Have you taken rest today?

In today’s fast changing & developing economies, disruptive workplaces and in the era where technology plays an important part in each aspect of our life - how many of us are constantly & always chasing the next deadline, the next task, the next project? I know that I AM !

Not until I read the book “REST” by Alex Pang (I would recommend to read). It changed my mindset about REST. Over the years it was believed that workaholics often achieve high levels of productivity, can accomplish a lot and be productive by overworking, will excel in their careers due to their dedication and willingness to go beyond and their relentless focus on work can lead to rapid career advancement, higher earnings, and recognition within their industry. BUT burnout is often considered the price we pay for achieving that success.

I strongly believe and know that being in this state of emotional, physical, and mental exhaustion caused by excessive and prolonged stress is just NOT sustainable. Today we talk about work life balance and most organizations are supporting it by running programs to create awareness and even hiring experts to talk about the importance of work life balance. ?

But this concept is not new, if you have heard/read about The Golden Mean concept in Aristotle's ethical theory, described in his work "Nicomachean Ethics." It refers to the desirable middle ground (mean) between two extremes: excess and deficiency. For any given trait or behavior, virtue lies in the balanced point between doing too much and doing too little.

Source for the above - Golden mean (philosophy) - Wikipedia

So somewhere with the industrial revolution, with the advancement in technology and with the ambition to grow and prosper we have forgotten to find the right balance. This is where the book by Pang, throws a very different light and argument that Work and Rest are equals.

In Greek philosophy, rest is seen as an essential component of a balanced and meaningful life. Whether through contemplation, meditation, simple pleasures, or intellectual pursuits, Greek philosophers recognized that rest is crucial for mental, physical, and spiritual well-being. These ideas continue to influence modern thinking on the importance of rest in achieving a fulfilling and flourishing life. I have tried to depict this below and it depends on each individual on what he/she prefers (do comment what do you prefer)

Early part of my career when I took over a team I used to have some time off and somehow this dropped off as I took on more responsibilities. But now - every Tuesday you will find an hour blocked in my calendar called “Thinking Time” which helps me take some downtime and concentrate on what’s important. But the question is what do you do in this one hour? The trick here is to find the way that works best for you. It doesn’t matter if you decide to spend your hour sitting in a chair and staring outside the window, having a coffee with a colleague (strictly not discussing work) , going for? a quick walk for some fresh air, listening to some music, or just talking to your mom – as long as you take your time to think and reflect.

Don’t stress, let it happen naturally. Its takes time..

Some days your thinking hour is super productive, and some days it’s just not working. For some when you try for the first time I think the choice of subject will play a big role. Therefore, you shouldn’t stress if you feel like it isn’t working the way you expected it to the first time.

?And using technology - I asked chat GPT about the 10 commandments for rest and it gave me the below

So take some rest.. Take care of your body, launch your mind and be more productive.