This is one I struggle with. There’s so many layers to it! There’s the spiritual side of a day of rest. Then there’s looking at how much someone can do before they crack. Then there’s the fact that everyone wants to get ahead. And then there’s the point that many go stir crazy if they don’t have something to work on. How in the world do you make sense of all this?
Let’s look at these one by one. If you’re doing work for His glory, it’s okay to “work” seven days a week. So much goes into it, but the end result is that you need to allocate time for worship (particularly in a group or “corporate” setting), which can be anytime, anywhere. I believe that writing is something I’m to develop so as to be a positive influence to others. It would be wrong of me not work on that everyday! Some of you will disagree. That’s fine. Feel free to comment your thoughts (respectfully, please). The topic fascinates me, and I’d love to discuss it with you. On to the next point.
How much can one person really do? You absolutely need to take care of yourself, your own well-being, and your family first. Take as much time as you need for that! Those are top priorities. On the other side, some people go crazy if there isn’t something to do. I’ve gotten to that point. We’re currently on vacation, and I can’t take it! I can’t go more than a few hours without that craving to work on something. It just feels like a waste of time! Luckily, it doesn’t take me long to write out a draft, then I’m good to go for another few hours. If you feel the urge to work, and you’ve made appropriate allocations to your own well-being and your family first, then go ahead and work!
Truthfully, if you want to get ahead, there are no real days off. Maybe you choose just to read, or to do something completely unrelated to what you usually do. But if you really want to make it, you should be increasing your human capital as much as possible. In our culture, you really don’t have much of an option.
Should you really take a day off? In most cases, the answer is simply: It depends! It depends on what you’re trying to do. Some are always trying to grow. Some are trying to cut back and spend time elsewhere. Some need that time to decompress. We all need time to rest at some point! Whether that means a few hours, a day, or more depends on you and what you’re trying to do.
