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I did it, Dear Reader. Last Thursday, I climbed onto the stage in Providence, Rhode Island in my favorite leopard print boots, adjusted the mic, took a deep breath, and found a few friendly faces to make eye contact with. I spoke on ways to tailor our approaches to productivity so we can live a more enjoyable life, one where we might disentangle our work from our worth. I’m an official Keynote Speaker.

As I stood on the stage, fully embodied in the moment, I realized that every time I endeavor to set limits around overwork and walk my talk as someone who teaches sustainable and personal productivity, the approaches I share grow deeper in depth and wider in impact.

I’m a happy crier. Before the keynote, at 6am, while I sleepily sipped the hotel room coffee and did my morning meditation, I teared up. Eight years into researching and writing about productivity and six years into running my business, I’m seen as an expert in my field. I am proud of myself. 

After the speech, audience members came up to introduce themselves and tell their own stories of being on the brink of burnout. Many thanked me for sharing my journey of navigating chronic illness and pain, because they also lived with chronic conditions, and they felt inspired. 

I didn’t tear up then, but later, recounting to my spouse Kris over our celebration dinner, I choked up sharing that this was why I do this work. I felt a different sort of pride here, not only in having built a business that allows me to learn and teach, but that allows me to support, encourage, and celebrate folks like me, who felt like they didn’t fit in or like they couldn’t thrive in institutions they very much wanted to be a part of. I want everyone to be able to thrive when doing what they love. 

Now that I’ve completed this very big milestone, it’s tempting to ask, what’s my next big work project? After one win, it’s natural to want to rinse and repeat until the next goal is met, and I want to do that, but first, I’m going to rest.

Ten years ago, I would have been so burnt out after finishing a big project that I would’ve had no choice but to rest. Today, I’m choosing to pause and re-group as an intentional next step after a busy season of work, before any signs of exhaustion are present.

I know that many of you reading this are also experiencing a busy season, whether it’s the end of the semester with a pile of final essays left to grade, supporting a child or loved one through a challenging time, or developing a system and schedule to finish your writing project this summer.

Just like I shared in my keynote, I want to be an example for you that a busy season doesn’t have to end in a burnout spiral. Today I’m sharing a few ways I’ll be nourishing myself and leveling out my energy this month. Not just so I can be well-resourced when I dive into the next big goal, but also (and this is important) so that I can be gentle, strategic, and thoughtful when I choose where to place my energy next… and so can you.

Intentional Rest Practices

As we talk about rest today, I encourage you to consider how these practices might support you in your desire to do good work without sacrificing your mental or physical health. Dr. Saundra Dalton-Smith is a medical doctor who writes about seven types of rest in her book Sacred Rest: Recover Your Life, Renew Your Energy, Restore Your Sanity. In Sacred Rest, Dr. Dalton-Smith posits that people need seven different types of rest: physical, mental, spiritual, emotional, sensory, social, and creative (here’s a summary Dr. Dalton-Smith’s framework).

I love Dr. Dalton-Smith’s rest framework for its specificity and simplicity. For example, I used a lot of mental, emotional, and physical energy recently, so reaching for rest practices that could replenish me in those areas would be effective. My brain and body definitely want a little recuperation, but I’m also craving creative rest and sensory rest, which could look like curling up with a paperback novel in bed.

As I consider my “rest and reset menu,” I find it interesting that the personalized productivity approaches I teach are best balanced by personalized approaches to rest and rejuvenation.

Symbols for Celebration

I decided last month that I would get my septum pierced to celebrate this exciting milestone.

This cute, quirky fashion statement was confirmed for me when I ran into a woman slightly older than me, who works at the local library and rocks a septum piercing and tattoos. She’s bookish yet unapologetic, and in my mind, a style icon.

A piercing might seem like an odd way to celebrate, but attaching tangible objects to good memories has always worked for me. Take for example, my ice wash denim shirt from Atelier Delphine that I wore to my dissertation defense, which gives me a blip of serotonin every time I wear it. Or the cool purse that I got when I celebrated my 12-year soberversary last year. Or the tattoo of the word “tender” I got on my hand when I was starting my business. 

Take Time to Brainstorm What’s Next

Instead of jumping into the next big thing, I want to set aside time later this month (when I’m feeling more rested and rejuvenated) to reflect. Both to look back on how things have gone and to set some actionable, achievable plans for what I want to come next for my work and personal projects. I already chose a day in my calendar where I hope to sit outside with a notebook, my favorite pink pen, and my chihuahua, soaking in the sun and daydreaming about which path forward can continue to nourish me.

Dear Reader, our approaches to rest may be as varied as our approaches to work, but something we can both agree on is that you can’t have one without the other. Well, you could, but chosen rest will always feel better than forced post-burnout rest. Before you set your next goal, book your next gig, or write your next draft, think about what rest and celebration will look like as you meet your milestones. If you need some help workshopping ideas, hit reply and reach out. I’ve got lots of ideas that didn’t make it into this newsletter.

Curiosities

• I saw Project Hail Mary with Kris and adored it. I’m a sucker for a cute talking creature! I cried a lot, but happy tears more than sad.

• Yarrow Magdalena’s recent episode on The Kind Business Podcast, “Set boundaries, take your business to the spa,” was a practical pep talk for protecting your energy and honoring your desires with running a small business.

• I finally procured my own Moon List Prompt booklets! I don’t always have the mental or emotional capacity to do guided journal prompts, but Moon Lists are fun and the size of the page feels very approachable.

• I love everything Katy Peplin, PhD puts out into the world. In addition to her ongoing, low cost community for academics, The Clearing, she’ll be offering an online summer camp for scholars this year. 

• My pal Cody Cook-Parrott is teaching a writing class this May called “The Pattern of Words.” Also, their writing group Landscapes is back and so far I’m loving the updated structure and platform!

• Creator of the Honing In theme song, Melissa Caitlyn Carter, has been busy! She’s teaching Song Craft this month (class starts Friday) and she recently dropped an exquisite new song, “When the City Went on Pause.”

Take care and talk soon,

Dr. Kate

Email: kate@katehenry.com

Website: katehenry.com

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