Productivity is often viewed as the ultimate measure of success in society. How hard you work, the more valuable you are to society– or so we’re told. Finding balance between rest, productivity and chasing creative passions is a struggle and it doesn’t stop when the workday ends. So how do you keep the fire burning, without burning out?
For me, my “5 to 9 after my 9 to 5” often looks more like my “7 to 11 after my 7 to 7”. It’s 10pm on a Wednesday night and most people are settling down to get in bed after work. Meanwhile, I’m up after my 12 hour shift writing away. From keeping up on my blog, working on my portfolio, and writing my book my day never ends after I clock out.
I remember one night in particular, sitting in front of my laptop well into the witching hour. Rewriting the same sentence over and over again, I wasn’t writing, I was just existing in front of my computer. But, the thought of closing it and going to bed felt like failure. I eventually ended up falling asleep anyways, laptop still opened to my half written blog and after dragging my feet into work a few short hours later, I realized I had to approach the balance between work and creativity differently.
This is a struggle felt by countless other creatives, constant exhaustion, trying to focus time on passion after a long work day, while feeling almost worthless if you set time aside to rest instead of constantly grinding. Between working my full time job and chasing my creative dreams it feels like a never ending cycle of working and striving to be better. The hours I put into writing and creating after my day job aren’t just hobbies– but the foundation of the life I’m building and I know I’m not alone in the struggle.
Rest has become a complicated concept. On one hand, it feels like I’m falling short, watching my goals slip away from me in real time. On the other hand, I know from experience that burnout doesn’t just drain your energy, but the motivation to start again and the passion that fuels the creativity. I’ve tried hustling, working late, and pulling all nighters and I’ve hit the brick wall of burnout more times than I care to admit. But, lately I’ve been coming to terms with the fact that rest might not be the enemy, and instead the secret weapon to prolonged productivity.
Research has shown our ability to function optimally comes from maintaining balance between work, rest, and play. Some things I’ve found helpful in my own life have been incorporating a morning routine, working out, going to bed earlier, and planning out time to be creative more strategically.
I will be the first to admit that inspiration doesn’t come on a schedule, sometimes I still have to decide between losing hours of sleep and not losing my train of thought on an idea for an article. I’m okay with making that sacrifice sometimes. For the most part however, I have to know when to call it a night and truly relax before focusing my attention on anything else. One of the best strategies I’ve found is recording voice memos when an idea hits. I’m able to capture the exact tone and wording I want, without worrying about sleep deprivation warping my thoughts. There have been too many times I’ve thought of something brilliant, convinced I’d be able to remember it in the morning, only to wake up and realize I lost it. This small change has not only improved my writing process, but saved me hours of sleep.
For a long time, I viewed rest as something that had to be earned after the hard work was done, and I still feel this way from time to time. The difference now, between wanting to rest and being burnt out from giving it my all, is I’m able to recognize the warning signs. Instead of powering through, feeling the bright screen burn my eyes I reach for my phone, record a voice message and let it go. The thought will still be there the next morning, and so will I.
Chasing your dreams takes effort, but it also takes wisdom. You can’t build an empire on hope; even the strongest foundations crumble without discipline and self preservation. Learning how to balance your responsibilities, pushing through the lack of motivation, and knowing when to rest is the ultimate guide to success. No one will pull you out of burnout. If you want to succeed, you have to be the one to prioritize both your goals and your well being. This is the most valuable lesson I’ve learned– one I’d pass on to any other creator, entrepreneur, or hustler building their empire. Work hard, rest hard. Your future depends on both.
emily unfiltered 