December 24, 2024 • 25 mins
How Do You Give Yourself Time To Rest Without Losing Productivity or Falling Behind?
Now I know what you’re thinking… "I took time off, now I’m behind." How do you take a day away, and not feel behind? The math doesn’t math.
Let’s flip that. Taking time off doesn’t set you back—it sets you up. If you keep doing more, you are going to keep being busy. You feel like you cannot rest, but at the same time, you cannot afford not to.
There’s a misconception that rest means you stop and do nothing. That’s not it. Rest means actively filling up your tank. What nourishes you? For me, it’s standing barefoot in the sunshine, breathing fresh air, and listening to my kids laugh. These moments are FREE and available NOW. It's not when you get to a certain level of success in your business. It's also for while you are on your way there.
Resting does not put you behind, it better positions you to do what you’ve been called to do. And now you can do it from a place of poise and restoration. You’re no longer running on empty in any or all of the areas of your life.
0:01:47 - The deeper benefits of rest
0:06:26 - Rest as a strategic advantage
0:09:02 - Maintaining work-life balance with a day of rest
0:14:26 - Defining your day of rest
0:19:26 - Overcoming guilt and fear of rest
0:22:26 - How to take rest without falling behind
0:25:26 - 3 small steps to rest without guilt today
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Unknown (00:00):
We help you write all the things that you've been
trying to articulate about yourbusiness but have never been
able to put into copy. We'regoing to go deep to uplevel your
business without adding more toyour already full plate. We'll
keep it simple and sustainable.
Sound like a breath of relief.
Let's dive in, entrepreneurs.
You've heard this one before.
Rest is productive, and I wantto challenge that today. So I
(00:27):
mean, well, rest, while it'strue, rest is productive, it
doesn't tell the full story, andI think the other half of the
story that it doesn't tell isreally crucial one to be missing
out, because rest is not justabout recharging so that you can
work harder, knowing that themost worthwhile use of your time
(00:47):
to truly pause breathe delightand joy. And I'm not going woo,
woo or cheesy on you here, butreally giving you scientifically
based and back, tried and true,battle tested, practical steps
so that you can actually relax,especially during August,
(01:10):
because when was the last timeyou genuinely felt relaxed? Was
it on vacation away from theendless things of email and
slack? In this episode, I'mgoing to explore the real reason
why it is so hard for you tostop and rest, for all of us,
really, and how we can finallylet go, even during the
holidays. And spoiler alert, isnot just about boosting your
(01:33):
productivity, though. That is agreat perk, for sure. We're
going to get into the other sideof it that is so much more juicy
and joyful, most true,genuine rest that it feels
practical and reminded of ourepisode with Dr Shanika, who
shared a powerful reminder thatyour worth is not defined by
(01:56):
your to do list is rooted inknowing who you are at your
core. And her episode is linkedin the show notes. It is so
good. It was the top performingepisode of 2024 you could
definitely go with it. Give it alisten after this. One tells us
that knowing you are enoughbrings a unique piece, and it
frees you to pivot or change ordo what you need to do without
(02:18):
the fear or the doubt, becausetrue wealth lies in embracing
your identity, just financialsuccess that may just be a part
of it, and when you know thisdeeply in your bones, it frees
you to finally stop chasing moreat all costs. And this shift
doesn't just make rest easier,it sets you free. It's a deeper
(02:40):
freedom you're actually lookingfor. We think we want the time
freedom, money, location,freedom that we're all chasing
as entrepreneurs. But this, thissense of peace and enoughness
that I think is what we reallywant beyond because you can have
(03:01):
the time, money, location,freedom, but if you don't have
this, none of the rest of thatstuff will happen. So does rest
increase productivity? Yes, ofcourse, you're less likely to
make errors and omissions.
You're more focused when you getenough sleep. Thank you. Sources
(03:22):
to sleep, foundation again, theactive article. And while this
is a great benefit of rest,again, it misses the point. The
point of rest is to delight inyour work and what you have
made. Our busy hustle culturehas made a huge prioritizing
joy. But then we measure wholepoint. We think that joy is for
(03:46):
one day in the future, or whenwe get there, wherever there is.
