In a world where value is assigned to how much one can produce in the least amount of time, how much money you can make, or how many goals you can achieve within 24 hours, rest is considered unnecessary. While resting is typically associated with laziness and poverty, it can be easy to feel guilty relaxing.
Effects of Late-stage capitalism
I recently spoke to a friend who mentioned that she finds it impossible to stop and do nothing. She feels like she should always be on the move and keeping busy. No one can blame her. Due to late-stage capitalism, we have been immersed in a culture where libraries are filled with self-help books and podcasts where interviewees discuss their secrets to success, which often involves waking up at the crack of dawn and checking tasks off a tight schedule throughout the day.
When we pick up these habits on our days off, rather than indulge in a fiction book or a light and fun podcast, it ceases to be rest and becomes another productive thing. We have become machines running on copious amounts of caffeine, and the worst part is that we have normalized the consumption of 6+ cups of coffee daily.
The Myth of Productivity
There is always a language to learn, a business to start, a deadline to reach, a weight to increase, a new thing to buy. While it is not our fault that we have been sold dreams of becoming billionaires if we adopt stringent routines and tedious lifestyles, it is our responsibility to change this perspective and regain control of our mental health. With all the shame surrounding capitalist and elitist notions of failure, it’s necessary to ask why this makes us to feel ashamed and who benefits from our shame. When we start asking these questions, we draw closer to debunking the myth of productivity.
While it is definitely possible to be productive and improve ourselves, productivity becomes perpetual. Even when one task is completed, there is still more to be done or more that can be done. Therefore, the belief in this idyll where one can linger guilt-free is a myth founded by the same institution that corrupts it. What I mean by this is that the idea of productivity is based on the fact that one needs to cross off a number of tasks so that one can sit and wallow in a state of accomplishment. However, this becomes impossible because there is always something else to do that can drive you closer to achieving your set objectives and embodying that successful version of yourself.
How to rest: Navigating Productivity and Well-Being
In addition, the dopamine rush that one gets from productivity is disappointingly fleeting, forcing us to chase that high again and again and again. We are victims of maximization. While setting and accomplishing a goal is admirable and reassuring, when does it end? There will always be the never-ending question of “What’s next?” For this reason, we need to detach ourselves from this cycle and rest. As I mentioned, the inability to rest is caused by a core belief system that associates rest with non-productivity, which leads to impoverishment.
While I cannot provide a how-to manual on rest, I can provide a few questions that could help dissolve this narrative.
Questionnaire
- What do I mean by feeling a “sense of accomplishment”?
- In what aspect of my life do I feel accomplished?
- How do monetary acts fulfill me on a personal level?
- What non-monetized activity brings me personal fulfillment?
- Why does it fulfill me?
- What does rest and a ‘slow day’ look like to you?
- How would a day devoid of any tasks and errands look like to your current self?
- How would a day without any tasks and errands look like for the most ideal version of yourself?
These questions might help you get to the root of the problem. They could help you to understand your goals and why you feel that rest impedes them. Through probing, you can eliminate negative mindsets surrounding rest, dismantle ingrained beliefs, and prioritize activities aligned with your values. Reflecting on personal definitions of accomplishment and exploring fulfillment beyond monetary gain can help you reimagine rest and set realistic expectations for yourself.
This introspective journey empowers an individual to reclaim agency over one’s life and mitigate the harmful effects of societal pressures. Embracing rest as essential self-care fosters balance and well-being, enabling you to navigate modern life with greater ease and fulfillment. Ultimately, this process paves the way for a more compassionate, sustainable, and fulfilling approach to living.