Take Time to Rest: Why Sharpening Your Ax Matters
The new year is just a few days away, and around this time, there’s often a rush to jump into new goals, resolutions, and big plans.
But who says you have to start at full speed?
If you’re feeling tired, overwhelmed, or simply over it, this is your sign: it’s time to rest.
There’s no rule that says you need to have it all figured out by January 1. Resting now—or whenever you need it—isn’t just okay; it’s necessary.
Let me show you WHY.
The Tale of Two Lumberjacks
Ever heard the story about the two lumberjacks? Here’s how it goes:
Two lumberjacks decided to have a competition to see who could cut the most wood in a single day. They both grabbed their axes and got to work.
The first lumberjack—let’s call him Dude A—worked nonstop from sunrise to sunset. No breaks, no stopping. Just pure determination and sweat.
The second lumberjack, Dude B, also started strong. But every hour or so, he’d wander off for 15 minutes. Dude A thought, “Well bro, your loss. I’m gonna crush this!” and kept hacking away at the trees without looking back.
Dude B did this throughout the day, disappearing for a total of 3 hours.
At sunset, it was time to tally up the piles. (Y’all know where I’m going with this, don’t ya?)
To Dude A’s shock, Dude B had chopped way more wood.
“What?! How?!” yelled Dude A. “You were slacking for hours! You must have cheated!”
"Cheated? No. All we decided on was who would cut down more wood. I used the same ax as you have, bro."
"Then how is this possible?"
"I took some breaks. The weather was nice today!"
"WTF???"
Dude B shrugged and pulled a polished sharpening stone out of his pocket. “I was resting, stretching, enjoying the day… and, er - sharpening my ax.”
Now tell me - which lumberjack are YOU?
Sharpen Your Ax
Moral of the story: taking time to rest isn’t slacking off. It’s the move.
"If I just keep working nonstop, I’ll get more done," thought Dude A, based on his knowledge.
But Dude B was wiser: "If I’m rested and in my groove, everything will just flow. I’ll accomplish more—with way less effort."
Dude B didn’t win because he worked harder; he won because he worked smarter. Taking time to rest gave him the energy and focus he needed to be more effective when it mattered - and he took easier, more enjoyable route.
Taking time to rest is rebelling against society's pressure to believe, "I am what I DO."
Think about it. When you use a dull ax (or knife in your kitchen), here’s what happens:
You put in way more effort than necessary
Your results are messier and less effective
You’re more likely to hurt yourself—or, in life, burn out
Sound familiar?
If you've been frustrated with yourself because you're struggling with procrastination, perfectionism, overwhelm, etc., I get it.
My Enneagram self-preservation 4 autopilot prompts me to keep pushing the daily grind until I wear myself out and shut down.
I've learned the hard way that growth, progress, and productivity aren't linear.
If you’ve been feeling frustrated, stuck, or just plain exhausted lately, maybe it’s time to rest.
More time, more money, and more effort do NOT always win out.
...not that growth, progress, or productivity is the point.
The Real Power of Rest
Just because a new year is about to start doesn’t mean you have to hit the ground running. In fact, this is the perfect time to slow down.
Rest isn’t just about productivity—it’s about ENJOYING life.
Like Dude B, you can put the ax down, stretch, and take in the view. Being more productive was a BONUS for that dude, but not the point.
Dude B was a winner, but not because he chopped more wood. He was a winner because he had a great time. He ENJOYED life.
So, take time and ask yourself: what's the state of my ax?
Are you in a FLOW state, where things feel smooth and easy?
Or a you in a FRUSTRATED state, where everything feels so damn difficult and annoying?
If it’s the latter, put the ax down. Rest your body. Stretch your arms. Take a moment to breathe.
If it's been a while since you've taken time to rest, now's your chance.
Whether it’s five minutes, an entire day, or even a week, give yourself what you need to feel sharper, lighter, and ready to take on whatever comes next.
Sharpen your ax - let your mind, body, and heart be focused.
Need a little inspiration to help you hone your senses? Here are some options:
Save this as a reminder to take time to rest
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© Copyright 2024 Joanne Kim. All rights reserved.
Joanne Kim, Feelings Translator
Hi! I’m a therapist-turned feelings coach who helps Highly Sensitive Persons, Empaths, Enneagram 2s & 4s, etc. turn their BIGGEST feelings into their GREATEST superpower!
They are often the first (or only) person in their family to intuitively process and express feelings; consequently, they are often judged or criticized so that they learn to people please, placate, or perform until they hit a wall.
They’re super familiar with anxiety, guilt, and shame, partly because of an allergic reaction to anger (theirs and others').
Often the super responsible, empathic, and ethical person in their environments, they reach out to me after they're already burned out, resentful in their relationships, or sucked into their shame spiral.
The most common feedback I get from people when I share about how feelings work is,
"Why didn't anyone teach me this in school??"
Hence, I am building a school helping people work WITH their feelings so their feelings work FOR them.