But you know, the goal posts arealways changing, and when that
happens, then we miss out thatit's for now too. I don't want
to be so focused on chasingthose ever changing goal posts
that we miss right in front ofus. Otherwise. What is all of
(04:07):
this? For this episode, I'mgoing to share with you exactly
how to relax as the ambitiousbusiness owner juggling without
feeling. And when you do this,you'll be able to finally be
fully present to your work andfully present to your family and
(04:28):
your life. Because I don't knowabout you, but I don't want
either one to only get half ofso let's talk about both sides
of rest. One reason is that,yes, rest is productive, but
don't miss the other reasonculture lies find peace and joy
and delight exactly where youare, even if it's not yet where
(04:50):
you want to be. So let's talkabout that first piece. First
press is a strategic advantagefor a Live Inspired copy that
actually performs well, forsure, right? Great storytelling
is often a compelling piece ofcopyright, and the best stories,
well, they come from when youare actually out there living
(05:11):
your life, and when you'rerested, you're not just
physically rejuvenated, though,yes, that is true too. It's also
your immense you are mentallyand emotionally open to
inspiration, fresh perspectivesand innovative ideas, right?
That's why our best ideasusually come in the shower.
We're away from our phone. Wecan't bring our phone into the
(05:34):
shower when we're just like isor out on our run and not
working, that is my best ideas,that better copywriting is
fueled by joyful rest, becauseit allows your mind to recharge,
refocus and reconnect with thatcreativity, your six different
(05:59):
ways that It directlycontributes to better copyright
one is the clarity of thought.
The rest helps clear the mentalplatter in enabling you to think
more strategically andarticulate your ideas with more
decisions, you can betterdistill complex concepts into
compelling messages. Right whenyour brain is not tired and
fatigued, the clarity,two, the creative flow makes
(06:26):
these thrives in a well restedbrain, joyful rest, play
hobbies, Episode spark Yourimagination and allow new ideas
to flow effortlessly. Thirdpoint here is empathy and
connection you. It brings youmore in zoom your audience's
(06:47):
needs, emotions and desires,because you're not thinking
about your own survival, yourcup is full, and it allows you
to create this deeperconnection. And from that place
you write better copy that ismore resonant and authentic.
Number four is increasedconfidence your rest is going to
replenish your energy and alsoyour self belief, because that
(07:11):
imposter syndrome coming up asyou're writing your copy is like
the number one reason, why, orwhy it is not a burden when you
are confident it reflects inyour copy. There is no doubt
about that. It makes it morepowerful. Number five is the
strategic thinking provide themental bandwidth to step back
(07:35):
and see the bigger picture,allowing you to craft messaging
that aligns with your long termgoal in a brand strategy. And
lastly, it's sustainablecreativity. Overworking leads to
burnout, which stifles yourcreativity. You're pushing,
pushing, pushing. Eventuallyit's going to break even you. So
prioritizing rest ensures thatyou can consistently produce
(07:58):
high quality, impactful copy,without sacrificing when you
look at it this way, just aluxury, or for when you arrive.
It is a strategic advantage hereand now. It empowers you to both
show up for your it empowers youto show up for your craft with
energy, passion and clarity,ultimately resulted in copy that
(08:22):
both performs well and feelsaligned and inspired. You get to
have both. So how does thisactually happen? What does it
look like? Well, how to relax?
For me, I take a breath ofbreath as a musical for my
(08:44):
family, but the actual daydoesn't matter. You can choose
Sunday, you can chooseWednesday, you can choose
Tuesday. It doesn't matter. Thepoint is you use that day to
slow down.
So in your life. This idea isnot in your business world. I
(09:06):
remember the brand being boss.
They called it a mandatory lazyday. Um, Christians call it a
the Sabbath. You know, arealways encouraging. That's why,
when you're restless all thetime on your feet, actually put
itinto practice and not be a nice
idea for another day that isrunning. And let me tell you,
(09:29):
this day of rest is absolutelythe best day of the week every
single week, it fuels my workand it reminds me of who I am
beyond my work. I don't have todetach my identity from my work,
and it's part of who I am, butit's just one layer of who I am,
(09:50):
and on this day of rest, it's alayer I get to peel back so that
I can remind myself of who Ireally am at my core, beyond my
roles as mother, wife, who I amat the core, beyond my
achievements, accomplishments,accolades, this is a full day
(10:11):
where I just get to live as meoutside of All of those other
roles and responsibilities.
