creating robot. You simply cannot create 24/7.

Be where you are. Choose to disconnect. Find fresh creative space. These three simple decisions will help you work hard, rest well, and avoid burning out.