The High Performance of Doing Nothing

We have been sold this lie that if we are not constantly consuming content, we are falling behind. We think that 'rest' means lying on the couch while scrolling through TikTok for three hours. Newsflash: that is not resting. That is just overstimulating your brain in a different position. True rest—the kind that actually makes you a beast in your field—requires you to go completely dark. It requires you to be alone with your own mind without any external input.

When was the last time you sat in silence for ten minutes? No podcasts, no music, no scrolling. It is terrifying at first because all the thoughts you have been suppressing start to bubble up. But that is exactly where the magic happens. Your brain needs space to process the day, to organize your goals, and to actually come up with original ideas. You cannot be a trendsetter if you are constantly inhaling everyone else's trends.

Think of your brain like a high-performance engine. If you redline it every single second of every single day, it is going to blow up. Disconnecting is how you cool the engine down. It is how you ensure that when you actually do show up to work or school, you are firing on all cylinders. You will find that your focus is sharper and your anxiety is lower. You will feel like you finally have a grip on your own life again.

This week, I want you to try a 'blackout hour.' One hour before bed, the phone goes into a drawer. No exceptions. Read a physical book, stretch, or literally just stare at the ceiling and think about your future. You will be shocked at how much better you feel the next morning. You will wake up with energy that a double espresso could never give you.

Real power comes from being able to control your attention. If an app can pull you away from your goals with a single notification, you are not in charge. Taking back that control starts with the quiet moments. It starts with choosing yourself over the feed. You are built for greatness, but you need to give your brain the space to realize it. Let's get it.