Okay, so what do you actually doon this day at regress like, Are
you sitting around twiddlingyour thumbs? No. Like, I know a
lot of you're like, but I needto do something, even if it's
(10:33):
not working then. But then,like, what do I do? Okay, so I
think the idea is called highquality leisure. I got it from
Cal Newport's book calledDigital minimalism. Again, I
have it linked in the show notesbefore sure need to read that
book. Total gaging, itabsolutely changed how I view
leisure and rest time. Becausedo you feel refreshed after
(10:56):
reading that book or Doomscrolling? Probably not. But
then there are high qualityleisure activities that nourish
us, so that can include a casualbike ride around your
neighborhood, down the bikepath, gardening, laughing,
flattering with friends whoactually get you or breathing in
fresh air on a hike. It can looklike three in the lake a local
(11:20):
pool, picking up your paintbrushmusical instrument, building
something with your hands in thegarage. These activities give us
such a deeper level ofsatisfaction and fulfillment,
more than a screen could everoffer. And I would argue that
this day of rest is not anoptional luxury. It is the reset
(11:41):
you truly need to be able tothrive. It is a weekly non
negotiable, and it's going tohelp so much with this elusive
work life balance that we'realways talking about and seeking
as entrepreneur. So my husbandand I have practiced this day of
rest for six or seven years now,and it looks different in each
(12:04):
life. Stage Right, like asnewlyweds, it looks different
than in the newborn stage, andit looks different now that we
have three schoolers ourhousehold, and it's okay for
this practice to change with theseason of life you are in. In
fact, that is normal, and Ishare more deeply my personal
rhythm, rhythms of rest, andwhat has rest looked like in
(12:26):
different seasons of life on thetick tock podcast with Callie
Brigham. And then I have thatlink in the show notes if you
want to go give that a listen. Ihope it'll be great inspiration
for how you can structure yourday of rest. But bottom of it is
this. Here's what works for us.
My phone stays on, do notdisturb. Tuck it away, out of
sight. It's usually hiding in mycloset. So like it's out of
(12:47):
sight, out of mind. We big beginwith breakfast, a workout and
playground. And let me just say,like I actually enjoy working
out that is energizing and lifebuilding for me and a joy. So I
do it on my Sabbath. Working outis like a chore for you. Then do
(13:08):
not include that on yourSabbath, these not things that
you feel like you should noobligation. You on this. Okay,
so we do our workout in themorning, which I also love that
(13:28):
our little ones get too stiff inthis healthy like going to the
gym as a norm for us, and thenthey get playground time. We
have a picnic outside by theplayground and grass. We bring
our blanket, pack food, and thenit's also easy cleanup. Easy
easy to make, easy cleanup.
(13:49):
We're all about ease. Then naptime follows for our youngest
one, while our oldest enjoysquiet time, and kids don't get
screen time ever, but it's nicethat we also do know screen time
on this day and the day of restincludes gardening, baking,
reading, painting or outdoorplay. It's things that we can do
(14:12):
with our kids, even in, youknow, these younger years and
then evenings and with dinner asa family and our bedtime
routine. So this will likelylook different for you and your
life stage and your familydynamic, and it will likely look
again different again for you ayear from now, and that's okay.
The beauty is, you get to decidewhat it looks like for you and
(14:35):
how it evolves as you evolve.
This is a practice that is andever changing, and that's a good
the one thing that I would saystays constant no matter the
season is that I don't checkemails, I don't sneak in work
and I don't scroll social media.
Instead, I say yes to myself andto my family. This intentional
(14:57):
choice fills my cup and helps mereturn on Monday refreshed and
excited. Let me tell you, onceyou start, I know this can sound
intimidating first, and we'relike, I don't know, but then
once we did it, oh my gosh, youcrave that rest day. You wonder
how you ever went without it. Itis so good, and it just reminds
you, like, the point that you'reworking for all this hard work
(15:19):
that you're doing, like it'saccessible to you now you can
have that on a weekly basis, notlike when you reach financial
independence or retirement, or,you know, whatever that that
finish line looks like for you.
Okay, so now I know what you'rethinking. How do you give
yourself time to rest withoutlosing productivity? I mean,
(15:39):
like, okay, so I say I take timeoff, but now I'm behind. Now I
have to play catch up. Is itworth it? You know, how do you
take a day away, an entire 24hours consecutive, 24 hours not
feel behind? Math doesn'tmatter. I get it. Okay, so let's
flip that. Taking time offdoesn't set you back, sets you
(16:00):
up. I think about it this way.
So I used to be a physics majorback in college, and my emphasis
was in astronomy. So my researchI did was actually I remember
going out up to in Arizona, upto a telescope on top of a
mountain, studying stars and howyou set that telescope, if you
(16:24):
set it one degree off, likethat, could mean light years
worth of distance when you getfurther and further out, like
no, that far away. So and Imean, the same thing is here
too, like, if you keep hustlingfor years in the wrong direction
you end up so far from where youintended to go. So this weekly
(16:47):
realignment, not it only justbrings in joy, but it actually
could get you where you want togo faster than just hustling and
then forgetting, like, Why youWhat are you doing all this for?
