#413 - Monday Motivation: "There is virtue in work and there is virtue in rest. Use both and overlook neither."

Welcome to another short and empowering episode of Monday Motivation, giving you a dose of inspiration as you head into your week...

Today, we explore the beautiful and grounding wisdom in Alan Cohen’s quote about the equal importance of work and rest - and how embracing both can transform your wellbeing and your progress toward your dreams:

"There is virtue in work and there is virtue in rest.
Use both and overlook neither."

Three key takeaways you can expect:

1. Why rest is just as essential as action when building your dream life.

2. How small, intentional moments of stillness can reset your energy and creativity.

3. Simple ways to invite more calm, clarity, and spaciousness into the busy December season.

Listen in and discover how honouring rest can help you make meaningful progress toward living your dream life - in a way that feels aligned, calm, and sustainable.

As always, I’d LOVE to hear what resonated most with you - so please share and let’s keep the conversation going in the Dream Life Podcast Facebook Group here.    

…and remember, it all starts with a dream 💛

Dream Life & kikki.K Founder

P.S. If you’re ready for guided support, explore Dream Life Coaching here: https://www.yourdreamlifestartshere.com/course 💛

SHOW NOTES:

• Download the 25 Prompts PDF here... 
• Buy Kristina's book, Your Dream Life Starts Here
• Follow Kristina on Insta and TikTok
• If you feel it's time to take a leap and invest in you, join:
  • My Platinum Coaching Program where in December our focus will be on "Hello Future You! Design Your 2026 Dream Life". Dream big, create your vision, and get clear on what matters most for your best year yet. Learn more here.  
    
  • My Dream Business Book Club here. In December, we'll be reading and learning from:  The Slight Edge, by Jeff Olsen. It's a key that makes all the other business books and insights you consume actually work.
  • My online personal Growth Book Club GROW, December, where we'll be reading and squeezing the learnings out of Rest: Why You Get More Done When You Work Less, by Alex Soojung-Kim Pang. Learning how to rest - the smartest life hack of all. Learn more here.

• Dream Life Community Facebook Group: Connect with like-minded dreamers.

RESOURCES:

• Sign up to our email list here to hear about upcoming workshops.
• Take your first step to getting clarity on what you want from life with this free bonus dreaming exercise here 101 Dreams Audio Guide 
• Buy Kristina's book, Your Dream Life Starts Here
• Discover how close you are to living your Dream Life. Take our 5min Quiz here and get personalised insights emailed to you...

TRANSCRIPT:

“There is virtue in work and there is virtue in rest. Use both and overlook neither.” – Alan Cohen

Welcome to a brand-new week.
Take a deep breath with me…
In…
And out…

Today I want to explore a quote that feels especially important as we head into the Christmas season, the close of a full year, and the beginning of a fresh one:

“There is virtue in work and there is virtue in rest. Use both and overlook neither.” – Alan Cohen

Such simple words, yet such profound wisdom.

Here’s the truth:
Your dream life isn’t created only during the hours you’re “doing the work.” It’s shaped just as much in the quiet moments — the pauses, the exhales, the soft spaces where your mind and heart catch up to your life.

If you’re anything like most women in our Dream Life community, you’re probably brilliant at the “work” part.
You show up.
You get things done.
You carry a lot.
You care deeply.
You juggle family, work, home, goals, and ambitions.

But rest — true, nourishing, guilt-free rest — is often what we overlook.

And this season, this beautiful, sparkly, sometimes chaotic time of year, is the perfect moment to rediscover it.

Why rest matters (especially now)
Rest is not a luxury.
It’s not something you earn.
It’s not something to squeeze in only if everything else is done.

Rest is a requirement — for clarity, creativity, emotional wellbeing, and becoming the person you want to be, for yourself and for those you love.

In our Dream Life journals, we talk a lot about reflection, presence, and self-awareness. Rest gives you the mental space for all of that. It helps you hear your own thoughts again, understand how you’re feeling, check in with your body, and reconnect with your dreams.

When you rest:
• Your nervous system resets.
• Your creativity rebounds.
• Your patience expands.
• Your energy softens — and then strengthens.
• Your dreams begin whispering again.

Rest isn’t the opposite of productivity.
It’s the foundation that makes meaningful productivity possible.

A small invitation for this week
As you listen, ask yourself:
“Where could I invite a little more rest into my life this week?”

Maybe it’s going to bed 20 minutes earlier.
Saying no to one thing.
Scheduling nothing for an evening.
Taking a slow phone-free walk.
Making a cup of tea and drinking it without multitasking.
Writing a few pages in your journal.

And because it’s December, maybe it’s simply giving yourself permission not to be “on” all the time — letting things be good enough, rather than perfect.

Remember: progress, not perfection. Always.

How to live this quote as we move into Christmas & New Year

1. Set gentle boundaries
   You don’t need to attend every event or say yes to every request. Choose what feels aligned and let the rest go.

2. Create small moments of stillness
   Five minutes in the morning.
   A quiet walk.
   A slow breath before bed.
   Tiny moments count.

3. Reflect on your year
   Use your journal to look back with kindness — noticing what you learned, what stretched you, what you’re grateful for, and what you want to bring into the new year.

4. Make rest part of your planning
   Don’t only write down tasks and goals. Add rest. Add white space. Add recovery.

5. Let rest be productive
   Because it is. Rest supports your dreams just as much as action.

Since we’re talking about rest…

This December in GROW — my personal growth book club — we’re reading Rest: Why You Get More Done When You Work Less by Alex Soojung-Kim Pang. It’s a powerful, eye-opening read and a perfect companion for this season of slowing down and preparing for a fresh new year.

If you’ve been craving more balance, spaciousness, clarity, calm, or intentional living, December is a beautiful time to join us.

No pressure — just an open invitation to be part of a warm, inspiring community of women designing their dream lives together.

As we close…
Remember: your dreams need your energy, and your energy needs your rest.

Take a moment today — even just one — to pause, breathe, soften, and come home to yourself.

You deserve rest just as much as you deserve your dreams.

Have a beautiful week.