The Often Forgotten Factor in Productivity

When we speak of productivity, many people might imagine lots of work being done, output after output. We think of focus, efficiency, techniques, habits, apps, tools, and other systems.

A crucial factor is almost always forgotten: rest.

Rest is as important as the work itself. Without rest, there won't be energy to fuel us. Productivity won't be sustainable. Below are some things that might happen.

It catches up with you.

In my experience, when you try to push yourself beyond your limits for a long period, your body will eventually catch up with you. You're going to feel heavy and exhausted. It's going to be much, much harder to leave your bed because your body will claim the sleep it needs.

Without proper rest, you sacrifice your health. You may finish a lot of work in the beginning, but when you get sick, you might not be able to do anything. And then work piles up.

You make mistakes.

You can't have three hours of sleep and still function at 100% capacity. Without rest, you won't be able to focus on your work completely. So, you miss a few details and you make mistakes. You'll have to redo the work, ultimately costing you more time on the same output.

You have better chances of working faster when you're well-rested.

You lose quality.

It's the same idea—you won't be able to function at 100% capacity. Not only will you make mistakes, but the quality of your work will suffer. A fresh, clear, and sharp mind can give you new ideas, solve problems faster, and make better decisions.

Rest should be part of your schedule. Protect it. Get enough sleep and give your mind a break in between hours of focused work.