The Power of Rest

A book recommendation to boost your productivity

Bethany Anderson
December 16, 2024

Thanks to the recommendation from a recent episode of the Thrive in ELT podcast, I started reading the book Rest: Why You Get More Done When You Work Less by Alex Soojung-Kim Pang.

I think the title caught my attention because the idea of rest feels both elusive and under-valued in our productivity-hungry culture, but I intuitively felt that it’s much more important than we realize.

As soon as I picked up the book, I immediately started highlighting, which is not my norm when reading physical books!

I won’t give you a thorough overview but here are a few take-aways to whet your interest:

Rest and productivity are friends, not enemies. They actually need each other.
The most accomplished people (scientists, artists, writers, etc.) rest well.
Working longer hours does not equal increased productivity.
Rest can take surprising forms. Yes, sleep and naps are an important part of rest (this was validating to learn as I thrive on naps but have always felt a little guilty indulging in the habit) but exercise, deep play, and sabbaticals also play a role.

As we go careening through this crazy month of December, let’s take a moment to ask ourselves how much value we are placing on rest.

Here are a few ways I have found to harness the power of rest in my daily routines:

Taking a walk most days
Taking a walk in the woods at least once a week
Daily pilates routine (usually around 15 minutes)
Sitting in a comfy chair and reading while I drink my afternoon coffee
Taking a nap when I feel my body and energy level need it
Taking time for creative, non work-related writing (a form of deep play)

I know that sometimes rest can feel like an unattainable luxury, but as the author reminds us, “If you want rest, you have to take it.”

Here’s to dedicating time this month to rest. . . which might surprise you by actually helping you get more done than you thought possible!

Bethany