Rest is Essential.
The Importance of Rest in a Productivity-Focused World
In today's fast-paced world, where productivity is often valued above all else, the simple act of resting can feel almost countercultural. The constant pings of notifications, endless to-do lists, and celebration of "hustle culture" have made genuine rest seem increasingly elusive.
But, rest is essential—not just for our physical health, but for our creativity, relationships, and overall wellbeing.
Historically, it’s from non-doing that genius emerges.
In my small yoga world, on the microcosm of the mat, I see over an over again that it’s when students let go of the effort that the posture comes.
Over the last few years, I’ve explored the concept of rest pretty thoroughly. What follows is a variety of perspectives on rest as a vital counterbalance to our culture's emphasis on constant productivity.
Beyond Productivity: Reframing Our Relationship with Rest
In his thoughtful book "Rest: Why You Get More Done When You Work Less," researcher Alex Soojung-Kim Pang challenges our assumptions about the relationship between work and rest. Through historical examples of artists, scientists, and writers, Pang demonstrates that many of history's most creative and productive individuals weren't workaholics, but rather people who developed deliberate rest practices.
Pang notes that "rest is not this optional leftover activity" but rather "an essential component of good work" (Pang, 2016). His research suggests that deliberate rest practices—from walks in nature to afternoon naps—don't detract from our work but actually enhance our creative capabilities and mental clarity.
In our 200/250-hour Yoga Teacher Certification Training, we read a book called The Great Work of Your Life, by Stephen Cope. It’s an exploration of Dharma and the Bhagavad Ghita through modern artists, revolutionaries, scientists, writers, thinkers, and regular people who are living their dharma. One surprising through line is that these remarkable people all walk…a lot! It’s through restful movement that their minds become clear and their work changes not just their lives, but an entire cultures.
Rest in the Digital Age
Author Jenny Odell offers a compelling perspective on rest in our digital environment in her book "How to Do Nothing: Resisting the Attention Economy." In our hyperconnected world, Odell suggests that one of the most valuable forms of rest involves reclaiming our attention from the constant demands of digital platforms.
Odell writes that taking time away from digital distractions "is about retreating from the world to examine dominant narratives and put them in their place" (Odell, 2019). Her work encourages us to see moments of quiet contemplation and engagement with the natural world as valuable in themselves—not merely as ways to become more productive later.
The Necessity of Rest
Tricia Hersey, founder of The Nap Ministry and author of "Rest Is Resistance: A Manifesto," offers one of the most compelling contemporary voices on the importance of rest. Her work has strong social justice dimensions, that are powerful and important. Without intending to diminish her revolutionary message, I believe everyone can benefit from the central concept of her work: rest is a basic human need that has been compromised by our culture's obsession with productivity.
Hersey writes that "grind culture is killing us" and advocates for rest as a vital form of self-care in a world that often devalues it (Hersey, 2022). Her perspective invites us to examine how cultural messages about "work ethic" can undermine our wellbeing and to reclaim rest as essential rather than indulgent.
The Wisdom of Self-Care
Poet and essayist Audre Lorde offered enduring insights about the importance of self-care, including rest. In her book "A Burst of Light," Lorde wrote about how caring for oneself is "not self-indulgence" but rather "self-preservation" (Lorde, 1988).
Lorde's perspective reminds us that tending to our own wellbeing—including getting adequate rest—isn't selfish but necessary, especially for those who care for others or engage in demanding work. This framing helps us see rest not as a luxury but as an essential practice that sustains our ability to contribute meaningfully to our communities and work.
Finding Joy in Rest
Author Adrienne Maree Brown explores the importance of pleasure and joy in her book "Pleasure Activism." While addressing many topics, her work includes valuable perspectives on rest and rejuvenation as sources of joy rather than merely as recovery from work.
Brown suggests that "when we are enjoying ourselves, not just existing or surviving, we are creating new worlds inside ourselves" (Brown, 2019). This viewpoint encourages us to see rest not merely as the absence of activity but as a generative space where new ideas and perspectives can emerge.
Mindful Rest
Zen master Thich Nhat Hanh offers spiritual dimensions to the concept of rest through his teachings on mindfulness. Rather than seeing rest as merely the cessation of activity, Nhat Hanh presents it as an active practice of being fully present.
"The present moment is filled with joy and happiness," he writes. "If you are attentive, you will see it" (Nhat Hanh, 1991). His teachings invite us to experience rest not as withdrawal but as deep engagement with the present moment—a practice that can bring profound renewal even in brief moments throughout our day.
The Community of Care
Cultural critic bell hooks wrote extensively about care and community. Her work reminds us that rest is not merely an individual concern but something that flourishes in communities that value mutual care.
hooks noted that "rarely, if ever, are any of us healed in isolation" (hooks, 1999). This perspective helps us understand how creating cultures that value rest—in our workplaces, families, and communities—allows everyone to thrive rather than merely survive.
Rest is Essential
What emerges from these diverse perspectives is a rich understanding of rest as essential rather than optional. In a culture that often equates worth with productivity, these thinkers remind us that rest enhances our creativity, deepens our relationships, and allows us to engage more fully with life.
As we navigate our own relationships with rest, these writers remind us that how we rest matters. Rather than seeing rest merely as recovery from work, we might begin to value it as a vital practice in its own right—one that allows us to live with greater presence, creativity, and joy.
In our yoga practice, this balanced approach to rest manifests in the importance we place on restorative postures, on savasana, and on the moments of stillness between movements. These aren't merely preparations for more active practices but valuable experiences in themselves—opportunities to listen deeply to our bodies and minds, and to cultivate the sense of presence that is at the heart of yoga.
References
Brown, A. M. (2019). Pleasure Activism: The Politics of Feeling Good. AK Press.
Hersey, T. (2022). Rest Is Resistance: A Manifesto. Little, Brown Spark.
hooks, b. (1999). All About Love: New Visions. William Morrow.
Lorde, A. (1988). A Burst of Light and Other Essays. Firebrand Books.
Nhat Hanh, T. (1991). Peace Is Every Step: The Path of Mindfulness in Everyday Life. Bantam.
Odell, J. (2019). How to Do Nothing: Resisting the Attention Economy. Melville House.
Pang, A. S.-K. (2016). Rest: Why You Get More Done When You Work Less. Basic Books.
