The modern culture of overwork is alive and well. Hustle. Grind. No rest.
Emails at midnight. Weekend “side hustles.” That nagging guilt when you’re not “productive.”
Most of us know that living like this can only lead to burnout. Yet despite growing awareness of the benefits of leisure, many still feel shame when taking a weekend—or even a day—off.
It wasn’t always this way. For most of human history, leisure and work existed in a different balance, with free time seen as essential to a meaningful life. This article explores the history of work and leisure, reveals how society’s values shifted, and introduces the optimal leisure lifestyle—a framework that helps you reclaim rest as a source of creativity, wellbeing, and purpose.