As the new year dawns, many of us feel the pressure to do more – be more active, productive, and creative. But what if the key to thriving in 2026 is actually to do less? This year, let’s learn the art of rest.
“We all involuntarily participate in the stress Olympics, and are aware that the busiest person wins gold,” says Amelia Nagoski, co-author of Burnout: The Secret to Unlocking the Stress Cycle. In a culture that glorifies hard work and the grind, rest is often seen as self-indulgent and lazy.
However, experts argue that rest is essential for peak performance. “Rest is what helps us function at our highest level of capacity,” says Dr Saundra Dalton-Smith, a physician and author of Sacred Rest. Pushing through feelings of tiredness generally results in lower quality work.
So why not start this year more energised and less depleted? The key is to understand the different types of rest we need – physical, mental, emotional, social, sensory, creative, and spiritual. Dalton-Smith’s research shows that people often lack the specific kind of rest they require.
Another obstacle to rest is the decades of cultural programming that tell us success requires endless hours of work. “If you’re asking this question, you’re taking rest seriously,” says Alex Soojung-Kim Pang, author of Rest: Why You Get More Done When You Work Less. “That’s the first thing you’ve got to do.”
Pang suggests combining periods of deep, focused work with regular breaks. If your job doesn’t allow schedule control, he recommends better preserving nights and weekends. Enlisting the support of loved ones is also key, as they can remind you that your wellbeing matters more than work.
This year, let’s challenge the notion that busyness equals virtue. By learning to rest, we can unlock our true potential and thrive in 2026.