And then you're not behind,because think about it this way,
(17:08):
if you keep doing more, you aregoing to keep being busy. I'm
gonna say that again. If youkeep doing more, you are going
to keep being busy, you feellike you cannot rest, I know,
but at the same time, you cannotafford not to. This is part of
(17:29):
our design. Biblical, inGenesis, in the Bible, even God
took a day off. We read that onthe seventh day he rested. God
rest, whether you believe in Godor universe or something greater
than yourself, if that, if Godneeds to rest, how much more do
(17:51):
we this idea I got from JohnMark COVID, his book, the
ruthless elimination of hurry,total game changer and like such
an inspiration for us taking ourday of rest that has been so
instrumental for us throughoutthe year. So again, highly
recommend it, and that is alsoshow notes as well. Okay, so I
think at this point there's amisconception that rest means
(18:13):
you just like, stop and donothing, you know. And like I
said before, we're not justlike, twiddling our thumbs
sitting around the house allday. That is not it rest means
actively filling up your tank.
You're at the gas stationputting putting fuel in your
tank. So what is it thatnourishes you? For me, it's
standing barefoot in thesunshine, breathing fresh air,
(18:34):
listening to my kids laugh. Andthe great thing is, these things
are not available only when Ireach retirement or when I reach
financial independence that I'myou know that we're investing
for these moments are free andavailable now, not when you get
to a certain level of success inyour business. It's also been
(18:58):
wild for you now, so restingdoes not put you behind it
better positions you to do whatyou've been called to do, and
now you can do it from a placeof toys and restoration. We're
no longer running on empty inany or all of the areas of your
(19:21):
life. Okay?
So three small steps to restwithout guilt today. So if
you're new to this idea of a dayof rest, here are three simple
ways to get started. One, putyour phone away. Start with one
hour. If this feels reallyintimidating, hide it in the
(19:41):
closet and set it to do notdisturb you. Should also check
out kind of brencher has a bookcalled unplugged. I'll link that
in the show notes as well. Andshe has a great tracker, hourly
tracker for how many hours youspend unplugged. So if 24 hours
consecutive feels like it did,leave for you right now. Start
(20:02):
with just one hour. Start with acouple hours. Track them so that
you can see all your unpluggedhours, adding up my differences.
It's step number two, to restwithout guilt. Plan it in your
calendar. I literally have thisas a reoccurring event in my
Google Calendar for real, and Iget to look forward to that day
(20:26):
on my calendar, and I get toplan a fun activity. We go for a
hike, hit the beach, just dosomething you genuinely love.
Maybe my activities are like toograndma status for you, and
that's fine. I have an old tallat heart, and I embrace that,
but you like you do? Do you findlike, what is it that you really
(20:46):
enjoy doing? And land it in yourcalendar. Make it about joy.
Make it about connection. Andthen step three is define your
day of rest. So choose the daymarketing your calendar and make
a list of what you will and willnot do. So it's helpful to
clearly define it for yourselfand what you want it to look
(21:09):
like like, because, like I said,it looks a little bit different
for anyone else. So I thinkfundamentals. So for example,
things I do include, getoutside, journal, take a bath,
do my nails, read a book, do agentle workout. Often that looks
like yoga or going for a longerwalk. Maybe I'll do a cycling
class if I'm really feeling itokay. But again, I love working
(21:32):
out. If you don't, then don't doit. Do something more gentle.
Things I don't do include checkemail, open My Computer, scroll
on my phone, go shopping orspend money, we treat it as a no
spend day because we want tolive like what we already have
is enough because it is so treatit as a day to embrace what you
already have, it is enough. Soare you? You really believe that
(21:59):
this practice should be noproblem for you. If you don't
believe that yet, what but youwant to do this practice? Take
your day of rest. Take your fivehours of rest. Take your one
hour rest. Start small and buildyour way up. And before you know
it, you're gonna be like 36hours of rest. What if we can do
a 48 hour streak of rest, Ipromise you, it is so so good.
(22:25):
So thank you for sticking withme and seeing how learning to
relax is not just about boostingproductivity. So yes, that is
part of it. It's also aboutreclaiming the joy already
present in your life. True restgoes beyond simply pausing. It's
an intentional choice aboutrefueling your creativity,
(22:45):
clarity and connection to whattruly matters to you. You can
stop chasing more and startfinding fulfillment right where
you are incorporating a weeklyday of rest, a day filled with
high quality leisure andmeaningful moments transform
your energy and your lifestyle.
Rest is not about doing nothing.
(23:06):
It's about engaging activitiesthat nourish you and bring
genuine delight, whether it'shiking, gardening or laughing
with your loved ones, rest helpsyou reconnect to your identity
beyond your achievements and ashigh achievers, we need, that we
need that so much more that Ithink the rest of the
population, call me by it, thatthis is for everybody, and this
(23:30):
isn't just a luxury. It's astrategic advantage. It fuels
your creativity, opens yourthinking, it allows you to show
up fully. What a gift that is.
