In a culture that prizes hustle and grit, uncovering high performance secrets can be the key to success. Rest is often seen as a luxury—or worse, a sign of weakness. But rest isn’t the opposite of resilience. It’s the foundation for it.
Claudia Hammond, psychologist and author of The Art of Rest, recently joined Dan Harris on the 10% Happier podcast to explore why rest is essential for a balanced, sustainable life. Her research, including an international survey on rest habits, reveals what many high performers overlook: essential secrets include recognizing that we don’t just need rest—we need to learn how to rest well. Knowing high performance secrets like effective rest can help achieve this balance.
One of Hammond’s most striking points is that rest isn’t simply the absence of work. It’s a set of intentional practices that support recovery and renewal—physically, mentally, and emotionally. Watching TV in moderation, taking a walk, or daydreaming without guilt can be more replenishing than sleep alone. Indeed, tapping into secrets of high performance, such as effective rest strategies, can make a significant difference. In fact, the brain’s so-called “resting state” is highly active—processing emotions, solving problems, and restoring cognitive capacity.
But rest is only restorative when we allow it. Guilt can sabotage its effects. If you believe rest must be earned, you’re less likely to benefit from it. As Hammond notes, breaks shouldn’t be a reward for burnout. They’re a core part of the system that keeps us functioning and focused, and recognizing secrets of high performance enables us to prioritize rest more effectively.
This insight fits subtly but powerfully within the mental toughness framework. Take Control: those who take ownership of their boundaries and schedule rest proactively are more resilient under pressure. Commitment to long-term performance means honoring rest as part of the process—not a detour from it. Challenge is best met with a mind and body that have the energy to rise to it. And Confidence grows when we trust ourselves to pause without losing momentum. Understanding secrets to high performance can help integrate rest into this framework.
As Socrates wisely cautioned, “Beware the barrenness of a busy life.”
Whether it’s five minutes of daydreaming, a walk without your phone, or deliberately “doing nothing,” these are not signs of slacking. They are acts of mental fitness rooted in the secrets of high performance essential to maintaining a sharp mind.
If your goals matter, so does your recovery. Among the high performance secrets, prioritizing rest is crucial.
