The Unseen Ingredient of Success: Strategic Rest

I worked two 16-hour days in a row last week. I had my day job. I had client work to do. I had emails to attend to. And I had an urgent meeting that came up. It was a remarkably busy day and I got a lot of work “done.” But, I collapsed into bed at the end of it and was almost useless the next day.

I knew something needed to change. I couldn’t keep that pace up forever. So, I intentionally took time to rest each day. My productivity shot up. My work was done faster. My writing was better. And I wasn’t a cranky monster throughout.

I guess you could say that my birthday present to myself was a very important lesson about the value of rest.

I taught myself that rest isn't the opposite of work; it's a vital part of it. You just need to be thoughtful and intentional with it. Strategic rest allows us to work smarter, not harder. It's the quality, not the quantity, of our work that matters most. By incorporating deliberate rest, I have been able to get more done in less time. I’m certain you can do the same.

Something to Think About

This Week’s Main Quest 🚀 The 20-Minute Recharge

This week, your main quest is to integrate the '20-Minute Recharge' into your daily routine. Literally, block it out on your calendar. (This is important, and I’m sure we’ll talk about the power of time blocking on your calendar at some point. Just trust me on this one.)

Set aside 20 uninterrupted minutes each day for an activity that rejuvenates you. It could be a power nap, a walk in nature, meditation, or just sitting quietly with a cup of coffee or tea (or whatever. I’m not here to judge.)

I know you are going to see this as a waste of time initially. You have so many more things you could be doing. But, trust me. This will help you complete all of your tasks faster and better.

This Week’s Side Quest - Self Care (No Not That Kind)

This week’s Side Quest is about Self Care. But, not in the way people often talk about it. Self-care is often only thought about as rest and relaxation, but it's not always about easing into comfort.

True self-care can also mean confronting the tasks we've been hiding from, the decisions we've deferred, and the challenging tasks we have left unchecked on our to-do lists.

Procrastination can increase stress by leaving tasks undone and presenting an undue mental burden. Addressing these tough tasks clears the mental clutter and creates space for genuine peace.

Sometimes the most caring thing we can do for ourselves is to finish what we've been putting off.

Ok. Sales pitch complete.

This week’s Side Quest: Identify the one thing you have been holding off on doing for the longest… and do it. It could be a phone call to an insurance company. It could be an email you don’t want to respond to because it’s about an awkward situation. It could even be checking a bank account. In the words of Larry the Cable Guy, “Get ‘Er Done.”

Something to Remember

Self-care in business isn't about taking a break from the journey; it's about ensuring you can travel further tomorrow.

It's the pause that empowers.

The rest that rejuvenates.

The quiet that clarifies.

Remember, rest is not a detour; it's part of the path to success.