In our rush to society, you'llbe ready to create with purpose,
and you'll wonder why youcreated so long to embrace this
life changing practice. So giveit a try. Tag me on Facebook or
(23:50):
LinkedIn after, not during your24 hours, but after you do it,
and I'll be cheering for you. Soon this Christmas Eve episode, I
want to leave you with myfavorite line of all the
Christmas songs. And you know,for real, the very world. Thank
you for tuning into thecopywriting for COVID podcast.
We help you write all the things that you've been
trying to articulate about yourbusiness but have never been
able to put into copy. We'regoing to go deep to uplevel your
business without adding more toyour already full plate. We'll
keep it simple and sustainable.
Sound like a breath of relief.
Let's dive in, entrepreneurs.
You've heard this one before.
Rest is productive, and I wantto challenge that today. So I
(00:27):
mean, well, rest, while it'strue, rest is productive, it
doesn't tell the full story, andI think the other half of the
story that it doesn't tell isreally crucial one to be missing
out, because rest is not justabout recharging so that you can
work harder, knowing that themost worthwhile use of your time
(00:47):
to truly pause breathe delightand joy. And I'm not going woo,
woo or cheesy on you here, butreally giving you scientifically
based and back, tried and true,battle tested, practical steps
so that you can actually relax,especially during August,
(01:10):
because when was the last timeyou genuinely felt relaxed? Was
it on vacation away from theendless things of email and
slack? In this episode, I'mgoing to explore the real reason
why it is so hard for you tostop and rest, for all of us,
really, and how we can finallylet go, even during the
holidays. And spoiler alert, isnot just about boosting your
(01:33):
productivity, though. That is agreat perk, for sure. We're
going to get into the other sideof it that is so much more juicy
and joyful, most true,genuine rest that it feels
practical and reminded of ourepisode with Dr Shanika, who
shared a powerful reminder thatyour worth is not defined by
(01:56):
your to do list is rooted inknowing who you are at your
core. And her episode is linkedin the show notes. It is so
good. It was the top performingepisode of 2024 you could
definitely go with it. Give it alisten after this. One tells us
that knowing you are enoughbrings a unique piece, and it
frees you to pivot or change ordo what you need to do without
(02:18):
the fear or the doubt, becausetrue wealth lies in embracing
your identity, just financialsuccess that may just be a part
of it, and when you know thisdeeply in your bones, it frees
you to finally stop chasing moreat all costs. And this shift
doesn't just make rest easier,it sets you free. It's a deeper
(02:40):
freedom you're actually lookingfor. We think we want the time
freedom, money, location,freedom that we're all chasing
as entrepreneurs. But this, thissense of peace and enoughness
that I think is what we reallywant beyond because you can have
(03:01):
the time, money, location,freedom, but if you don't have
this, none of the rest of thatstuff will happen. So does rest
increase productivity? Yes, ofcourse, you're less likely to
make errors and omissions.
You're more focused when you getenough sleep. Thank you. Sources
(03:22):
to sleep, foundation again, theactive article. And while this
is a great benefit of rest,again, it misses the point. The
point of rest is to delight inyour work and what you have
made. Our busy hustle culturehas made a huge prioritizing
joy. But then we measure wholepoint. We think that joy is for
(03:46):
one day in the future, or whenwe get there, wherever there is.
But you know, the goal posts arealways changing, and when that
happens, then we miss out thatit's for now too. I don't want
to be so focused on chasingthose ever changing goal posts
that we miss right in front ofus. Otherwise. What is all of
(04:07):
this? For this episode, I'mgoing to share with you exactly
how to relax as the ambitiousbusiness owner juggling without
feeling. And when you do this,you'll be able to finally be
fully present to your work andfully present to your family and
(04:28):
your life. Because I don't knowabout you, but I don't want
either one to only get half ofso let's talk about both sides
of rest. One reason is that,yes, rest is productive, but
don't miss the other reasonculture lies find peace and joy
and delight exactly where youare, even if it's not yet where
(04:50):
you want to be. So let's talkabout that first piece. First
press is a strategic advantagefor a Live Inspired copy that
actually performs well, forsure, right? Great storytelling
is often a compelling piece ofcopyright, and the best stories,
well, they come from when youare actually out there living
(05:11):
your life, and when you'rerested, you're not just
physically rejuvenated, though,yes, that is true too. It's also
your immense you are mentallyand emotionally open to
inspiration, fresh perspectivesand innovative ideas, right?
