Rest Is Not a Reward You Need to Earn

Productivity has become a badge of success—but at what cost?

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Every society has its idols. In the United States, we prize productivity above nearly all else. Our heroes are those who have the most revenue, the best stats, or the stamina to work the longest hours. Although this outlook might seem normal, it hasn’t always been the default. Cultures over the ages have valued a range of traits that are less popular today: fertility, loyalty, bravery, and strength, to name just a few.

Living in a productivity-driven culture has its perks. There’s a case to be made that the huge leap in material wealth and living standards of the past two centuries is a direct result of such orientation. I think that it’s possible to celebrate those achievements while noting the distorting effect it has had on the human spirit.

When you see yourself primarily as an economic unit of productive work, it’s much harder to see yourself in other ways. However, we are much more than what we get done. In fact, just being alive and experiencing life is enough to celebrate. Many people seem to miss the point that life is for living, and living means slowing down to rest, linger, and notice the world around you.

When you raise productivity to the degree to which we have, it begins to shape behavior. People feel bad slowing down—they don’t want to rest, and everything “unproductive” feels like a waste of time. This has the downstream effect of devaluing people who aren’t as productive—such as kids, the elderly, or the sick. It excuses bad behavior in the name of getting things done—and it probably leads to more people feeling anxious, tired, or left behind.

It’s always good to remind ourselves that nothing has to be the way it is. Although we can’t change others, we can change ourselves and give others a glimpse of what’s possible. I’m as guilty of not resting as anyone I know. I have felt that rest is something I have to earn and have allowed myself only the amount I need to recover my energy and do it again. Even then, I don’t sleep as much as I’d like in the name of squeezing in just a little more work before bed.

The solution is not to reframe work as an enemy, nor to escape into our screens, but to genuinely enjoy rest and leisure, as they are a legitimate part of the human experience. Anything that restores our humanity is a force for good in the age of machines and technology.

7 Ways to Incorporate Rest Into Your Life

In the hopes of tempting you to take the rest you already deserve for simply being alive, I offer a few of the ways to rest that I find most enjoyable:

1. Take a Long, Unhurried Walk: Leave technology behind. Walk not for the exercise or a destination, but merely to enjoy whatever your senses bring to you along the way. Let your mind drift wherever it wants to go.

2. Read a Real Book: Find a comfortable chair and read until you lose track of time. Pick a book that takes you away to another place, rather than one that feels like it’s making you smarter.

3. Sit Quietly: Pray, or just let your mind be still. Our minds are always racing, and rarely centered on just one thought. Let your thoughts gently turn to a slow drip and linger on one thing, or nothing at all.

4. Trade Massages With a Loved One: It feels good to be lovingly touched by someone you trust. Something as simple as a shoulder or hand massage can melt away your stress and bring you back into the moment.

5. Soak in a Hot Bath, Shower, or Sauna: Dim the lights and let yourself unwind. Many items on this list are simply about allowing yourself time to experience sensations or to go slower than usual. Warm water is a luxury to be savored, not merely a means to tidy up.

6. Linger in Bed: Instead of feeling the need to rush into the day, relax a bit in bed. I hate jumping out of bed as soon as I’m awoken. So I try to leave myself a few minutes to linger, roll around, and read a little something before getting up. It’s a great way to start my day in a state of calm.

7. Share a Leisurely Meal With People You Love: We treat food either as a source of energy or the solution to a craving, but it can be much deeper than that. Enjoying food around a table with others is one of the oldest and most soul-nourishing things you can do.

If you’re still struggling with the idea of rest, remember that it’s not just about you. By slowing down, you reject the slanted definition of a good life as being about what you get done and make room for a different set of values to drive your choices. With more rest, we’ll find more time for each other, and time to notice and cultivate the beauty all around us.