We have inherited from all this a deeply bizarre idea of what it means to spend your time off “well”—and, conversely, what counts as wasting it. In this view of time, anything that doesn’t create some form of value for the future is, by definition, mere idleness. Rest is permissible, but only for the purposes of recuperation for work, or perhaps... See more

It begins to feel as though you’re failing at life, in some indistinct way, if you’re not treating your time off as an investment in your future. Sometimes this pressure takes the form of the explicit argument that you ought to think of your leisure hours as an opportunity to become a better worker (“Relax! You’ll Be More Productive,” reads the... See more

Fallow Periods as Fertile Ground

In farming, land is left fallow to rest and regenerate, ensuring it remains fertile for future harvests. In a culture obsessed with constant productivity, we've forgotten this fundamental truth: creativity and growth require rest. These fallow periods aren't signs of laziness or lack of ambition—they're essential... See more