The value of rest is a major theme in my coaching practice, and I talk with leaders on a regular basis about how to replenish themselves while pursuing demanding and often-stressful career paths. I began thinking more deliberately about rest in 2011, when I started tracking whether or not I got a good night's sleep. I continue that practice today and find the resulting data useful, but as with all human behavior it helps to be mindful of the limits of logic when it conflicts with our emotions.
A challenge is that we can confuse "rest" and "fun," when the two are often distinct and sometimes directly at odds. Restful activities that nourish us--a good night's sleep, a meditation session, some quiet reflection--are often dull and may be actively unpleasant if in the moment we have a high need for engagement or stimulation. (This is particularly true for meditation--many novices give up because they find the experience stressful, but as I've noted before, this difficulty is the point of the process.) Conversely, fun activities that we enjoy and find pleasurable can be depleting, leaving us happy and appreciative--but not well-rested.
I'm not suggesting that we should always prioritize rest over fun--even if it were sustainable, that hardly sounds like a life worth living. But a clearer understanding of the difference between the two can help us make more thoughtful, less impulsive choices over time:
- What nourishing activities am I avoiding because they're dull or even unpleasant?
- What depleting activities am I pursuing because they're fun?
- What would a healthier balance look like?
Thanks to Anamaria Nino-Murcia, who inspired the graphic above, which can be downloaded as a PowerPoint file.
For Further Reading
Don't Just Do Something, Sit There! (Mindfulness for Busy People)
"Work Hard or Work Smart?" Is the Wrong Question
Peak Performance (Brad Stulberg and Steve Magness) (my review)
Great Leaders Sleep Well--Why Rest is Critical For Success (Ronni Hendel-Giller)
There's a Proven Link Between Effective Leadership and Getting Enough Sleep (Nick van Dam and Els van der Helm)
Relax, Turn Off Your Phone, and Go To Sleep (Larry Rosen)
You Can't Do Your Job if You Don't Sleep (Tony Schwartz)
Sleep Is More Important Than Food (Tony Schwartz)
Sleep-Deprived Leaders are Less Inspiring (Christopher Barnes)
Senior Leaders Get More Sleep Than Anyone Else (Rasmus Hougaard & Jacqueline Carter)
