If you looked at my to-do list from last week, you could make the argument that it wasn’t a productive week.
- I slept in most days.
- I didn’t check email, return phone calls, or worry about my calendar.
- I took a nap on a couple of afternoons.
- I binged a couple of TV shows and played lots of games.
About the only “productive” things I did all week long was keep up with my training runs (see the above picture from my Thursday morning run) and helped my parents with some projects around their house.
It was a great week!
If you haven’t figured it out yet, I was on vacation. We own a time share not far from my parents’ house in Florida. It offers the perfect mix of spending time with my parents, enjoying countless trips around the lazy river, and creating memories with our sons who are in their early 20s.
As great as all that sounds, my favorite part of the whole week may have been the early morning conversations my wife and I had while laying on poolside lounge chairs before the crowds (or our kids) arrived.
By all traditional metrics, it wasn’t a productive week. But I disagree.
In today’s hustle-culture that prioritizes an always-connected, go-go-go mentality, we rarely have time to catch our breath, much less actually rest. We are encouraged—both directly and indirectly—to go harder, push a little more, and always be on.
That’s not what Wholistic Productivity is all about!
Let me tell you what happened this week that boosted my productivity.
- I was able to relax, refresh, and renew.
- I had plenty of time to think, reflect, and plan.
- I was able to recharge my energy and my creativity.
- Best of all, I was able to reconnect with my ultimate “why” and the people I do it all for.
Why Rest Is Productive
Taking an opportunity to rest is an investment in your productivity. The time away from the everyday grind is critical to you to recharge your battery and revive your soul.
For years, I didn’t understand this principle. I would check in on work email while I was on vacation. I wouldn’t let my brain turn off and my body relax. I would slow down some but would never stop completely.
That has changed for me in a significant way. I am deliberately present in the moment. I’ve become just as serious about my rest as I am about my work. And the results are amazing.
Here’s the thing: you don’t have to wait until you go on a big family vacation to give your mind and body a break.
- You can stop checking email after leaving the office.
- You can refuse to work on weekends.
- You can create a daily wind-down routine that reduces your screen time right before bed.
- You can eat lunch away from your desk or take a walk in the middle of the afternoon.
There was a time, not too long ago, that I had a surplus of PTO built up. I would often run the risk of having more than I could carry forward every year.
Now, I use all my PTO and I’d use more if they let me. In addition to family vacations like this, I take random “mental health” days for myself. And it makes all the difference.
You can grind until you’re ground down. One way or another, your body will shut down when it’s had enough. Just like you want to drink before you feel thirsty, I prefer to be strategic about my rest and incorporate seasons of rest and renewal into my schedule.
There’s still a lot of summer left. Make a holiday one of your priorities and see the difference it makes.