Letting Go of Hyper-Productivity: Why Rest is Essential to Growth
For years, I believed that the only way forward was through constant movement. More output, more progress, more pushing through. Rest felt like wasted time, an indulgence that I couldn’t afford if I wanted to build something meaningful. But over time, I’ve realized that hyper-productivity isn’t sustainable—it’s a fast track to burnout. And ironically, slowing down has been the key to unlocking more creativity, clarity, and fulfillment in my work and life.
The Illusion of Constant Motion
Somewhere along the way, we were taught that success is about doing more. We glorify the grind, wear exhaustion like a badge of honor, and convince ourselves that if we just push a little harder, we’ll reach some imagined finish line. But the reality is, creativity and well-being don’t thrive in a state of depletion.
I’ve spent years operating at full speed, measuring my worth by how much I could accomplish. But I started noticing something: the more I forced productivity, the less inspired I felt. The more I filled every moment with tasks, the less I could hear my own intuition. You can’t create from an empty well. The body, the mind, and the creative spirit all need time to recover.
Slowing Down to Speed Up
One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned—one that I’m still learning—is that rest isn’t a pause in progress. It’s part of it. When I step away from the pressure to constantly produce, I allow space for ideas to unfold naturally. The best insights don’t come from forcing creativity; they come from letting it breathe.
Whether it’s taking a long walk, meditating, or simply allowing myself to do nothing for a while, I’ve found that slowing down actually speeds up my ability to create with intention. Some of my most profound musical ideas have come not while actively working in the studio, but while staring at the ceiling, lost in thought. Stillness is where sound is born.
Rest is a Form of Trust
There’s a level of trust required to step back and believe that you’re still moving forward. Rest isn’t laziness; it’s faith in the process. It’s understanding that ideas need time to incubate, that not every moment needs to be filled with action.
As I embrace this, I’ve started to redefine what productivity means to me. It’s no longer about checking off a never-ending to-do list but about creating in alignment with my energy. Some days, that means writing and recording for hours. Other days, it means walking away and giving my mind time to reset. Both are valuable. Both are necessary.
The Music of Stillness
This shift has influenced my music, too. The ambient compositions I create are about space—about what happens in the pauses between notes. Silence is just as important as sound. In many ways, learning to embrace rest in my life has deepened my understanding of stillness in music. It’s in the quiet moments that we find clarity, both in art and in ourselves.
Moving Forward with Intention
I’m still unlearning the idea that worth is tied to productivity. It’s a process. But I know now that slowing down isn’t a setback—it’s a strategy. Rest is what allows us to show up fully, to create from a place of depth rather than depletion.
So if you’re feeling stuck, drained, or uninspired, maybe the answer isn’t to push harder. Maybe it’s to step back, breathe, and trust that you’re still on your way.
Until next time, Your fellow human just being.
Six Missing
