Clearly, I'm pulling a certain thread, and while it's not what I initially intended, this article could very well be part three in my continuing series: Working for What? Rethinking Labor, Dreams, and Survival and Leadership and Achievement While in Perimenopause?

I've always been on the go, always engaged in something, fully living into my conditioning of being productive; if it wasn't in the workplace, it was at home. Always being "in process" was a powerful driver, although life has lately pushed me to reframe my understanding of process to include something often overlooked: rest. In a world that constantly pushes for doing and achieving "more with less," I've instead been exploring a counter-narrative: doing less and achieving more by being purposeful, aligned, collaborative in my approach, and integrating rest. These days, I'm learning that rest isn't an indulgence, but a vital component of shifting my work/vocation from one of production to creation.

I am deeply grateful for the experiences and lessons that have led me to this current place of understanding. Without the pain and trauma of my early experiences, I wouldn't have arrived here, a place where a gratitude mindset has opened up new possibilities for me and lessened the need to constantly strive. It has allowed me to see the power of trusting my own journey (one not based on an external post-colonial capitalist narrative) and letting life unfold naturally rather than forcing outcomes.

I went to business school for my undergraduate and master's degrees. I played into my family and society's conditioning of doing more with less while creating five and ten-year plans to ensure I was on track. Shortly after my move to New York City, I entered the nonprofit sector, where my experiences reinforced this scarcity mindset. I observed, in both the for-profit and nonprofit sectors, the personal and collective burnout as a result of this relentless pursuit.

So, the idea of doing less with more didn't and doesn't come easily to me. And as I let it simmer within, I'm feeling good about the reframe. I realize that what I'm needing and thinking isn't about laziness, but about intentionality, efficiency, and allowing for flow. I'm seeing clearly how strategic rest has led to greater clarity, creativity (hello, weekly blog posts!), and sustainable energy. It has encouraged me to set boundaries, assign days/hours for mindful work, and say yes to intuitive action.

I envision a world, and especially spaces, where we get to live out our vocations, where we collectively challenge the relentless norms of productivity that have long dominated our lives. I imagine environments where well-being and sustainable effort are prioritized over constant output. Just as I encourage my clients, I invite you to reflect on your own relationship with rest and productivity. What assumptions have you held? What could a different approach feel like?

In the spirit of trying something new, I suggest you experiment with prioritizing yourself: delegate tasks, take regular breaks, disconnect from technology. Perhaps even embrace the simple power of a nap or a walk in nature (five years ago, at the beginning of a big personal transition and regularly feeling like a nap, I jotted this down: "big life transitions require a lot of naps." Ha!). What if you said "yes" to what your heart and your very being are truly asking for, what might this shift for you?