Why Rest Is Productive: The Science of Doing Nothing

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As summer winds down, I’ve been reflecting on how I spent these past few months. For the first time in a long time, I allowed myself to truly rest—to travel, relax, and recharge. This may sound simple, but for someone like me, it wasn’t.

In the past year alone, I launched an in-person summit for 200 women, hosted a retreat in Cabo for 20 women, started a podcast, and published my book (humble brag—it debuted as a number-one USA Today Bestseller in both the self-help and memoir categories). It was exhilarating…and exhausting. I realized that if I didn’t pause, I’d burn out before I even got to enjoy the fruits of my labor. So, I gave myself permission to rest.

The Myth: Rest = Laziness

Somewhere along the way, our culture decided that stillness equals laziness. That if we’re not grinding, we’re falling behind. But the science says otherwise.

• Neuroscience shows that downtime activates the brain’s default mode network, which is critical for creativity, memory consolidation, and problem-solving.
• Sleep and rest regulate cortisol levels, preventing the chronic stress that leads to burnout and disease.
• Even short breaks improve focus: Research from the University of Illinois found that brief mental breaks during tasks actually increase sustained attention.

In other words, rest isn’t time wasted; it’s the fuel your brain and body need to function at their best.

Reframing Rest as Strategy

High achievers often treat rest like a reward you get after the work is done. But the truth is, rest is part of the work. It’s the invisible ingredient that makes everything else possible.

• Steve Jobs was known to take long walks for creative breakthroughs.
• Elite athletes schedule rest days as strategically as training days.
• Even in medicine, we know the body heals best during recovery, not exertion.

When we build rest into our lives intentionally, we’re not slowing down progress; we’re making sure progress is sustainable.

My Reset

This summer, I stepped away so I could come back stronger—for my patients, my family, and the women I serve through my summit and retreats. Taking time to rest wasn’t indulgent. It was essential. For me, that looked like slow mornings, long walks, and time away from email.

So, as we head into fall, I encourage you to rethink your relationship with rest. What would it look like if you treated rest not as a luxury, but as productivity in disguise? What if you scheduled rest time into your calendar as a meeting with yourself? In fact, my assistant knows that this meeting is non-negotiable.

Closing Thought

Joy isn’t found in squeezing more into our days—it’s found in creating space to actually live them. Sometimes, the most productive thing you can do… is nothing at all.