Learn To Rest

Work provides us with the means to live, while rest gives our lives meaning. 

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It's common for us to need to understand the relationship between work and rest. 

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These two things are not necessarily opposites but are connected and rely on each other for balance. Therefore, we can only fully understand one by considering the other.

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Rest isn't an enemy of work - it's a partner that helps us perform at our best. 

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With enough rest, it becomes easier to work effectively and efficiently. 

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Finding a balance between work and rest is essential to excel in our endeavors. 

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We also tend to underestimate how much a good, solid rest can benefit us and how much we can accomplish if we take our rest seriously. 

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We all strive for a sense of purpose and accomplishment in the small and big things we do. 

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Hard work can be honorable and rewarding, but it's worth considering that the current definition of the "good life" often revolves around wealth creation and early retirement, which isn't for everyone.

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 Let's remember the value of rest and finding meaning in our pursuits.

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“Only in recent history has “working hard” signaled pride other than shame” — Nassib Taleb

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The ideas put forth by psychologists Victor Frankl and Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi - that the good life is defined by a search for meaning and an abundance of challenges - make a lot of intuitive sense. 

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It's also worth noting that throughout history, different cultures have had different perspectives on what makes a good life. 

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For example, the ancient Greeks saw rest as a great gift and the pinnacle of civilized life, while the Roman Stoics believed a wonderful life was impossible without good work. 

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Both work and rest are essential and serve different but complementary purposes. 

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Work provides us with the means to live, while rest gives our lives meaning. 

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In today's world, we often wear stress and overwork like a badge of honor, but rest is not just given to us. 

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It's something we have to take for ourselves. So let's take rest seriously and make it a priority.

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Rest and Science 

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Discoveries on sleep research, psychology and neuroscience, organizational behavior, and sports medicine have given us a wealth of insight into the critical role rest plays in strengthening the brain, enhancing learning, and enabling inspiration.

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Rest as an opportunity 

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The kind of rest, restorative daytime naps, insight-generating long walks, vigorous exercise, and lengthy vacations. 

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We shouldn't regard rest as a mere physical necessity; we should see it as an opportunity.

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Rest is Active

When we think is rest, we feel about passive activities, a nap, lying on a couch, watching sports, or watching a Netflix series; that is one form of rest. 

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But Physical activity is more restful than we expect, and mental rest is more active than we realize. 

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Serious exercise helps keep our bodies operating at their peak, keeping our minds sharp and giving us the energy to do challenging work. 

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But it often offers subtler physiological benefits, not just stress relief or a way to clear the mind, but a way to connect with our pasts. 

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When you go to sleep, your brain does not switch off; it gets busy consolidating memories, reviewing the day's events, and going through problems you are working on. 

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Your brain gets busy clearing all the toxins and doing physical maintenance; this is important for preventing degenerative neurological diseases. 

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Rest is a skill

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Rest turned out to be like sex, singing, or running; everyone knows how to do it, but 

You can do a lot better with a little bit of learning. 

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I will leave you with these thoughts: 

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You can enjoy resting more profoundly, so you feel fresh and restored.

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 ‍Don't let stress and overwork become a badge of honor.

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‍Embrace rest and give your life meaning and purpose.

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Until next time.

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— Saf

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Also, listen to the Superhuman Switch podcast to learn insights and strategies from successful entrepreneurs and business leaders who achieve remarkable success while maintaining their well-being.

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