3580: Rest and Recovery by Chris Guillebeau on Productivity and Long-Term Success

Discover all of the podcasts in our network, search for specific episodes, get the Optimal Living Daily workbook, and learn more at: OLDPodcast.com. Episode 3580: Chris Guillebeau explores the often-overlooked power of intentional rest as a crucial element of productivity and long-term success. By reframing rest as a proactive strategy rather than a reward or weakness, he offers a refreshing approach to avoiding burnout and sustaining creative energy. Read along with the original article(s) here: https://chrisguillebeau.com/rest-and-recovery/ Quotes to ponder: "Rest is not a reward for hard work; it’s part of the work itself." "When we plan for rest and recovery in advance, we make better decisions and live better lives." "Rest is a strategy. It’s a way to gain clarity, increase your creative energy, and avoid burnout." Episode references: Essentialism: https://gregmckeown.com/books/essentialism Atomic Habits: https://jamesclear.com/atomic-habits Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Discover all of the podcasts in our network, search for specific episodes, get the Optimal Living Daily workbook, and learn more at: OLDPodcast.com. Episode 3579: Rachel Jones offers a refreshingly simple approach to beginning a minimalist lifestyle by asking one essential question: “Is this stuff helping you live the life you want to live?” Her practical advice cuts through guilt and indecision, empowering you to clear the clutter and free your mind, one intentional choice at a time. Read along with the original article(s) here: https://nourishingminimalism.com/simple-tricks-begin-minimalist-lifestyle/ Quotes to ponder: "Is this stuff helping you live the life you want to live?" "You can’t organize your way out of a clutter problem: you need to eliminate most of the items." "When the clutter is gone, it’s easy to organize what’s left." Episode references: Mini Habits: https://www.amazon.com/Mini-Habits-Smaller-Bigger-Results/dp/1494882272 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Discover all of the podcasts in our network, search for specific episodes, get the Optimal Living Daily workbook, and learn more at: OLDPodcast.com. Episode 3578: J.D. Roth shares how reclaiming control over your time is the key to living with intention. By understanding where your hours go and aligning your actions with your values, you can craft a more meaningful, less reactive life. Read along with the original article(s) here: https://www.getrichslowly.org/taking-control-of-time-and-life/ Quotes to ponder: "Time is your most valuable resource. You can always make more money, but once time is gone, it's gone." "I wasn't choosing how to spend my time. I was letting life happen to me, and reacting to it." "Freedom comes when your choices align with your values." Episode references: Your Money or Your Life: https://www.amazon.com/Your-Money-Life-Transforming-Relationship/dp/0143115766 The Four Tendencies by Gretchen Rubin: https://gretchenrubin.com/books/the-four-tendencies/ RescueTime: https://www.rescuetime.com/ Toggl: https://toggl.com/ 168 Hours by Laura Vanderkam: https://www.amazon.com/168-Hours-You-Have-Time/dp/159184410X Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Discover all of the podcasts in our network, search for specific episodes, get the Optimal Living Daily workbook, and learn more at: OLDPodcast.com. Episode 3577: Leo Babauta explores the root of our self-dissatisfaction and challenges the common belief that unhappiness with ourselves is necessary for growth. Instead, he offers a compassionate alternative, embracing self-love as a more sustainable and powerful motivator for change, with practices like mindfulness and daily reflection helping to build a genuine friendship with oneself. Read along with the original article(s) here: https://zenhabits.net/dissatisfied/ Quotes to ponder: "You can do work out of love for the people, it will help." "Each time we have these feelings, we can pause and just notice." "There is a basic goodness beneath all of our difficulties, and we just need to stay and notice this goodness." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Discover all of the podcasts in our network, search for specific episodes, get the Optimal Living Daily workbook, and learn more at: OLDPodcast.com. Episode 3576: Kate Hesse explores the tension between burnout and underperformance, offering a compassionate look at how our energy levels naturally ebb and flow. By addressing night owl habits, the pros and cons of routines, and how rest might not be laziness but necessary recovery, she empowers readers to find a more sustainable rhythm rooted in self-awareness and nature's cycles. Read along with the original article(s) here: https://nourishnestbreathe.com/struggle-doing-too-much-or-too-little/ Quotes to ponder: "Staying up late isn’t an issue unless you find yourself chronically tired, rushing each morning in a panic because you’re running late for work." "Periods where we’re more productive, and periods where we’re more introspective are natural and normal." "Doing less isn’t lazy, it’s resting up for the next round." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Discover all of the podcasts in our network, search for specific episodes, get the Optimal Living Daily workbook, and learn more at: OLDPodcast.com. Episode 3575: Stephen Guise challenges the common belief that overwhelm is caused by having too much to do. Instead, he reveals it’s more about how we interpret our responsibilities, and shows that slowing down, not speeding up, is the unexpected path to clarity and productivity. Learn how doing nothing for a moment can shift your mindset and help you regain control, one calm breath at a time. Read along with the original article(s) here: https://minihabits.com/the-weird-way-to-fight-overwhelm/ Quotes to ponder: "Taking a moment proves that overwhelm is only in the mind." "When I begin to sense overwhelm, I will sit down on the couch or even lie down. This reaffirms to me that no figurative or real alligator is chasing me." "The best way to blow it in a clutch situation in sports is to think about how important the situation is. None of that has anything to do with your ability to execute!" Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Discover all of the podcasts in our network, search for specific episodes, get the Optimal Living Daily workbook, and learn more at: OLDPodcast.com. Episode 3574: Dr. Jenny Brockis shares simple yet powerful strategies to quiet the mind and reclaim calm in an overstimulated world. By tuning into our senses, cultivating gratitude, laughing more, and practicing mindfulness, we can enhance our clarity, creativity, and emotional resilience. Read along with the original article(s) here: https://drjennybrockis.com/2016/9/8/in-search-of-calm/ Quotes to ponder: "A calm mind is a quiet mind, highly tuned and aware." "Writing down what we are grateful for helps to instill calm." "A good belly laugh is a great way to reduce tension and elevate mood." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Discover all of the podcasts in our network, search for specific episodes, get the Optimal Living Daily workbook, and learn more at: OLDPodcast.com. Episode 3573: Jennifer of SimplyFiercely.com shares seven powerful journal prompts designed to help you simplify your life by reconnecting with your values and identifying hidden mental clutter. These thoughtful exercises offer a gentle yet profound way to reduce stress, make aligned decisions, and let go of what no longer serves you. Read along with the original article(s) here: https://www.simplyfiercely.com/simple-journal-prompts/ Quotes to ponder: "Everyone experiences stress now and then but unfortunately, for many it has become a 'normal' state of being." "If you want more time for what really matters, then you need to start by clarifying what this means to you." "At its core, simple living is values-led living, life feels 'simple' when you’re living true to yourself." Episode references: Louise Hay quote source (You Can Heal Your Life): https://www.amazon.com/You-Can-Heal-Your-Life/dp/0937611018 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Discover all of the podcasts in our network, search for specific episodes, get the Optimal Living Daily workbook, and learn more at: OLDPodcast.com. Episode 3572: Chalene Johnson shares actionable strategies to break free from self-doubt and build lasting self-confidence by rewiring your internal dialogue and setting clear personal boundaries. Through relatable stories and simple mindset shifts, she empowers listeners to reclaim control over their self-perception and stop seeking external validation. Read along with the original article(s) here: https://www.chalenejohnson.com/eliminate-self-doubt-and-boost-confidence-with-these-simple-tips/ Quotes to ponder: "Confidence is not something you’re born with, it’s something you build." "When we don’t create boundaries, we invite people to take advantage of our time and energy." "You’ve got to stop looking for confidence externally and start creating it internally." Episode references: The 5 Second Rule by Mel Robbins: https://www.amazon.com/5-Second-Rule-Transform-Confidence-Everyday/dp/1682612384 The Confidence Code: https://www.amazon.com/Confidence-Code-Science-Self-Assurance-What-Should/dp/0062230638 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Discover all of the podcasts in our network, search for specific episodes, get the Optimal Living Daily workbook, and learn more at: OLDPodcast.com. Episode 3571: Joshua Fields Millburn shares a deeply personal journey of loss, self-discovery, and radical transformation, sparked by one simple tweet. As grief dismantled his old life, he found purpose and freedom through minimalism, proving how a single moment can reshape everything and lead to a more intentional, meaningful path. Read along with the original article(s) here: http://www.theminimalists.com/tweet Quotes to ponder: "A month after she passed, my marriage ended abruptly, and I didn’t know which way was up anymore." "When I heard him talk about his newfound freedom, how minimalism allowed him to focus on the most important things in his life, I immediately said, 'I’m in.'" "Most important, Ryan and I have been able to contribute beyond ourselves: minimalism has allowed us to shed the excess so we can live intentionally and contribute to others in a meaningful way." Episode references: Asymmetrical Press: https://www.asymmetrical.co Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices