We've all been there: calendars jammed with back-to-back meetings, inboxes overflowing, and the nagging sense that if we're not visibly busy, we're not really working. For years, this has been the standard playbook for productivity. But what if we've had it backwards all along?
Dr. Natalie Nixon, author of Move. Think. Rest.: Redefining Productivity & Our Relationship With Time, believes it's time for a fundamental reset in how we think about getting work done.
The Industrial Age Legacy
Our current productivity obsession has deep roots. Nixon traces it back to the first industrial revolution, when work became synonymous with speed, measurable output, and visible efficiency. The problem? We've carried those factory-floor metrics into knowledge work, where the most valuable contributions often happen invisibly—in moments of deep thinking, creative breakthroughs, and strategic insight.
"The challenge is that that orientation tended to take over predominantly the ways that we think about work," Nixon explains. "Unfortunately, sometimes humans also became mechanized in the process."
The Burnout Crisis
The consequences of this mindset are staggering. In 2020, approximately 70% of U.S. workers reported experiencing burnout, with an estimated economic toll of $300 billion annually. We're exhausted, disengaged, and increasingly aware that something needs to change.
The culprit? Two persistent myths:
Myth #1: Busyness equals productivity. We've convinced ourselves that packed schedules signal commitment and value. In reality, constant activity often prevents the kind of focused, generative work that drives real results.
Myth #2: Rest is a reward for pushing through. We treat downtime as something to be earned only after we've depleted ourselves. Nixon argues that rest should be woven into our daily rhythms, not relegated to the finish line.
The Case for Strategic Stillness
Nixon makes an unexpected argument: some of our best work happens when we're not actively working. Mind-wandering, daydreaming, even strategic procrastination can unlock creative breakthroughs that grinding away at our desks never will.
The science backs this up. When we zone out during a leisurely walk or a relaxing shower, our brain's default mode network kicks into gear. This is when unexpected connections form and solutions emerge—those "aha!" moments that feel random but are actually neurologically predictable.
Even sleep plays a crucial role. Nixon points to the hypnopompic and hypnagogic states—those drowsy moments between waking and sleeping—as prime time for problem-solving insights.
Practical Shifts for Leaders
So how do we actually implement this in workplaces still clinging to busyness as a badge of honor? Nixon offers several concrete strategies:
Design intentional stillness. Block time on your calendar for thinking, daydreaming, or simply buffer space between commitments. Nixon herself schedules "daydream breaks"—and she's serious about it.
Reframe the question. Instead of asking "What did I accomplish today?" try "What might I cultivate this week?" or "What might my team cultivate?" This shift opens up space for experimentation and growth rather than just task completion.
Measure what matters. Nixon proposes tracking "key performance experiences" instead of just traditional KPIs. How many new ideas emerged after that team retreat? What kinds of questions are people asking after a vacation? Creativity and innovation have tangible business value—they drive efficiency improvements and cost reductions.
Model it from the top. Leaders who want to build psychological safety around rest need to practice it themselves. Treat it as small experiments, see what works, and share your learnings openly.
A Human Revolution
Nixon believes we're at a pivotal moment—not a technology revolution, but a human one. The future of work won't be won by those who can pack the most into their calendars, but by those who can think more deeply, rest more intentionally, and trust the quieter, more human parts of the creative process.
Her challenge to leaders is simple: Design some liminal space into your week. Then reflect on how it changes the way you show up for work.
In a culture addicted to visible hustle, this might be the most radical productivity hack of all: sometimes doing less is actually doing more.