“There is virtue in work and there is virtue in rest. Use both and overlook neither.”
Alan Cohen
The Power of Rest: A Leadership Discipline
I once believed fatigue was part of the job. Long hours, relentless drive—proof that I cared enough, worked hard enough, led well enough. I thought rest was something I could earn later, after the work was done.
But the work is never done.
I’ve pushed through exhaustion, thinking I was doing what leadership required. And I’ve seen what that produces—half-hearted decisions, dulled creativity, and a growing distance between me and the people who needed me fully present. I have to fight this battle every day, even though I have written about it for years.
The power of rest is something I had to learn the hard way. Rest isn’t an escape from the work. It’s part of the work. Without it, we cheat ourselves and those we lead out of our best.
If this struggle resonates, I recommend Rest: Why You Get More Done When You Work Less by Alex Soojung-Kim Pang. It challenged me to see rest not as an indulgence, but as fuel for high performance.
The Power of Rest Fuels Your Best Work
Some of the clearest decisions I’ve made came after stepping back, breathing, and letting rest sharpen my focus. And I’ve noticed the opposite—when I grind through exhaustion, the work suffers, even when I refuse to admit it.
How often do you find yourself showing up depleted, running on fumes, thinking you’re giving your best—when in reality, you’re giving what’s left?
Every time I pause to rest, I’m reminded: Rest isn’t a break from productivity. It’s what enables it.
The Power of Rest Requires Intentionality
Rest doesn’t happen by accident. Not for people wired to drive hard. I know I don’t naturally drift toward rest; I drift toward the next task. If I’m not deliberate, rest always gets pushed to “someday”—and someday never comes.
The leaders I respect most are the ones who guard their rest like they guard their calendars. They don’t treat rest as optional. They know their energy is their most valuable asset—and they protect it.
That mindset shift is tough, especially if you’re used to believing busyness equals importance. Dr. Guy Winch’s TED Talk, The Case for Emotional Hygiene, helped me see how we care for our mental and emotional energy is as critical as physical health. If you haven’t seen it, it’s worth your time:
How are you treating your rest right now—like a necessity or an afterthought?
The Power of Rest Extends Your Leadership Reach
There’s another truth that’s taken me years to admit: When I’m exhausted, it’s not just my work that suffers—my team suffers. My family suffers. Burnout narrows my vision. It shortens my patience. It strips me of the empathy I know great leadership demands.
The people who rely on us—at work and at home—don’t need a version of us that’s barely holding on. They need our clarity, our wisdom, our steadiness.
That’s why I’ve learned to ask: Who needs me to be at my best right now? And am I giving them that—or just what’s left over?
If you’re looking for a practical guide to sustaining excellence over time, Peak Performance: Elevate Your Game, Avoid Burnout, and Thrive with the New Science of Success by Brad Stulberg and Steve Magness lays out a blueprint for balancing stress and recovery. It is reframing my approach to work and rest.
Final Reflection
The power of rest is not about slowing down—it’s about showing up. Fully. Consistently. With focus, energy, and the clarity your work deserves.
What will you do this week to protect your rest—so you can give your best?
