How to rest

You need to rest when the physical rhythms that sustain you—sleep, nutrition, exercise—are noticeably degraded for several days in a row.

You need to rest when you feel driven in your work more by a nameless desperation than anything else (e.g. wonder, curiosity, concrete deadline).

You need to rest when the more you do, the further from the goal you feel.

The more you need rest, the harder it will be to take it. That resistance in itself is a sign, but it takes discipline to act on.

To begin resting, first tell yourself, I am resting from this time to this time. Tell those around you. Tell your AI agents.

Music is a great way to initiate rest mode. The music itself does not need to be calming; it just needs to flip you into a different headspace.

Exercise is also a great way to initiate rest mode.

Once you’re in rest mode, stay there!

Shortly after switching to rest, your brain will start having wonderful ideas. This is a sign that you are getting your needed rest; don’t stop resting. Let the ideas arrive, acknowledge them, and let them go where they will.

If anxiety is preventing you from staying in rest mode, do something that takes a modest amount of effort: walking, grocery shopping, tidying up.

A great thing to do during rest is open-ended conversation with friends.

A proper period of rest includes at least one full sleep-wake cycle.

A good way to transition back into production mode is to sleep a full night, then make a coffee in the morning and write for thirty minutes.