The PhD Life Raft Podcast Rest: Why You Get More Done When You Work Less with Alex Soojung-Kim Pang
Oct 31, 2020
In this discussion, Alex Soojung-Kim Pang, a visiting scholar from Stanford and founder of Strategy and Rest, reveals why embracing rest can supercharge productivity. He links rest to enhanced creativity, emphasizing that napping aids memory consolidation. The conversation tackles academia's busy culture and its toll on mental health, advocating for sustainable work practices and setting clear boundaries. Alex shares insights on adapting to changing career landscapes, encouraging a mindset shift towards valuing rest for long-term success.
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From Academia To Britannica
- After postdocs and shrinking academic jobs, Alex shifted to a managing editor role at Encyclopedia Britannica.
- He translated scholarly skills into publishing, consulting, and later full-time writing.
Portable Life Of The Mind
- The life of the mind is portable and separable from academic career structures.
- You can pursue scholarly work outside traditional professorships and still access intellectual rewards.
Rest Activates Creative Brain Networks
- During unstructured time the brain activates the default mode network to keep working on problems.
- Layer focused work with downtime so ideas percolate and return stronger.
