Rest Is a Strategic Advantage, Not a Luxury

Hey Friend,

Back in May, I made a decision that almost broke me.

We had to process, move, ship, throw out, or donate over 40,000 units of inventory.
It was a massive lift. Could’ve easily taken a couple weeks with smart pacing.

But instead of spacing it out, I said:

“Let’s just get it all done now. Then we’ll rest.”

Spoiler: I didn’t make it to “then.”

The Crash

Here was my daily routine for that week:

• Up at 5am
  

• At the storage unit scanning and moving boxes for 6+ hours
  

• Straight to the gym for an intense lift
  

• Home, eat, and go back to work on logistics, updates, admin
  

• Sleep (barely). Repeat.
  

By Day 3, I was done.
By Day 4, I literally collapsed into bed and couldn’t move.

I was chasing that magical “clean break” moment, the one where you push hard now so you can chill later.

But here’s what I learned:

Later doesn’t come if you break yourself trying to earn it.

Rest Isn’t Optional — It’s Operational

I used to think rest was a reward.
Now I know it’s a requirement.

Not just for physical health.
But for:

• Better decisions
  

• Clearer thinking
  

• Sharper strategy
  

• Long-term resilience
  

If you don’t build rest into the system, your body will eventually shut it down for you.

I’m Still Learning

I’ll be honest: I still struggle with this.
Sometimes I feel guilty when I slow down. Like I’m falling behind.

But the truth is:

High performers don’t avoid rest: they plan for it.

Because scaling isn’t just about doing more.
It’s about knowing when to stop.

— Jonathan