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Rest

Why You Get More Done When You Work Less
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Apr 06, 2017jeffreyochsner rated this title 5 out of 5 stars
This book is outstanding! I highly recommend it! The book opens with a discussion of why "serious rest" is important to anyone who wishes to be creative and/or productive. This book is not promoting mindless/passive rest, and it is not just about sleep (though that is a part of serious rest). Treating rest as a passive activity that is secondary to work is a mistake. The author not only discusses the science explaining why serious rest enhances our work and our lives in general, he also includes historical examples of incredibly effective people who made time for serious rest. (If Winston Churchill could find time for serious rest while leading Britain during WWII, and if General Dwight Eisenhower could find time for serious rest while leading military operations during WWII, you and I have no excuse not to incorporate it into our lives.) Some types of rest stimulate creativity, while others restore our creative energy. The research shows that restorative daytime naps, insight-generating long walks, vigorous exercise, and lengthy vacations are NOT unproductive interruptions; they help us do our work better. Here are four insights that guide the author's thinking about rest: 1. Work and rest are partners. 2. Rest is active (either physically or in our brains, or both). 3. Rest is a skill. While it may be "natural,", we can do it much better with a little work and understanding. (Breathing is natural, but look at the rewards and benefits of disciplined breathing.) 4. Deliberate rest stimulates and sustains creativity. Deliberate rest can lead to our best ideas. There is so much good information in this book that I am buying my own copy.