Is to have a good rest ethic.

Devote as much time to resting, relaxing, musing, pondering, dreaming, and replenishing yourself mentally and physically as you spend on your work. The best ideas come when we’re in a state of flow. Not when we’re actively working to solve a problem, grinding out a task, or creating spreadsheets. They arrive unexpectedly while we’re soaping up and rinsing off in the shower. While driving. On a morning walk. After an afternoon nap. While peeling a mandarin orange.

Take sabbaticals. Go on vacation. Give yourself space and breathing room between big projects to re-center, re-calibrate, and reflect. On a daily basis, architect these intentional spaces of rest into your day.

Athletes know this well. After a peak training phase, there’s a recovery week (mentally and physically) built in. Without this rest/recovery phase included in the structure of the training plan, they’ll likely burn out or get injured.

Our work is important. But in order to do high-quality, impactful work, we need to be rested. Replenished. Recharged. Rejuvenated.

To have a good work ethic, have a good rest ethic.