Time to read: You're gonna like this week's assignment. It's one minute down.
I'm starting to accept that the 1980s are vintage. Especially for these beautiful 1980s Tiffany earrings.
You've been grinding for weeks.
You're getting stuff done. Protecting your focus. Taming the noise. And somewhere in the back of your mind is a voice that says, “I'll rest when this is over. I'll have fun when I've earned it.”
I know this voice. I bet you do, too.
Rest makes work possible. It’s a must-have, not a nice-to-have. When you rest, your brain consolidates learning, generates creative connections, and recovers its capacity for focus. Cut downtime, and your effort will produce diminishing returns.
The same goes for fun. The things that have nothing to do with your career. A walk, a game, a long dinner with people you love. These aren't distractions from a productive life. They're the point of life.
Rest and downtime matter to your career. Some of your best thinking won't happen at your desk. It'll happen in the shower, on a run, staring out a window, while driving your car. The brain that's been given room to wander comes back sharper. That's how brains work. Giving yourself a break is you consciously using your brain’s full capacity.
The professionals who sustain high performance over a long career aren't the ones who grind the hardest. They're the ones who know how to rest and recover.
So, stop waiting to earn a break. Schedule it with the same intention you bring to your deep work blocks. Put it on the calendar and make it non-negotiable.
This week: Schedule something purely for you. Not productive. Not career-adjacent. Just fun. And if you’re tempted to cancel it, don’t. You must. Your coach just told you to rest. :-)
Know someone navigating a demanding season at work? They can join us here.
Questions about focus or making the most of an intense stretch? Email me I read everyone.
Next week: Your environment is talking to you. Let's make sure it's saying the right things.