43. Why Writers Need Rest with Ximena Vengoechea
In her new book, Rest Easy, Ximena Vengoechea describes rest as “a state of being in which nothing is required of us. It’s a time where we can just be.” For writers who are typing away in addition to holding down a day job and parenting, rest can feel illusive, but as it turns out, rest is an essential tool of any creative practice. In our modern world, accessing restorative rest requires awareness and intention alongside a healthy spirit of experimentation, which is exactly what we’re talking about in this practical and empowering episode.
“The thing with writing is there’s a lot of invisible work. So when eventually you do have the finished piece or words on a page, there’s your output you can point to. But so much of the process is unseen and it can be easy to forget that it’s part of the work, and easy to devalue in some way. ”
Highlights
The 3 types of rest (it’s not just napping)
Undoing the relationship between productivity and self-worth
The unseen work of writing and how it informs our rest practice
The false promise of multitasking
What happens to our brain when we take breaks
How reading outside your genre can be restful
6 rest tips inspired by the writer’s life
Guest Bio
Ximena Vengoechea is a user researcher, writer, and illustrator whose work on personal and professional development has been published in Inc., The Washington Post, Newsweek, Forbes, and Huffington Post. She is the author of the new book, Rest Easy: Discover Calm and Abundance through the Radical Power of Rest. Her previous book is Listen Like You Mean it: Reclaiming the Lost Art of True Connection (Penguin Random House). Ximena is a contributor at Fast Company and The Muse, and writes Letters from Ximena, a newsletter about staying curious, getting creative, and living well. She is also the creator of the popular project The Life Audit. Ximena is a keynote speaker on topics such as empathetic and inclusive listening, navigating difficult conversations, and preventing burnout. She previously worked at Pinterest, LinkedIn, and Twitter, and currently advises select startups and executives on user research, executive communication, and resting well.
