I am going back to bed! It's 3oclock in the afternoon on a Sunday and I just came to the painful realization that it will take time for the vision I have for my life to come to pass. No amount of writing, reading or content creating can make me an overnight success and I would know, because I have published over 50 articles on my blog in the past few weeks. I am exhausted! Not from the writing or reading because I particularly enjoy getting lost in my work. I am exhausted from waiting for the internet algorithm to catch on to my greatness.
After staying up all night, trying to keep up with my target of writing 100 post by the end of this month, I am exhausted from hoping to be the next internet sensation. Every time I hit publish, I wonder if that is the article that will make my dreams come true. How do people who go viral do it?
I would not dream of giving up because I love my blog and all that is stands for but it's time to take a break. So I after writing this post I am closing my laptop and heading back to bed to take a nap.
When I wake up, I will feel refreshed and ready to continue with my work because according to research we underestimate how much good serious rest can do us, and how much we can do if we take rest seriously.
I enjoy both good work and good rest.
I love intellectual challenges, the sense of purpose and accomplishment that comes from getting both big and little things done. For me, the feeling that accompanies a creative breakthrough—and even just the feeling of chasing an idea, immersing myself in a problem, and matching my talents against a big challenge—is as addicting and exciting as any game, as physically satisfying and stimulating as food (and I really like food), as emotionally fulfilling and essential as being in love.
Handwork can be both honorable and rewarding. I look back fondly on some of my hardest jobs because of the fulfillment I found working long hours with good people, pushing the boundaries of our company, and trying new things.
At the same time, I love serious rest. Not idle hours watching reality TV shows and taking Facebook quizzes to see what the newspapers would say about me, but the beautifully empty hours that stretch out, untouchable by
clients, colleagues or (especially) friends. I love sleeping, and even better is the physical sensation of my body settling into bed. I’m often motivated to finish my work by the prospect of laying in bed, scrolling through Tiktok after.
So my interest in rest doesn’t arise from a distaste for work. It starts with a sense that that work isn’t a bad thing but an absolute necessity for a meaningful, fulfilling life. But I have also come to see that our respect for overwork is, perhaps a bit toxic. What do you think?
Some of you who were thrown into working from home during the pandemic may have just recently discovered the magic of a midday nap. You napped more often when you were younger but due to daytime working demands, you stopped.
I think it's time to bring back daytime napping.
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