Unplug to Power Up: The Productivity of Rest

In a culture that celebrates busyness like it’s a badge of honor, it’s easy to believe that rest is a luxury — something you earn after you've crushed your goals, crossed off every task, and pushed through fatigue with caffeine and grit.

But here’s a truth we’ve learned the hard way: Rest isn’t what you do when you're done. Rest is what makes you better at doing it all.

Welcome to a new way of thinking. One that says unplugging isn’t about falling behind — it’s about getting ahead.

Let’s dig into why rest might be the most productive tool in your backpack — and how you can start using it today.

The Rest Revolution (Why You Need It Now)

We’ve all been there: working late, skipping lunch, powering through the afternoon slump with another cup of coffee. It feels like you’re being productive — but what’s really happening?

Your brain is operating in overdrive, your creativity tanks, and decision fatigue creeps in.

Research backs this up. Studies show that working beyond 50 hours a week actually reduces productivity. After 55 hours, your output drops so sharply that those extra hours aren’t giving you a real return. You’re just spinning your wheels.

In contrast, strategic rest boosts:

• 💡 Memory and learning

• 🎯 Focus and concentration

• ⚡ Energy and mood

• 🎨 Creativity and insight

So why do we resist it?

Because we’re wired to believe that being busy = being valuable. But busy isn’t the same as productive. And it’s definitely not the same as fulfilled.

Our Yellowstone Wake-Up Call

This summer, we are living and working in Yellowstone National Park again surrounded by bison, geysers, and star-filled skies. At first, we brought our usual hustle mindset with us: wake early, check email, plan product launches, schedule content...

But nature has its own rhythm — and we couldn’t ignore it for long.

Something shifted.

We started blocking time without our phones. We spent more time observing clouds than notifications. We rested because it felt right — and that’s when things got really interesting.

Our creativity is exploding.
We are outlining new guides.
We are designing fresh products (hello, Fluffy Cow Collection 🦬).
We mapped out The Side Hustle Kickstart Guide (A Free Digital Download)

And we did it all without burnout.

Rest didn’t slow us down. It amplified us.

What Rest Really Looks Like

Let’s clear something up: Rest isn’t just napping (though naps are awesome). It comes in many forms — and the key is finding the type your mind and body are craving.

Here are a few types of rest you might be overlooking:

🧠 Mental Rest

Your brain needs breaks from constant stimulation. Try:

• Journaling

• Meditation or quiet reflection

• Leaving your phone in another room for an hour

💪 Physical Rest

This could be sleep, stretching, or even gentle movement. Think:

• Taking a walk without a podcast

• Restorative yoga

• Just laying on the ground and breathing

💬 Emotional Rest

Give yourself permission to stop people-pleasing and express how you really feel. Practice:

• Saying “no” to things that drain you

• Talking to someone who gets you

• Scheduling alone time

🎨 Creative Rest

Yes, even your creativity needs space. Reignite it by:

• Watching a sunrise

• Visiting a museum

• Doing something fun without needing it to be “productive”

A Rest Toolkit for the Adventurous Soul

You don’t have to overhaul your life to invite more rest in. In fact, the best way to make it sustainable is to keep it simple.

Here’s what we use in our weekly rhythm:

🔁 Daily

• Unplugged morning rituals. No screens for the first 30 minutes.

• Movement breaks. Stretch, dance, walk — anything to get out of your head.

• Digital sunset. We shut down screens 1 hour before bed (most nights 😅).

📆 Weekly

• One full rest day. No tasks, no planning. Just play, presence, and recovery.

• One unplugged afternoon. No email. No guilt. Just exploration.

🌙 Monthly / Quarterly

• Mini adventures. We take a day or weekend trip to reset.

• No-tech mornings. Let your creativity flow without input from the internet.

We even built these rhythms into The Adventure Blueprint — our travel planner that helps you carve out time for real rest and real adventure.

What Happens When You Truly Unplug?

When you stop reacting to the world around you and start reconnecting with yourself, something incredible happens:

• You rediscover what lights you up.

• You find clarity on what matters.

• You start creating — not out of pressure, but out of possibility.

Rest isn’t an obstacle to success. It’s the soil it grows in.

You can still dream big. You can still build. But now, you’re building from a place of strength, not stress.

Your Challenge This Week

Ready to try it?

We dare you to take 1 hour this week to rest intentionally. No phone. No tasks. Just time to wander, wonder, and breathe.

Here are a few ways to spend it:

• Sit in the sun with a journal

• Walk a trail with no destination

• Sip your favorite drink and do nothing at all

Then check in with yourself:
✨ What shifted?
✨ What new ideas came up?
✨ What old tension melted away?

You might find your best ideas come when you stop chasing them.

Make Rest a Ritual, Not a Reward

Adventure isn't just out there in the wild — it's inside you, too. And to fully show up for it, you’ve got to take care of your most powerful tool: your energy.

So here’s your permission slip:
Take the nap. Log off. Say no. Watch the stars. Sit still.

Because rest is not weakness. It’s wisdom.

And when you unplug — truly unplug — you don’t fall behind.

You come back stronger, clearer, and ready for whatever’s next.

🧭 Need a travel planner that leaves room for rest?
Check out our Adventure Blueprint – your guide to stress-free, soul-fueled journeys.