Sustainable Excellence (And Why Rest Isn't Optional)
Since January, we've explored building sustainable progress. Setting achievable goals. Learning from failure. Creating genuine connection. Protecting yourself when it's not safe.
But I've missed something crucial: none of this works if you're running on empty.
The Question I Wasn't Ready For
Judah looked at me last week and said: "Dad, why do you look so tired?"
"Because I'm working hard, mate! Lots to do."
He frowned. "But you always say breaks make you better at things. That's why we have breaks at school."
He had me there.
I've spent six months writing about healthy ways of working while occasionally ignoring my own advice. Working through lunch. Checking emails at 10 PM. Telling myself "just this once" repeatedly. (Please tell me I’m not the only one who does this!).
And Yes. The irony isn't lost on me.
What Research Says About Rest
Dr. Erin Reid's research at Boston University found that managers couldn't tell the difference between employees who genuinely worked 80-hour weeks and those who just pretended to.
But here's what they could spot: the people who actually rested performed better. More creativity. Better problem-solving. Fewer mistakes.
Rest isn't the absence of productivity. It's the foundation of sustainable productivity.
Yet somewhere along the way, we started wearing exhaustion as a badge of honour. We’ve created "I'm SO busy" as a humble-brag, and “taking breaks” feels like slacking.
This is especially complex for neurodivergent colleagues. Many experience executive function challenges that make starting tasks difficult, so when momentum finally arrives, stopping feels dangerous. "If I stop now, I might not get started again tomorrow." This can lead to intense work periods followed by complete burnout.
The Seven-Month Journey
Here's what we've explored together this year:
January: Building actual intelligence through continuous learning
February: Setting sustainable goals (the floor, not the ceiling)
March: Permission to fail and try again
April: Addressing workplace loneliness
May: Holding space when someone opens up
June: Discerning when vulnerability isn't safe
July: And now, honouring our limits
I’ve really appreciated the generosity you’ve shown with your time and attention.
Thank you for that.
What Sustainable Excellence Looks Like
Real excellence isn't about pushing through. It's about honouring your limits so you can show up consistently.
For neurotypical people, this might mean regular breaks and boundaries.
For neurodivergent people, this might mean working with your brain's patterns. Whether that’s intense focus when it's available or complete rest when it's not, rather than forcing a neurotypical 9-to-5 rhythm.
For everyone, it means recognising that rest isn't weakness. It's wisdom.
Your Summer Invitation
As we head into summer, I'm not giving you homework. I'm giving you permission.
Permission to rest without guilt.
Permission to disconnect without anxiety.
Permission to do nothing productive whatsoever.
Because September will come soon enough. And when it does, you'll need to be ready.
Genuinely ready, not white-knuckling-through-exhaustion ready.
Looking Ahead
When we return in September, we'll explore how we Build Better Workplaces.
It’s going to be a practical framework for creating cultures where people genuinely thrive. Not through heroic individual effort, but through intentional, sustainable systems.
If you've found value in these blogs over the last few months, I'd love to hear from you.
What resonated?
What challenged you?
What do you want to explore more deeply in the autumn?
Reply to hello@peterlarkum.com Your feedback shapes where we go next.
For now: rest well. You've earned it.
Peter
P.S. Planning Autumn Training
If you're thinking about your team's development for September onwards, now's the time to plan. September budgets are opening, and autumn calendars fill quickly.
Whether it's Mental Health First Aid, Neurodiversity Awareness, or Mentality for your whole team, I'd love to help.
Drop me an email if you’d like to book a free 30-minute consultation hello@peterlarkum.com Take a look here to see what’s coming up : Up and coming courses
See you in September.
Research citations:
- Reid, E. (2015). "Why Some Men Pretend to Work 80-Hour Weeks." Harvard Business Review
- Newport, C. (2016). Deep Work: Rules for Focused Success in a Distracted World
