In a city where the hustle can feel like a way of life, Jennifer Y. Afriyie wants people to reconsider what it means to be successful.
Afriyie, a Fortune 500 strategist and author of Rest is the New Hustle, says constantly pushing forward can leave people operating in survival mode and missing opportunities to recharge mentally, emotionally, physically and creatively.
Rest, she explained, doesn't simply mean getting more sleep. It can mean creating small moments throughout the day to recover and reset.
“Rested success is about finding the daily balance in the middle,” Afriyie said. “It only takes a couple of minutes a day.”
For people balancing work, family and personal goals, that approach may sound easier said than done. But Afriyie says rest doesn't have to mean taking an extended vacation or stepping away from responsibilities for an entire day.
Her framework uses the acronym REST. The first step, “R,” stands for reflect. Afriyeh recommends taking at least five minutes each day to check in with yourself and consider whether your actions are actually moving you toward your goals.
She compared it to navigating Atlanta traffic. Knowing where you want to go matters before getting behind the wheel, otherwise you could spend your time going in circles.
The next step, “E,” stands for energize. Afriyeh encourages people to make time for activities they genuinely enjoy instead of treating them as distractions from productivity.
She said engaging with your passions can help restore energy and improve decision-making, particularly when you're coming from an exhausted state.
For anyone who can't step away for long, Afriyie recommends a “micro rest” — taking three to five minutes to let your mind wander between meetings, tasks or other responsibilities.
She also points to the power of a short nap, noting that the benefits of rest and recovery don't disappear once people become adults.
The message isn't to stop working or abandon ambition. Instead, Afriyie wants people to recognize that constantly running on empty isn't necessarily the most effective way to get ahead.
Whether you're navigating Atlanta traffic on the way to work, managing a busy household or trying to reach your next personal goal, her approach offers a simple reminder: sometimes doing more starts with giving yourself permission to pause.
To listen to the full interview, click the link above.
