An object in motion
tends to stay in motion.
I find this is true
when I’ve been pushing it,
when I’ve been working hard
for long hours,
I want to continue working hard
for long hours.
I can’t relax.
When we sprint,
it is sometimes hard
to walk.
But we have to slow down
or we will burn out.
We’ll become ill
and that isn’t helping anyone.
What I do
is I refocus that energy.
Instead of writing for 12 hours a day,
for example,
I might spend the day
cleaning out the basement.
That snaps me out
of the routine
yet isn’t as jarring,
as frustrating
as resting,
as no activity.
After a couple days
of unusual activity,
I can usually rest
and recover.
If you can’t rest
after a grueling stretch
of working long and hard,
consider an equally strenuous activity
that is different
from your regular work.
After days of sprinting on the track,
run for a few days through a field.
THEN slow to a walk.