That's why our best ideasusually come in the shower.
We're away from our phone. Wecan't bring our phone into the
(05:34):
shower when we're just like isor out on our run and not
working, that is my best ideas,that better copywriting is
fueled by joyful rest, becauseit allows your mind to recharge,
refocus and reconnect with thatcreativity, your six different
(05:59):
ways that It directlycontributes to better copyright
one is the clarity of thought.
The rest helps clear the mentalplatter in enabling you to think
more strategically andarticulate your ideas with more
decisions, you can betterdistill complex concepts into
compelling messages. Right whenyour brain is not tired and
fatigued, the clarity,two, the creative flow makes
(06:26):
these thrives in a well restedbrain, joyful rest, play
hobbies, Episode spark Yourimagination and allow new ideas
to flow effortlessly. Thirdpoint here is empathy and
connection you. It brings youmore in zoom your audience's
(06:47):
needs, emotions and desires,because you're not thinking
about your own survival, yourcup is full, and it allows you
to create this deeperconnection. And from that place
you write better copy that ismore resonant and authentic.
Number four is increasedconfidence your rest is going to
replenish your energy and alsoyour self belief, because that
(07:11):
imposter syndrome coming up asyou're writing your copy is like
the number one reason, why, orwhy it is not a burden when you
are confident it reflects inyour copy. There is no doubt
about that. It makes it morepowerful. Number five is the
strategic thinking provide themental bandwidth to step back
(07:35):
and see the bigger picture,allowing you to craft messaging
that aligns with your long termgoal in a brand strategy. And
lastly, it's sustainablecreativity. Overworking leads to
burnout, which stifles yourcreativity. You're pushing,
pushing, pushing. Eventuallyit's going to break even you. So
prioritizing rest ensures thatyou can consistently produce
(07:58):
high quality, impactful copy,without sacrificing when you
look at it this way, just aluxury, or for when you arrive.
It is a strategic advantage hereand now. It empowers you to both
show up for your it empowers youto show up for your craft with
energy, passion and clarity,ultimately resulted in copy that
(08:22):
both performs well and feelsaligned and inspired. You get to
have both. So how does thisactually happen? What does it
look like? Well, how to relax?
For me, I take a breath ofbreath as a musical for my
(08:44):
family, but the actual daydoesn't matter. You can choose
Sunday, you can chooseWednesday, you can choose
Tuesday. It doesn't matter. Thepoint is you use that day to
slow down.
So in your life. This idea isnot in your business world. I
(09:06):
remember the brand being boss.
They called it a mandatory lazyday. Um, Christians call it a
the Sabbath. You know, arealways encouraging. That's why,
when you're restless all thetime on your feet, actually put
itinto practice and not be a nice
idea for another day that isrunning. And let me tell you,
(09:29):
this day of rest is absolutelythe best day of the week every
single week, it fuels my workand it reminds me of who I am
beyond my work. I don't have todetach my identity from my work,
and it's part of who I am, butit's just one layer of who I am,
(09:50):
and on this day of rest, it's alayer I get to peel back so that
I can remind myself of who Ireally am at my core, beyond my
roles as mother, wife, who I amat the core, beyond my
achievements, accomplishments,accolades, this is a full day
(10:11):
where I just get to live as meoutside of All of those other
roles and responsibilities.
Okay, so what do you actually doon this day at regress like, Are
you sitting around twiddlingyour thumbs? No. Like, I know a
lot of you're like, but I needto do something, even if it's
(10:33):
not working then. But then,like, what do I do? Okay, so I
think the idea is called highquality leisure. I got it from
Cal Newport's book calledDigital minimalism. Again, I
have it linked in the show notesbefore sure need to read that
book. Total gaging, itabsolutely changed how I view
leisure and rest time. Becausedo you feel refreshed after
(10:56):
reading that book or Doomscrolling? Probably not. But
then there are high qualityleisure activities that nourish
us, so that can include a casualbike ride around your
neighborhood, down the bikepath, gardening, laughing,
flattering with friends whoactually get you or breathing in
fresh air on a hike. It can looklike three in the lake a local
(11:20):
pool, picking up your paintbrushmusical instrument, building
something with your hands in thegarage. These activities give us
such a deeper level ofsatisfaction and fulfillment,
more than a screen could everoffer. And I would argue that
this day of rest is not anoptional luxury. It is the reset
(11:41):
you truly need to be able tothrive. It is a weekly non
negotiable, and it's going tohelp so much with this elusive
work life balance that we'realways talking about and seeking
as entrepreneur. So my husbandand I have practiced this day of
rest for six or seven years now,and it looks different in each
(12:04):
life. Stage Right, like asnewlyweds, it looks different
than in the newborn stage, andit looks different now that we
have three schoolers ourhousehold, and it's okay for
this practice to change with theseason of life you are in. In
fact, that is normal, and Ishare more deeply my personal
rhythm, rhythms of rest, andwhat has rest looked like in
(12:26):
different seasons of life on thetick tock podcast with Callie
Brigham. And then I have thatlink in the show notes if you
want to go give that a listen. Ihope it'll be great inspiration
for how you can structure yourday of rest. But bottom of it is
this. Here's what works for us.
