I ran a marathon on Saturday. The training took twenty weeks. The race took less than four hours. And now I’m giving myself seven days to rest. That means no running, no workouts, no structured training of any kind. And as much as I love running — I miss it already — and hate being patient, I know this is good for me.
Burnout is real, and that goes for running and writing. Something that used to bring you joy and purpose can become a shackle if you don’t give your goals and yourself the respect you both deserve. For the workaholics, this can be the hardest part.
Every good roadmap has pitstops. Every weightlifting workout has rest. Every race has water stations. Everyone needs a break.
If you don’t give your mind and your body the rest they need, they will take it in the form of illness, persistent fatigue, brain fog, poor mental health, and a host of other issues. No one can go non-stop into infinite.
You must rest.
This can look very different from one person to the next. It might be as simple as dedicating one day a week to setting all aspects of your work aside. It might be taking a break in the middle of the day to go for a walk, ride your bike, or zone out in front of the television for a little bit.
For some of us, the break might be an “off-season” in the year where we take weeks or months away from the grind and just exist peacefully for a while. Depending on what your specific genre or goal is, that much time off might not be possible. It’s very important that you find what works for you.
What does it take for you to unwind? What is the most efficient way for you to unplug and relax? What’s something that brings you joy and fulfillment outside of this work?
It might feel like you’re wasting time or letting valuable opportunities slip through your fingers, but a refreshed, well-rested mind and body is going to outperform an exhausted one every single time. In running, we say recover as hard as you train. This plays an important role in your longevity as a creative.
Don’t become your own worst enemy by refusing to take care of yourself. Health is wealth. Prioritize it.
