I know someone who used to work almost round the clock. In his words, "rest is for the weak." He thought he was actually hardworking by not resting, but he did not know that he was doing some serious harm to himself. He would come back from his main 9-5 work, then he would drop his bag and then go to his business centre where he would run his own personal business till almost midnight. When he comes back, he would also couple it up with remote work, and would only sleep for very short time and then wake up to continue the process. After a while of doing this, his body broke down, and all the things he was chasing stood still. It was then that he discovered the importance of rest. Just to let you know; rest is not a choice of whether you like it or not, it is mandatory if you have to live a healthy and successful life. ![asleep-5500058_640.jpg](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmdhokuMPM1BVU68SBmhdFZssgFgNDPB1jRCAmRw1Npex5/asleep-5500058_640.jpg) _{Image from [Pixabay](https://pixabay.com/photos/asleep-sleepy-man-asian-guy-tired-5500058)} In this present day world, a lot of people are put under the pressure to succeed in life, or to meet certain deadlines, or to even stay active, and as such, rest is often regarded as an option. Some even sacrifice their rest and their sleep in order to achieve certain goals, but at what cost? Cost of physical exhaustion, mental pressure, emotional breakdown? What they tend to forget is that rest is neither optional nor is it a luxury, rather it is a necessity. Rest is one of the vital tools to keep you healthy. Remember that you need to stay healthy to be able to be productive and become successful in life. I have read a number of science articles that have proven the fact that rest, which includes sleep, is a very important factor to making the human body to function optimally. Not just that, it has also been scientifically proven that body tissue repairs, and even strengthening of the immune system occurs during sleep. In addition to this, your brain consolidates on memories that you have made within the day, and it also uses them to prepare you for the day ahead. Now Image when you deprive yourself of rest and sleep, you will miss out of these adorable natural processes. This is part of the reasons why some people experience poor concentration, mood swings, low energy, and other health disorders. Rest also affects productivity positively and enhances good decision-making. If you observe the decisions you make when you have rested and compare them to the ones you make out of stress and out of tiredness, you will understand that the former will be better productive. This goes to prove that rest helps one to make better and calmer decisions. This is because when you have rested, you will think better and clearer, undertake tasks with precision, and solve problems effectively and efficiently well. That means that resting is actually a hidden weapon to achieve long-term and long-lasting success, as it has a way of sharpening one's mental prowess and makes the person more resilient. It is worthy to note that rest is not a waste of time, rather it is a wise investment that someone makes for the good of their physical, mental, and emotional health. It is wisdom to know when to work and when to take a rest. More so, rest will actually make you to work better. If you use an electronic device for a prolonged period of time without allowing it to rest, a time may come when it will begin to malfunction. In the same way, when you have worked actively, then wisdom demands that you will find time to rest your body, at least to recharge yourself and become fit for the tasks ahead. ![happy-valentines-day-260899_640.jpg](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmbxjPFZNKXPdiSKSyay3m3kuiiUhVSALwpsZpKajuhXiE/happy-valentines-day-260899_640.jpg) _{Image from [Pixabay](https://pixabay.com/photos/happy-valentines-day-couple-marriage-260899)} Looking at it from the social point of view, you can even create better interpersonal relationships through the platform of rest. For example, you can decide to take a leave from work and go on a vacation with your family members. This will not only make you to relax yourself and cool off, but it will also enable you to bond well with them. As a matter of fact, when you notice that your productivity is dropping or that "diminishing return" has set in, then it is an indication that you need to rest and recharge your body. ***Thanks for reading***

Peace on y'all

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