Historically, society has often equated success with being constantly busy. However, its important to distinguish the difference between busyness and actual productivity.
Research suggests that true productivity and wellbeing come from balancing work with rest. One effective way to do this is by following the 42% rule. But what does that mean, and how can it help prevent burnout?
42% – that’s the percentage of time your body and brain need you to spend resting. It’s about 10 hours out of every 24.
By prioritising rest, we can improve our ability to cope with stress, reduce the risk of burnout, and enhance our overall well-being.
But before you start to panic, you don’t need to rest for 42% of every day! But you should balance it out over several days to feel the maximum benefit.
To follow the 42% rule, it is suggested that your rest could be broken down into:
- Eight hours of sleep opportunity, give or take an hour
- 20 to 30 minutes of “stress-reducing conversation” with your partner or other trusted loved one
- 30 minutes of physical activity
- 30 minutes of paying attention to food
- A 30-minute wild card, depending on your needs (this could be anything from preparing for sleep to social time)
According to the ‘Burnout Report 2025’ the three most important factors in alleviating stress and preventing burnout among UK workers are:
- Having a supportive network of family and friends outside of work
- Exercising regularly
- Having a healthy work-life balance
This is followed by:
- Positive changes to diet
- Having a supportive line manager at work
- Having a supportive network of professional colleagues or peers
- Reasonable adjustments at work
The findings in the report highlight the importance of supportive networks, a healthy lifestyle, and a wellbeing-led work culture.
Making rest a priority isn’t a luxury; it’s a necessity. In the next post of this series, we’ll share 10 practical steps to overcoming burnout and regaining balance.
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