Wintering is healthy
Assuming that we have to be extremists is just plain wrong
Confession: I only finish a small percentage of books that I start. (Life is short.) But here are two recommendations for books that I’ve loved lately:
Wintering: The Power of Rest and Retreat in Difficult Times. I first learned about this book from Austin Kleon, who had a great post about creativity, energy, and understanding that life is cyclical and not linear. Instead of fighting the idea that all animals on earth live in natural cycles, we seem to be entering into an arms race of productivity, fueled by financial anxieties and the winner-take-all economy.
Just because Thomas Edison invented the lightbulb doesn’t mean that we’ve automatically morphed into ever-energetic robots.
I will recommend 4,000 Weeks: Time Management for Mortals to everyone for the rest of my life—it’s one of those books that keeps giving and feels more relevant with time.
One of the countless brilliant points that Oliver Burkeman makes is a critique of the cult of productivity: at worst, makes us devalue or even eliminate the things that make life meaningful and colorful. We say goodbye to serendipitous encounters, deep commitments to friends, messy interactions with groups and family, and the ability to recharge with Netflix, a fire, and a puppy—all of which actually sustain us in the long-term.
(Apparently when Tim Ferriss writes a book, he eliminates all of those things and sticks to the strictest of schedules. Good for him, but not for me.)
I am an advocate for playing the long game: sustainable productivity. And sometimes that means wintering, guilt-free.
Thanks for reading! If you liked this, I’d be grateful if you subscribed, forwarded it to someone who’d like it, or read my book.
I’m also taking pro bono clients to work on their messaging about numbers. If you know anyone who works at a nonprofit, please forward this or let them know they can reach me here.