“Regularly scheduled sabbaths, sabbaticals, vacations, breaks, aimless walks and time off are essential for top performance of any kind. The best work ethic requires a good rest ethic.”
— Kevin Kelly
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Ever feel like 'peak performance' is a term reserved for elite athletes, high-powered business types, or mad scientist biohackers you might see on Instagram? You're not alone.
Yet I’d argue (if I were in an arguing mood) you’re reading this because you’re interested in making a difference in your own life, but also in the lives of others.
The scale of that doesn’t matter: whether it's your family or a world stage, we can all learn how to do things ‘better’. It’s an intangible term indeed, but one you recognise when you get the recipe right. It’s so satisfying, isn’t it?
This isn't just about mere productivity; it’s deeply connected to spirituality too. That’s the whole theme of these writings: better, more satisfying, living through meditation and mindful awareness.
For too long, we’ve separated spirituality from the world.
We thought we had to choose between opposites: peace or making a difference? Peace is often seen as not doing – detaching from the world – and the price we paid for making a difference was stress.
Turns out you don’t have to choose. You need peace – and all its companions: calm, clarity, contentment, courage – for performance.
My Ishaya teacher’s teacher once simplified the whole benefit of any kind of inner practice in this same way: more enjoyment and more effectiveness.
Now, I meet so many people, and a common refrain is, “I love being busy”.
And you do!
However, you do need to keep an eye on your battery levels: physical, emotional, and mental. They’re all different, and they all count.
What I see is that you’re spreading yourself too thin. There are so many reasons why – life is short, you don’t want to miss out, you don’t want to be seen as lazy, and maybe you even equate your worth with how busy you are.
Busy is great when it stems from a joyful, passionate engagement with life, but even then, you need to keep it sustainable. Don’t be busy just because that’s all you know, because you’ll end up fried and burnt out, and the recovery back up will take a very, very long time.
To that end, I have a challenge for you.
This week, I want you to prioritise the rest and recovery part of optimal performance in your day.
For seven days, treat yourself like an athlete.
Smart athletes train effectively (purposeful and directed work, not work for the sake of work) and they understand the value of rest and recovery to promote growth, avoid injury, and keep their mood high.
So:
Fuel yourself (no more “I forgot to eat lunch”), hydrate – and most importantly – intersperse rest and recovery breaks throughout your day.
Take short breaks AND occasional “full recovery” breaks. Take a break before you even feel you need to.
In these breaks, do as little as possible. No phone, minimal inputs.
Maybe take a walk, outside if you can. Take a few deep breaths. Have a chat with someone (not about work). Gaze out the window. Remember your daily non-negotiable self-care routine. Better yet, if you’ve learned to Ascend, practice that, or whatever meditation you have (I’ve got some free guided audios, and there are tons of apps available).
A decent inner practice like Ascension alone will increase your energy and lighten the load significantly. It's simple, instantly effective, doesn't require battling to clear your mind – and you can do it with your eyes open in the middle of life, as well as a traditional eyes-closed meditation.
Now, this isn’t something I’ve made up as a lazy good-for-nothing monk. This advice comes from the world’s greatest performance experts, from Steve Magness, running coach, to Steven Kotler, Flow state researcher and author.
They have researched how we do too much, to the detriment of performance and enjoyment.
Okay?
A Top Tip:
The critical point in doing this will be ignoring the voice in your head that’ll probably say something like:
“This is lazy; you should be doing something productive.” (You are doing something productive.)
“This is selfish.” (How can you help others if you don’t help yourself first?)
“What will people think if I have a nap?” (You have to stop worrying about what other people think and truly look after yourself.)
“Stop being lazy.” (You can’t do anything without energy and a clear head.)
“I’ve got too much to do to stop.” (You’ve got too much to do not to stop.)
“I’ll get this done and then I’ll take a break.” (And hours later, after that ‘one more thing’…)
Ignore the belief, which seems to be part of our culture, that it’s only worthwhile if you’re strung out, that your best is measured by how much you suffer.
Do this “athlete” practice anyway, and you’ll see how much better you’ll be for the attention to rest and recovery.
Sharpen your axe so you can cut more trees for less effort.
As a human being (not human doing), you’ll find this beautiful balance and graceful resilience regardless of what life throws at you.
Give it a shot and let me know how you get on. I really would love to know what you find – hit reply and talk to me.
Go well!
Arjuna
PS.
We had a full house for last weekend’s Ascension course. A ton of fine people discovering how simple it is to be fully alive.
Consider joining us for the next course. So many people find it’s the missing link they’ve been searching for.
There’s some time, so you can arrange your schedule.
Upcoming Good Things:
Next Ascension Courses: 17-19 October and 21-23 November. (Free to repeat if you've already learned!)
5-Day Retreat: 24-28 September. (Once you’ve learned, you can really dive in deep with our guidance and beautiful surroundings. Expect a huge impact on your peace and performance!)
Let me know what you’re looking for – I would love to help you find it. Drop me a line.
Talk soon.