Rest: Why You Get More Done When You Work Less - Lessons from My Conversation with Alex Soojung-Kim Pang

by Kristina Karlsson

We live in a world that celebrates busyness as if it’s a badge of honour. We fill every hour, stretch ourselves thin, and often feel guilty about slowing down - even when our bodies and minds are begging for it.

But what if the real secret to doing meaningful work - the kind that lights us up, moves us closer to our dreams, and feels good - isn’t pushing harder… but resting better?

That’s exactly what I explored in a beautiful conversation with Alex Soojung-Kim Pang, author of Rest: Why You Get More Done When You Work Less.

His book has stayed with me ever since I first read it. It’s one of those rare works that doesn’t just shift your thinking - it changes the way you live.

In this blog post, I’m sharing the biggest insights from our conversation, along with gentle encouragement for weaving more rest into your own life - not as an afterthought, but as a core pillar in creating your dream life.

Why Rest Is Not a Reward - It’s a Strategy

One of the first things Alex said in our conversation was something I loved:

“Rest isn’t the opposite of work - it’s part of work.”

That sentence alone could transform the way so many of us live.

We tend to think of rest as something we earn after we finish everything else. But what if we flipped that?

What if rest is what allows us to do our best work - with more clarity, creativity, and energy?

Alex’s research shows that the most accomplished thinkers throughout history didn’t work endlessly.

In fact, many of them followed a surprisingly gentle rhythm.

The 4–5 Hour Creativity Sweet Spot

The Myth of Long Hours

We’ve been conditioned to believe productivity comes from more time spent working. But the truth? Deep, focused work maxes out at around 4–5 hours a day.

That’s it.

And history’s most prolific writers, scientists, and artists lived this way long before modern productivity studies proved it.

The Power of Focused Intensity

Alex found that great thinkers structure their days around short bursts of highly concentrated work - usually in the early morning - followed by long, restorative breaks.

This was such a beautiful reminder for me. I’ve always been an early-morning person, and I love layering my day with movement, coffee, reading, and walking. It’s where my creativity comes alive.

If you’ve ever felt “guilty” for not being able to focus all day… you can officially let that go.

Your brain isn’t designed for that.

Deep Rest Fuels Deep Work

Insight #1 - Rest is active, not passive

Rest isn’t lying on the couch scrolling.

The most restorative rest is active - walking, gardening, yoga, journaling, being in nature, or even cooking.

These activities give your conscious mind a break while activating your brain’s default mode network, which helps you make connections, solve problems, and spark ideas.

This is exactly why your best ideas often arrive when you’re not trying.

I’ve experienced this countless times. Some of my biggest ideas - including my book - arrived when I stepped away, slowed down, and created space for my mind to breathe.

Insight #2 - Walking is a creative superpower

Alex shared that many of history’s greatest thinkers took long daily walks. And I couldn’t love this more.

Walking is my non-negotiable. It’s where I get clarity, ideas, and calm.

If you need a simple way to bring more rest into your life, start with a walk.

Insight #3 - Morning routines set the tone

Great thinkers begin early - not because they’re morning people, but because mornings are quiet, uncluttered, and distraction-free.

Whether you wake at 5am or 8am doesn’t matter - what matters is protecting your first hour and giving it to something nourishing. 

Insight #4 - Sleep isn’t optional

Alex shared a fascinating study from the Berlin Conservatory, where top violinists slept more than average performers. Yes - the most elite students slept longer. They also spent more time in “deliberate rest.”

This is deeply encouraging:

You don’t achieve more by sleeping less. You achieve more by sleeping well.

Insight #5 - Sabbaticals aren’t a luxury

Sabbaticals - long breaks ranging from two weeks to a year - can completely reshape your creativity and career.

You don’t need to travel the world. Even a mini-sabbatical or a “think day” can work wonders.

This is why I take regular solitude retreats and now offer them to others.

We’re not meant to function like machines. Our creativity needs breathing space.

Deep Play - The Joyful Missing Ingredient

One of my favourite ideas in Alex’s book is deep play - meaningful hobbies that stretch and absorb you in the best possible way.

For me, deep play is travel.

Exploring new cafés, libraries, bookshops, or simply wandering a new city fills my soul with inspiration.

Deep play reminds us that we’re human beings, not human doings - and when we reconnect with joy, our creativity only grows.

How Rest Helps You Create Your Dream Life

Rest helps you:

• think more clearly
• become more creative
• reduce stress and overwhelm
• make better decisions
• feel more grounded
• and ultimately live more intentionally

Your dream life doesn’t come from running yourself into the ground.

It comes from building a life with enough space to imagine, think, breathe, and grow.

Bringing Rest into Your Own Life

If you’re reading this and thinking, Where do I start? -> start small.

Try:

• a 10-minute morning ritual
• a 20-minute walk
• turning your phone off for an hour
• scheduling white space into your calendar
• one early night each week
• or even just three deep breaths

And if you’d love support in bringing these ideas to life gently and joyfully, I’d love to welcome you into GROW - my monthly book club.

This December we’re reading Rest together - a perfect way to close out the year and prepare for a beautiful, intentional 2026.

Learn more here: https://www.yourdreamlifestartshere.com/growclub

Final Thoughts

Slowing down isn’t falling behind.

Resting isn’t quitting.

Taking a break isn’t losing momentum.

Rest is how you rise.

Rest is how you create.

Rest is how you design a dream life you truly love.

Let this be your permission - today, this week, this year - to breathe, pause, and choose the gentle path. The one that fuels your creativity and lights you up inside.

You deserve that.

Always.