My phone stays on, do notdisturb. Tuck it away, out of
sight. It's usually hiding in mycloset. So like it's out of
(12:47):
sight, out of mind. We big beginwith breakfast, a workout and
playground. And let me just say,like I actually enjoy working
out that is energizing and lifebuilding for me and a joy. So I
do it on my Sabbath. Working outis like a chore for you. Then do
(13:08):
not include that on yourSabbath, these not things that
you feel like you should noobligation. You on this. Okay,
so we do our workout in themorning, which I also love that
(13:28):
our little ones get too stiff inthis healthy like going to the
gym as a norm for us, and thenthey get playground time. We
have a picnic outside by theplayground and grass. We bring
our blanket, pack food, and thenit's also easy cleanup. Easy
easy to make, easy cleanup.
(13:49):
We're all about ease. Then naptime follows for our youngest
one, while our oldest enjoysquiet time, and kids don't get
screen time ever, but it's nicethat we also do know screen time
on this day and the day of restincludes gardening, baking,
reading, painting or outdoorplay. It's things that we can do
(14:12):
with our kids, even in, youknow, these younger years and
then evenings and with dinner asa family and our bedtime
routine. So this will likelylook different for you and your
life stage and your familydynamic, and it will likely look
again different again for you ayear from now, and that's okay.
The beauty is, you get to decidewhat it looks like for you and
(14:35):
how it evolves as you evolve.
This is a practice that is andever changing, and that's a good
the one thing that I would saystays constant no matter the
season is that I don't checkemails, I don't sneak in work
and I don't scroll social media.
Instead, I say yes to myself andto my family. This intentional
(14:57):
choice fills my cup and helps mereturn on Monday refreshed and
excited. Let me tell you, onceyou start, I know this can sound
intimidating first, and we'relike, I don't know, but then
once we did it, oh my gosh, youcrave that rest day. You wonder
how you ever went without it. Itis so good, and it just reminds
you, like, the point that you'reworking for all this hard work
(15:19):
that you're doing, like it'saccessible to you now you can
have that on a weekly basis, notlike when you reach financial
independence or retirement, or,you know, whatever that that
finish line looks like for you.
Okay, so now I know what you'rethinking. How do you give
yourself time to rest withoutlosing productivity? I mean,
(15:39):
like, okay, so I say I take timeoff, but now I'm behind. Now I
have to play catch up. Is itworth it? You know, how do you
take a day away, an entire 24hours consecutive, 24 hours not
feel behind? Math doesn'tmatter. I get it. Okay, so let's
flip that. Taking time offdoesn't set you back, sets you
(16:00):
up. I think about it this way.
So I used to be a physics majorback in college, and my emphasis
was in astronomy. So my researchI did was actually I remember
going out up to in Arizona, upto a telescope on top of a
mountain, studying stars and howyou set that telescope, if you
(16:24):
set it one degree off, likethat, could mean light years
worth of distance when you getfurther and further out, like
no, that far away. So and Imean, the same thing is here
too, like, if you keep hustlingfor years in the wrong direction
you end up so far from where youintended to go. So this weekly
(16:47):
realignment, not it only justbrings in joy, but it actually
could get you where you want togo faster than just hustling and
then forgetting, like, Why youWhat are you doing all this for?
And then you're not behind,because think about it this way,
(17:08):
if you keep doing more, you aregoing to keep being busy. I'm
gonna say that again. If youkeep doing more, you are going
to keep being busy, you feellike you cannot rest, I know,
but at the same time, you cannotafford not to. This is part of
(17:29):
our design. Biblical, inGenesis, in the Bible, even God
took a day off. We read that onthe seventh day he rested. God
rest, whether you believe in Godor universe or something greater
than yourself, if that, if Godneeds to rest, how much more do
(17:51):
we this idea I got from JohnMark COVID, his book, the
ruthless elimination of hurry,total game changer and like such
an inspiration for us taking ourday of rest that has been so
instrumental for us throughoutthe year. So again, highly
recommend it, and that is alsoshow notes as well. Okay, so I
think at this point there's amisconception that rest means
(18:13):
you just like, stop and donothing, you know. And like I
said before, we're not justlike, twiddling our thumbs
sitting around the house allday. That is not it rest means
actively filling up your tank.
