Rest with Alex Soojung-Kim Pang
Rest » Listen Now
Date: July 24, 2017
Episode Description for “Rest“
Busy. Busy. Busy. Today’s world is always busy, and full of trying to do and be more. But what if that is the wrong approach? In Alex Soojung-Kim Pang’s book “Rest: Why You Get More Done When You Work Less.” He explains how we need to find time to do less, so that we can do more.
Dr. Risk’s Thoughts
Before I was seriously ill with Lyme, I thought it was important to always push myself. If I wasn’t doing “something”, I wasn’t productive. A serious illness changed that. I now recognize the importance of taking care of myself, which includes quiet downtime. I no longer see this as something that is “lazy”, as I used to. I now see this as an integral part of my wellbeing for my physical and mental health. I often have conversations with patients to take 10 minutes before bed to themselves without screens or anyone one else around, and am surprised how often I am told this is impossible. I think, as a society, we need to assess how we are valuing ourselves. If we are frazzled, tired and overwhelmed, we cannot help our children, partners and friends.
Guest Information
Alex Soojung-Kim Pang
Alex Soojung-Kim Pang is the author of “Rest: Why You Get More Done When You Work Less.” Drawing on history, neuroscience, and psychology, “Rest” argues that leisure and mind-wandering are essential components to creative lives, and that many of history’s most creative and prolific people crafted daily routines that allowed some of their best insights and ideas to emerge during their leisure hours. Alex founded The Restful Company to help people and organizations apply these insights. He has a Ph.D. in the history and sociology of science from the University of Pennsylvania, and is a visiting scholar at Stanford University.