Rest is Not Mediocre
so much on my mind, I cant recline
blasting holes in the night till she bled sunshine
breathe in, inhale vapors from bright stars that shine
breathe out, weed smoke retrace the skyline
-blackstar, respiration
It’s essential.
KICKINTHADOOR exists to define a path for you to access the life you want by developing a career you enjoy. But there are seasons for this work and all work. Some seasons are highly active and productive, like spring. Others look more like dormancy, like winter. In these winter seasons, progress is equivalent to maintaining, as you conserve energy for the next season.
If you’re in a phase of life where you want to focus on developing other parts of your life outside of work, then you might be in a season of professional rest. Professional rest is when your focus and energy has shifted from professional interests to personal ones [ex. from getting a promotion, to building a family].
Though seasons of professional rest are common, we may not know it. “Grind culture” would have us think resting is a habit of the mediocre, when in reality, it’s a habit of the excellent. If you’ve just graduated from an intense academic program and you need to get your bearings as you determine what you want to do next, take that time. If you’ve recently made a big move to a new city, with a new job and now want to focus on establishing your social and dating life, take the space to invest in other aspects of your life and wellbeing.
In seasons of professional rest, you’re winning as long as you’re not taking steps backward. Show up, clock in, clock out and spend your mental efforts on what is most important to you in that season. Professional rest is okay. So rest without judgement.
When you’re ready to get back into the swing of career things, you’ll know.
Trust yourself.