Fifth, learn “not to do.” Don’t read. Don’t watch TV shows. Don’t meditate “correctly.” Simply be. Look out the window. Listen to the rain. Allow thoughts to come and go. This is the art of presence, and it requires practice.
Sixth, rest is not a reward. It is the foundation. You don’t rest after work. You rest for the sake of work. Because only a rested brain is capable of creativity, empathy, and complex problem-solving. Without rest, you’re unproductive. You’re exhausted.
Seventh, don’t blame yourself for fatigue. Fatigue isn’t weakness. It’s the body’s response to overload. It’s not “you can’t cope.” It’s “you’ve been going too long without a break.”
Eighth, create an “end-of-day ritual.” Turn off the computer. Say out loud, “The work day is over.” Change your clothes. Air out the room. This is a psychological transition from “doing” mode to “being.”
Ninth, rest is a personal boundary. You have the right to say, “I won’t answer messages for an hour.” “I won’t go to the party.” “I’ll just sit.” This isn’t selfishness. It’s caring for your integrity.
Tenth, true rest is when you stop thinking about having to do something. And in this state, clarity, creativity, and love for life are born. Rest not because you deserve it. Rest because you are human. And that alone is a reason.
