sometimes rest is best

I just learned an invaluable lesson in the most excruciating way possible: 

Sometimes rest is best. 

And while my lesson applies to fitness, it’s equally as true in business, creative work, writing, yada yada yada. 

Here’s what happened:

A few days ago, I tweaked my back a bit, doing bent over rows. It wasn’t immediately obvious when I did it, but before bed that night (and upon waking the following morning), my upper back was as tight as a virgin. Taking a big, fat, deep breath caused an instant loss of mobility kinda tight. 

I’m also in the middle of a cut, which means, if I go to the gym and get in a hard workout, I allow myself more calories. I’ve been hitting the gym every other day, and so taking a few days off made me restless. 

My back tightness improved as the days walked by. I still felt extra tight upon waking, but as the day ticked on, my back stiffness loosened up. 

Fast forward to today: 

It’s been three days since my tweak, and I figured I was strong enough to deadlift. 

Big mistake: 

The first set went smooth. 85% of the second set went smooth. But the last rep, I felt the tweak all over again. 

I still tried to finish my workout for a couple more exercises. But after dumbbell benching 50% of what I did last week—which I realize now, I should’ve dropped all my sets to 50%—I figured there was no point in staying at the gym. 

So, I came home and did a thoracic spine yoga routine. 

My back feels slightly better now. 

Here’s why I bore you with this story: 

The same exact thing happens to my brain when I write all day. At a certain point, in any creative work, you “tweak” your brain. 

And you can keep going, which is the mental equivalent to banging your head against a wall. Or you can do something to protect your spirit, prevent burnout, and even result in more profitable copy (if’n that’s your creative pursuit):

R E S T

While you might feel bad and guilty at first, I promise you the copy you cook up the following morning will be several times tighter (no pun intended) than if you battle against your brain. 

This method has an added bonus too: After focusing all day, your brain can create new connections by relaxing. This is why people say they get their best ideas right before bed or in the shower. 

And it's as true in the world of bizness as it is in the world of fitness. 

That said, you will have to battle your ego. And this is a battle I frequently use, especially when it comes to lifting. 

Alright - onto bizness:

If you want to make more dough from your email marketing strategy, hit reply, and let’s chat. 

John