Don't feel guilty about being 'unproductive'
Don't feel guilty about being 'unproductive'
Why, in honor of Mental Health Awareness month, DD HQ is taking a breather.
Hey there,
DD HQ here. Be honest: when was the last time you allowed yourself to take ‘off’?
TLDR; we don’t mean going on a big fancy vacation or unplugging from social media for a few days. And, we definitely don’t mean laying on your couch pretending to ‘rest’ while worrying about all that you have to do afterwards.
We mean doing nothing - on purpose.
In honor of the start of Mental Health Month, our team at Daydreamers has made an intentional decision to do something different here. This won’t be our normal weekly newsletter, because we’re taking some space to rest - really - and hope it inspires you to do so, too.
So this week, rather than reading your normal Head in the Clouds that’s packed with deep questions, scientific research and actionable ideas, think of it as a permission slip, instead. A reminder that pauses aren’t just a core part of the creative process - they’re essential for living a creatively fulfilling life.
Here’s why.
Unfortunately, in our culture, taking ‘off’ is often associated with hobbling to the last mile of the race, and then, worrying about all that we have to do while we’re gone 😅
If that sounds familiar, it isn’t just a you thing; researchers call it the ‘deadline rush.’ Racing to the finish line not only contributes to last-minute stress, but continued guilt about actually giving yourself space to rest. That doesn’t sound too rejuvenating, huh?
If you’ve been in our Daydreamers crew for any time, you know that we often talk about the power that being ‘unproductive’ has on our creative brain. Of knowing when to quit. Of taking breaks to mind-wander and engage in soft fascination.
And as a team focused on challenge the status quo - especially when it comes to our collective perception of rest, rejuvenation and productivity- we know how important it is to prioritize doing nothing way more often.
Even as a small startup, we take ‘unproductive days’ and have an annual Rejuvenation Week. And, it’s not just our team at DD HQ; within the Daydreamers Universe we make sure that rest is a vital part of the creative process (we call ‘rest’ a form of care).
But we’re not going to lie - as a young company, it often feels hard to practice what we preach, especially when you’re working towards a mission that feels so urgent. But, we believe that we’re all a constant evolution; and at DD HQ, we’re still learning that even when you’re creatively fulfilled, it’s still possible to push past your limits.
So until we’re back at full speed next week, we’re going to share a few of our favorite newsletters that remind us - scientifically - why rest and creative rejuvenation are core to living a mentally well life.
Here are some creative ideas to noodle on in the meantime:
Just because you’re not burned out doesn’t mean you’re thriving
How to ‘warp time’ (and why making memories IRL can expand it)
So, whether you choose to spend your weekend lounging, reading, creating - or literally just being - even for a moment, know that your creative brain will thank you. And even more, every time we choose rest and rejuvenation over achievement and hustle, we change the world a little bit at a time.
Here’s to daydreaming 🛸
Katina + Dupi
and the entire team @ DD HQ
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What’s new in the DD World this wk 🛸
We’re so, so pumped about our growing, thriving DD community (the 15,000 of you here + hundreds of Daydreamers Early Access members - join us!).
Want to hear something cool? In the past week alone, almost 10 of you have started recommending Head in the Clouds as a free resource they love. Shout out to Jesse, Rauan, Carrie, Nikki and so many more.
Regardless if you have a Substack, or you love forwarding emails to your friends - keep sharing! Creativity is meant to be expanded 🛸