You're at the gas stationputting putting fuel in your
tank. So what is it thatnourishes you? For me, it's
standing barefoot in thesunshine, breathing fresh air,
(18:34):
listening to my kids laugh. Andthe great thing is, these things
are not available only when Ireach retirement or when I reach
financial independence that I'myou know that we're investing
for these moments are free andavailable now, not when you get
to a certain level of success inyour business. It's also been
(18:58):
wild for you now, so restingdoes not put you behind it
better positions you to do whatyou've been called to do, and
now you can do it from a placeof toys and restoration. We're
no longer running on empty inany or all of the areas of your
(19:21):
life. Okay?
So three small steps to restwithout guilt today. So if
you're new to this idea of a dayof rest, here are three simple
ways to get started. One, putyour phone away. Start with one
hour. If this feels reallyintimidating, hide it in the
(19:41):
closet and set it to do notdisturb you. Should also check
out kind of brencher has a bookcalled unplugged. I'll link that
in the show notes as well. Andshe has a great tracker, hourly
tracker for how many hours youspend unplugged. So if 24 hours
consecutive feels like it did,leave for you right now. Start
(20:02):
with just one hour. Start with acouple hours. Track them so that
you can see all your unpluggedhours, adding up my differences.
It's step number two, to restwithout guilt. Plan it in your
calendar. I literally have thisas a reoccurring event in my
Google Calendar for real, and Iget to look forward to that day
(20:26):
on my calendar, and I get toplan a fun activity. We go for a
hike, hit the beach, just dosomething you genuinely love.
Maybe my activities are like toograndma status for you, and
that's fine. I have an old tallat heart, and I embrace that,
but you like you do? Do you findlike, what is it that you really
(20:46):
enjoy doing? And land it in yourcalendar. Make it about joy.
Make it about connection. Andthen step three is define your
day of rest. So choose the daymarketing your calendar and make
a list of what you will and willnot do. So it's helpful to
clearly define it for yourselfand what you want it to look
(21:09):
like like, because, like I said,it looks a little bit different
for anyone else. So I thinkfundamentals. So for example,
things I do include, getoutside, journal, take a bath,
do my nails, read a book, do agentle workout. Often that looks
like yoga or going for a longerwalk. Maybe I'll do a cycling
class if I'm really feeling itokay. But again, I love working
(21:32):
out. If you don't, then don't doit. Do something more gentle.
Things I don't do include checkemail, open My Computer, scroll
on my phone, go shopping orspend money, we treat it as a no
spend day because we want tolive like what we already have
is enough because it is so treatit as a day to embrace what you
already have, it is enough. Soare you? You really believe that
(21:59):
this practice should be noproblem for you. If you don't
believe that yet, what but youwant to do this practice? Take
your day of rest. Take your fivehours of rest. Take your one
hour rest. Start small and buildyour way up. And before you know
it, you're gonna be like 36hours of rest. What if we can do
a 48 hour streak of rest, Ipromise you, it is so so good.
(22:25):
So thank you for sticking withme and seeing how learning to
relax is not just about boostingproductivity. So yes, that is
part of it. It's also aboutreclaiming the joy already
present in your life. True restgoes beyond simply pausing. It's
an intentional choice aboutrefueling your creativity,
(22:45):
clarity and connection to whattruly matters to you. You can
stop chasing more and startfinding fulfillment right where
you are incorporating a weeklyday of rest, a day filled with
high quality leisure andmeaningful moments transform
your energy and your lifestyle.
Rest is not about doing nothing.
(23:06):
It's about engaging activitiesthat nourish you and bring
genuine delight, whether it'shiking, gardening or laughing
with your loved ones, rest helpsyou reconnect to your identity
beyond your achievements and ashigh achievers, we need, that we
need that so much more that Ithink the rest of the
population, call me by it, thatthis is for everybody, and this
(23:30):
isn't just a luxury. It's astrategic advantage. It fuels
your creativity, opens yourthinking, it allows you to show
up fully. What a gift that is.
In our rush to society, you'llbe ready to create with purpose,
and you'll wonder why youcreated so long to embrace this
life changing practice. So giveit a try. Tag me on Facebook or
(23:50):
LinkedIn after, not during your24 hours, but after you do it,
and I'll be cheering for you. Soon this Christmas Eve episode, I
want to leave you with myfavorite line of all the
Christmas songs. And you know,for real, the very world. Thank
you for tuning into thecopywriting for COVID podcast.
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