Meaningful rest is a type of rest which leaves the individual feeling rejuvenated. It exists in contrast to default actions – “the things that take no activation energy to start, the things [one] reflexively reaches for” (Nanda n.d.). Be conscious of your defaults.
The term is from Neel Nanda | Post 29: Meaningful Rest.
Things I want to do when I feel tired and low energy
- Watch youtube videos
- (Doom)Scroll on Reddit
- Play a video game
- Continue doing whatever is making me tired in defiance of my own bodily limits
- Lay on the floor
- Try to read, “be productive”, or some other mentally demanding activity which is different than the one which I was previously doing
- Eat, sometimes
Things that I feel rejuvenated after having done
- Going for a walk; be outside in general
- Get up, away from computer/etc, and talk with my wife, family, friends, etc
- Meditate
- Nap / sleep
- Play with the cats
- Stretch / flexibility work
- Zone out and let my mind wander
- Drink water
- Switch from sitting desk to standing desk
- If I’m working; taking any form of break where I let myself think about not-work
- Work out
Bibliography
Nanda, Neel. n.d. “Post 29: Meaningful Rest.” Neel Nanda. Accessed November 29, 2022. https://www.neelnanda.io/blog/29-meaningful-rest.