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So many of us think that in order to be productive, we need to be go, go, go all the time. Those who don’t take the time off to rest and replenish, though, often find that they aren’t able to accomplish all that they want to or that they get frustrated in doing so, according to Pastor Chris Hodges of Church of the Highlands. 

“We all have this ‘get it done’ mentality, and rightfully so. That’s part of what Jesus has charged us to do is to get the work of the Gospel done on planet Earth,” says Hodges. “But, some of us are working ourselves to death, and we haven’t found the balance between getting a lot done and not having emotional and physical burnout and just weariness.” 

Why Achieving Maximum Rest is Important 

If you want to be productive and successful over the long haul, you have to learn how to take a break. You have to replenish yourself, and that starts by figuring out what replenishes you. 

Pastor Chris Hodges explains just how bad it can get if you’ve found yourself in a state of burnout or weariness. 

“I think one of the symptoms that if you’re in that condition is, even when you rest, you don’t feel rested,” says Hodges. “So, you’re waking up the next morning just as tired as when you went to bed.” 

Most people, he explained, haven’t learned the “pace of Grace.” That includes finding a pace that works for you, that gets things done, because “we are all called to live productive lives.” 

Setting a Personal Sabbath 

Pastor Chris Hodges of Church of the Highlands creates for himself a Personal Sabbath. He considers the first day of the work week to be Monday, and he honors God by giving Him the first day of the work week.  

He does this by unplugging completely so that he can relax, reflect and refresh. He also makes sure to eat great meals, as a healthy body will result in a healthy mind.  

Then, he spends time with the people he loves, which allows him to cease from his labors. 

How to Achieve Maximum Rest 

If you want to achieve maximum rest so you can be more productive, Hodges says there’s a four-step process you can follow. 

The first is to define your purpose and responsibilities. Ask yourself what is required, what gives you the greatest return, and what gives you the greatest reward. 

Second, prioritize what he calls the “Big Rocks.” This means identifying six or seven responsibilities and priorities that are most important. Then, put those into your schedule first to ensure they get done. 

Third, create your ideal week. What would you like to accomplish? How would you like to accomplish it? And what would that look like? If nothing different is going on from what you’re currently doing, then that is what your ideal schedule will look like. 

Fourth, on a weekly basis, Hodges says you need to evaluate, eliminate and execute. Take some time to evaluate how you did in the week. Then, eliminate what you don’t need anymore, and execute what you do need to do or implement. 

When those four steps are done, ask yourself whether you’re still tired after you rested? If you are, then changes need to be made. If you’re not, then you’ve figured out how to achieve maximum rest and productivity. 

About Chris Hodges 

Pastor Chris Hodges, best known as the founding and senior pastor of Church of the Highlands, a life-giving church with multiple campuses across Alabama and Georgia. He also is passionate about launching and equipping other local churches through his co-founding of the Association of Related Churches (ARC) and founding of GrowLeader, a coaching network that trains and equips pastors and churches globally. He is also Chancellor Highlands College, a ministry training school committed to launching students into full-time ministry careers. Chris is a devoted family man, happily married to Tammy and proud father of five children in Birmingham, Alabama.