Fifteen Life Lessons from Sloths: Ancient Knowledge from the Most Relaxed Teachers in Nature

6. The Value of Deep Rest

Rest is sometimes seen in our society focused on achievements as a sign of weakness or a necessary evil. Sloths, though, show us that success and survival depend on deep, quality rest. Not out of sloth, but rather as a clever survival strategy allowing them to conserve energy and retain maximum functioning with less resources, these amazing animals sleep from 15 to 20 hours every day. This deep lesson on rest questions our contemporary definition of success and output.

Scientific studies are demonstrating more and more how important enough rest is for cognitive ability, emotional control, physical health, and creative output. The sloth's attitude to rest is not one of total idleness but rather of striking the ideal balance between activity and recovery. This could involve giving excellent sleep first priority in our life, scheduling frequent breaks from our jobs, meditating or practicing mindfulness, and allowing ourselves times when we really detach from our phones and professional obligations. Knowing and applying this information will help avoid burnout, increase output, and enable more environmentally friendly long-term success.