The Rest Paradox

Take vacations, for instance. They seem like the perfect opportunity to recharge, yet many return feeling more fatigued than before. We often think that scrolling through our phones is a form of relaxation, but this habit can actually sap our energy. Hours pass without us realizing that this behavior is detrimental, leaving us feeling more depleted instead of refreshed.

Hustle Culture: The Misconception

For a significant part of my life, I believed that living in a bustling city was ideal. The vibrant energy of places like New York captivated me; everyone seemed to be on a mission! However, after spending some time in Chicago, I realized that many of those individuals were merely caught up in a cycle of busyness without purpose.

We fall into the trap of believing that relentless hard work equates to productivity. However, hard work alone is meaningless if not directed toward the right goals. One of the most critical lessons I've learned while building a startup is that the time invested doesn’t always correlate with the results achieved.

I can recall a specific instance where I wasted five hours on a decision that could have been made in half an hour. Reflecting on that period, I realized I was like the non-essentialist depicted by Greg McKeown:

My attention was scattered, and I lost sight of what truly mattered. Caught up in the excitement of entrepreneurship, I overestimated my abilities, like thinking I could learn to code an intricate website in a matter of weeks.

The truth hit hard when I consulted with my co-founder, and we made the right choice together. It’s easy to feel pressured to stay busy, but that often leads to inefficiency and frustration.

Lessons from Rowing

In eighth grade, a friend and I had a rowing contest on an ergometer, and I gave it my all, rushing through my strokes. He opted for a steadier pace and, to my surprise, outperformed me significantly.

This experience taught me that genuine progress stems from sustainability rather than frantic effort. I believe in proofreading each blog post just once—if I demanded more, I would risk losing my passion for writing. Even with some mistakes, I’d rather produce 1,000 posts than 15 perfect ones that would stifle my creativity.

To achieve lasting success, it's crucial to embrace a slower pace.

So, how can we truly relax?

Cal Newport's concept of the Bennett Principle in "Digital Minimalism" suggests that expending energy on fulfilling leisure activities can rejuvenate us.

Counterintuitive as it may seem, my experiences support this idea. Scrolling through social media often leaves me drained, whereas engaging in a new hobby invigorates me.

Meetings can also vary in energy; participating actively tends to be far more energizing than sitting passively. In a world that often prioritizes profit over passion, it's essential to remember that pursuing hobbies for enjoyment alone is perfectly acceptable. In fact, doing what you love may eventually lead to monetization.

Embracing Slow Consumption

We face a significant overconsumption issue today. It's far too easy to indulge in low-quality content. Instead, we should aim for a more intentional consumption pattern.

What does this look like?

• Limit yourself to one visit to your social media feed each day
• Follow the same writers consistently to build a connection with creators
• Keep your phone out of reach for most of the day

Adjusting to this approach may feel strange at first, but the benefits—feeling more energized and refreshed—are well worth it.

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