Rest is not luxury, it is a necessity!
Which is why kids are so productive!
Hey people!
Welcome to another edition of Raw and Real, where every week, we talk about:
1 Raw and Real conversation on Life
2 One-Liners (because life is lived in one-liners)
3 Pieces of Gratitude (because nothing brings more plentitude).
Let’s!!!
1 Raw and Real Conversation
The most underrated thing in the world is not:
The love of your parents
Being grateful for your blessings
Being kind to strangers
Not taking yourself seriously
Getting over loss of India in the World Cup Final
The most underrated thing in the world is:
Rest.
We procrastinate on it more than procrastination itself.
No wonder, why we all are tired all of the time.
We think we will rest when we are old.
We believe rest is meant for losers.
We want to prove it to someone that we are always “on the move”.
Rarely realising, we are getting less than 50% of our productivity done, when we are not resting.
The best thing, you ask?
Kids are always energetic and productive because they rest a lot.
They sleep well at night.
Nap in the afternoon.
Only play on the weekends.
Do their homework only for fixed number of hours.
Always looking for ways to play, when not studying or forced to study.
No wonder this makes them cheerful, energetic, happy, productive, and live life with a positive frame of mind.
So, why do smarter human beings like you and I delay rest?
Here is why:
Our parents worked very hard to give us what we have today. So we believe we have to work harder, to get a better lifestyle. Did we ever pause to ask ourselves: How can we work hard and be rested very well?
A lot of us have disguised “all work no play” as a badge of honour. Little do we know it also is followed by “makes Jack a dull boy”.
We all human beings crave for validation. If we only work and not rest, it means we can come across to the world as strong and powerful. Little do we remember, that the lion doesn’t roar and hunt all-day long. It rests for a long time.
PS: If Virat and Rohit, being the exceptional players they are, do not have FOMO of work, what is stopping you my friend, to take a break from work?
Reminds me of a line by Mathew McConaughey:
Just because you can pull it off doesn’t mean you can do it!
So, how can you and I, the lesser mortals who do not have as much money as Virat and Rohit, incorporate rest into our lives?
Here is something that helps me:
Plan. Plan in advance.
I had booked my Christmas and New Years break tickets in August itself. By now, I have planned my breaks till early March next year. It avoids the last minute hassles for all stakeholders.Work the plan out.
Since last month, I started working on my clients’ work that would be due during my Christmas and New Years leave. By the time I go on my leave, I would have already worked in advance till the first 4 days of January. Isn’t that looking like a wow? :)Don’t feel guilty on being away from work.
I remember whenever I used to take mandatory 10 days leave from work, I used to return home by the 9th day. And used to feel so guilty on not being present for work, that invariably I used to start my work in the cab on the return to home. Don’t be like me. Now I am, neither :)Know that resting is what will make you productive.
It is not a place to chill. It is a daily tablet. To nap. To sleep on time. To go play a sport. To sit in the balcony and do nothing.
It is in the “nothing” that things truly get done.Most importantly, know the truest meaning of rest.
It does not mean you will sit idle and binge on Netflix. It means you will make time for your mind to be chilled out - going out, or being at your home and reading a book or painting or writing or cooking - or sometimes, just going out for a nature walk.
So all you beautiful ladies and gentlemen, we are still three weeks away from Christmas. You may have time to plan your fun.
But, don’t tell your colleagues: “I am on leave for next week” a week in advance, without planning. Plan it, baby! And then, glow like a baby, on your vacation.
Most importantly, decide.
You may not want to take a break for now. Or maybe you want to. Take your time. And make your decision.
If you keep waiting for the right time, the death time might arrive quicker than the right time.
2 one-liners for the week:
You can live an exotic life on your own terms, fam!
The best way to delay a project is to overthink it.
3 pieces of gratitude
I think time is catching up, and over time, I have figured nothing is more important than family. Dysfunctional. Reason for you to be in therapy. Rarely have conversations. But when we do, we are there for each other. Through the thick and thin.
A client’s son: Been working on a book of a client, where I am sifting through all the material she has written over the years. One thing that has stuck with me so far, is how smart and intelligent her son is. Wish I could make you meet him :)
My neighbour’s maid: My manservant (just googled what is the “masculine” of maid lol) who washes my clothes has been off to his village for 10 days, because his Mom is not well. This morning, I requested my neighbour’s maid to see if she could fill in for him. (Paid, of course. Not doing it for experience and certificate only, bros and sistas) She said yes! I also gave her a couple of my old clothes, as a token of gratitude of being there for me when I had no one to take care of my clothes!!
Phew - I sometimes turn too dramatic :)))
On that note, we sign off for the week and the weekend.
Do plan to plan your breaks. On Christmas. And forever.
See you all next Saturday.
Nishtha
PS: Whenever you are ready, here are two ways I can help you:
The Art of Corporate Communications, a course that shares the exact system I used to go from 0 to communicating with people of 20+ years of experience, conducting audits with opposing people for 5 years, managing Content team of a brand with 9Mn+ followers, and now leading my solopreneurship. (Fun fact: 90% of problems are due to communication).
The Career Changing Guide, a simple easy to read e-book to change your career to do something you love, and make money off it.