Author: Alex Soojung-Kim Pang
Short Summary |
Rest (2016) book argues that the key to high productivity is not working long hours, but rather working less and resting more. When most of us think about work, we tend to think about “busyness.” We measure the success of our work by how long and hard we work each day. We use this as a basis for comparison with friends, family, and colleagues, who may be working even harder. Whether we’re working on a big project or eating dinner, we relentlessly multitask in an attempt to get more done. |
Detailed Summary
The problem is the person who leaves the office last is usually doing so because they’re not very good at their job. They’re the ones who have to stay late to finish up projects or do extra work because they didn’t get everything done during the day. And while they may seem like they’re putting in the long hours, it’s usually because they haven’t been able to manage their time well. So if you want to be successful, don’t strive to be the person who stays late at the office. Instead, focus on being productive during your regular working hours and learn how to manage your time effectively.
But is that true? Are the people who work the longest hours the most successful? The answer may surprise you. A study by two professors at Stanford found that working more than 50 hours a week decreases productivity. The researchers found that after 50 hours, workers “make more mistakes, take longer to complete tasks, and have more accidents.” In other words, they become less effective.
So if working long hours doesn’t lead to success, what does? The answer is focus and prioritization. The most successful people are not the ones who work the longest hours. They are the ones who know how to focus on their priorities and get the most important things done. They don’t try to do everything – they know how to pick their battles and focus on what’s truly important.
Rest Book Key Points
Cut down your work day to just four hours
The average person spends two hours each day on social media, four hours watching television, and four hours commuting. If you work eight hours a day, that leaves very little time for anything else. But what if you could cut down your work day to just four hours?
You might think that working fewer hours would mean getting less done, but that’s not necessarily the case. Research has shown that we are most productive when we work for shorter periods with frequent breaks in between. This is the philosophy of the four-hour work week, and it’s something that more and more people are beginning to subscribe to. The theory is that by working only four hours a day, you can get just as much done as you would if you worked eight hours a day. And, in addition, you’ll have more free time to enjoy your life outside of work.
There are a few things that you need to keep in mind if you want to make the four-hour work week a reality for yourself. First, you need to be very organized and efficient with your time. This means setting specific goals for each day and sticking to them. Second, you need to learn to delegate tasks and projects whenever possible.
So if you want to be more productive, forget about working all day long. Instead, focus on working hard for four hours and then taking a break. You’ll be surprised at how much you can get done in just a few short hours.
When you feel stuck on a problem, it can be helpful to take a break
When you take a break, you can step away from the problem and clear your head. This allows you to come back to the problem with fresh eyes and often find more creative solutions. Additionally, taking breaks can help reduce stress, which can also lead to more creative thinking.
It’s not just a coincidence. Our brain needs time to process information and come up with creative solutions. When we take a break, we give it that chance. We also need to make sure we’re taking breaks at the right times. If we step away too soon, we might not have given our brains enough time to find a solution. But if we wait too long, we might be so fatigued that a break won’t help.
The best time for a break depends on the person and the task at hand. In general, though, it’s best to take a break after about an hour of focused work. And when you do take a break, make sure it’s truly restful: get up and move around, stretch, or do something else completely unrelated to work.” This is called the incubation effect, and it’s one of the benefits of taking a break. When we take a break from a problem, our subconscious mind continues to work on it in the background. This can lead to those “Aha!” moments when we come back to the problem later.
Deep play allows us to escape the stresses of our everyday lives
Pang argues that deep play is essential for anyone seeking a more enjoyable and productive life. He cites research showing that people who regularly engage in deep play are happier, healthier, and more successful than those who don’t.
Pang provides tips for incorporating deep play into our lives, such as scheduling regular “playdates” with friends or family, taking breaks throughout the day to do something we enjoy, and setting aside time each week to pursue a hobby or interest. For Pang, it can be anything from playing music to hiking in nature. It doesn’t have to be expensive or time-consuming – the important thing is that it’s something you enjoy and can lose yourself in.
Deep play is powerful because it allows us to step away from the stress of our lives and enjoy ourselves differently. We can be creative and explore new things without feeling overwhelmed. This type of play is important for recharging our brains so we can continue to live productive, happy lives. In addition, deep play often leads to what scientists call a “flow state.” This is a state of complete absorption in an activity where we lose track of time and our sense of self. Flow states have been linked with increased happiness and decreased stress levels.
Rest Book Quotes
“If you want to rest, you have to take it. You have to resist the lure of busyness, make time for rest, take it seriously, and protect it from a world that is intent on stealing it. History” –Alex Soojung-Kim Pang
“If your work is yourself when you cease to work, you cease to exist.” –Alex Soojung-Kim Pang,
Rest Book Review
In a nutshell, Pang believes that we should focus on quality over quantity when it comes to working. He argues that taking breaks and resting is essential to being productive, and I have to say I agree with him. We need to learn how to relax and recharge if we want to be able to work at our best. This book is a great reminder of that.
To whom I would recommend Rest Book Summary?
- Anyone who is burnt out of working for long hours.
- Anyone who doesn’t spend time with family because of an overload of work.
- Anyone wants to be more productive at work.
