When resting is accompanied by a dose of shame for time wasted to what could have been “productivity,” it’s time to repurpose what rest is. I say “productivity” in quotes because really, when done well, rest is helping with your productivity. 

We’re not talking about excessive zoning out. No mindless scrolling or the “Are you still watching?” pop up banner on a streaming service. We’re talking about purposeful rest: sleep, connecting with humans, exercise, an intentional hobby – that type of recharging. 

The high achiever can fall into a cycle of chasing productivity but mislabeling what’s productive as more money, more success, more admiration, more chores done quicker, etc. If things like this are the definition of productivity, burnout is quickly approaching. In my own mind, I’ve found it helpful to reposition rest as a purposeful activity, not a waste of time. 

Here’s what I mean with a few examples of positive activities. They all might not make you “more (insert what you strive for)”, but they are all purposeful.

Sleep

Rest in its literal form I’d say. You might not be making big moves while you sleep, but it’s incredibly purposeful. Getting the appropriate amount of sleep each night improves physical and mental wellbeing and alertness. So, cutting down on sleep to be more productive at work could actually have the opposite effect.

Intentional Hobby

For adults, hobbies might seem superfluous. Who has time for long walks, playing an instrument, gardening, or joining a community sports league? But, a hobby like one of these isn’t a time drain. Just to name a couple benefits, hobbies can help reduce stress and foster creativity, which translates into other life activities.

Exercise

Depending on your feelings toward exercise, it might not seem like rest. Like sleep though, it’s incredibly helpful for your mental and physical wellbeing. In their book, Burnout: The Secret to Unlocking the Stress Cycle, Emily Nagoski, PhD, and Amelia Nagoski, DMA, name physical activity as “the single most efficient strategy for completing the stress response cycle.” So, taking time out of your week to exercise isn’t lost time.

Now, like anything else, excess of any one activity isn’t great. But, we can’t allow ourselves to view rejuvenating rest as something that holds us back. It’s quite the opposite. Rest is purposeful. Find joy in the actual act of resting and know that it will improve those activities that might traditionally feel “productive.” Alertness, increased feelings of connection with others, improved mental and physical wellbeing, enhanced creativity… all these are great benefits of rest. 

Reframing rest as purposeful could be the key to helping you relax and enjoy rest instead of rushing to the next thing or eliminating quality rest.