Rest Easy, Work Hard
Broadly speaking, the most renowned artists and celebrities are almost entirely known for their work. Their legacy lives on in what they left behind.
And that’s what we’re all doing in making our art– trying to create a legacy and work that becomes known, more important and recognized than we ever were. So that our legacy and our work and our art outlives us.
But when we look to our heroes and models and stars, it’s easy to believe that they ONLY worked:
16 hours a day, Mozart slaved at the piano and Hemingway blistered his fingers hunched over a typewriter. There was no break for Martha Graham and Basquiat never took a walk outside.
But let’s just remember that all these people are just that– people. Human.
Even Mary Oliver had to sleep. Paul Gaugin was a stockbroker and Vivian Maier was a nanny. I bet Paul McCartney eats lunch every day.
It’s even likely that these people only worked a few hours a day. 1 focused hour a day in front of a typewriter every single day might lead to a more prolific writing career than 16 hours of manic scribbling once or twice a week (and editing and rereading and rewriting the unproductive writing you did when you were exhausted and pushing yourself too hard to write).
So just remember, even Beethoven had to poop.
Taking a break is human. Work hard, but rest easy knowing that legacy and greatness comes from focus + consistency, not always from working until exhaustion.
Caveday is a company aimed at improving your relationship to work. We write regular posts on Medium and send out monthly newsletters with productivity tips, life hacks, and recommendations. Sign up for the mailing list here.
Jake Kahana is a cofounder of Caveday. Sign up for his personal emails, called “The Email Refrigerator” here.