It’s Labor Day here in the USA, so you may wonder why I’m sending this email instead of taking the day off.
The reason is because I just took two days off and don’t really need a third. I’m in the habit of consciously scheduling rest and relaxation, even if I think I don’t need it or “deserve” it.
Perhaps you’ve heard, in one form or another, that taking a day off is a bad idea. But what if it’s one of the best things you can do for yourself?
I realize there’s this idea, which some refer to as the “Protestant Work Ethic,” that you were put on this earth to work, work, work.
I used to subscribe to this idea. I worked seven days a week, as well as holidays, no matter what. I did this as an athlete and martial artist. I did this as a writer. I did this as a businessman.
Then one day I questioned the unquestionable: What would happen if I took a day off?
I decided to test this question to see what would happen.
The results were stunning.
I found myself “itching” to get back to the so-called grind. I also found that I improved in whatever I was “working” on because of the increased desire to get going again.
Hmmm.
How could this be?
Despite the prevailing notion that taking a day off would make me worse, I found it made me better.
So I decided to test further, taking more than one day off per week, usually Saturday and Sunday, but occasionally, during the regular work week as well.
Did doing so hurt me?
Not at all.
As the weeks flew by, I wasn’t getting “weaker” or less productive. Instead, I was getting more done in less time. The rest helped me focus and manage my time better.
Weekends are now spontaneous Goal Getting days for me. Yes, I still have a goal on the weekends, but it is more along the lines of doing whatever comes to mind in the moment.
Here’s the interesting thing: Monday through Friday, I am moving forward on various goals, then on the weekends, when it appears I am not moving forward on those goals, it turns out that I actually am.
Week after week, the results are astounding.
This is why I say it’s a good idea to question the story you’ve been told. It may not hold up to reality.
Matt Furey
Note: Not saying that I caused this to happen by taking the weekend off, but last Friday, Amazon was saying that delivery of my new book, Psycho-Cybernetics 365, would be between September 19-25. This morning all that changed. It will now be delivered between September 6-9. How about that? Click the link shown above and you may be holding a copy in your hands by this weekend.
