How the need of a Rest Rhythm came to be...
We exist to enrich lives through the exploration of intentional rest.
Rest Starts With Yoü
Our Why (a video letter)
How we Rest
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―11 Questions for Ali & Sharmin
What is the book (or books) you’ve given most as a gift, and why? Or what are one to three books that have greatly influenced your life?
Ali: Man's Search for Meaning; always found the premise of the book in reference to how our feelings are the only thing we really have control over to be extremely powerful and enlightening.
Sharmin: Conscious Parenting - Dr. Shefali. Powerful, actionable insights for growing yourself to become a more conscious parent instrumentally changing the trajectory of mental wellbeing for your child.
What purchase of $100 or less has most positively impacted your life in the last six months (or in recent memory)?
Ali: YETI coffee mug, Cartoons from The New Yorker Calendar and Peter Attia podcast subscription.
Sharmin: Copper water bottle.
How has a failure, or apparent failure, set you up for later success? Do you have a “favorite failure” of yours.
Ali: Getting the Dean's vacation.
Sharmin: Made apparent to me what I'm capable of persevering. Sitting in a room with a global expert in dry eye, completely unprepared and having nothing to say only to later realize that I was being given her time and it was up to me to own and deliver.
If you could have a gigantic billboard anywhere with anything on it—metaphorically speaking, getting a message out to millions or billions—what would it say and why? It could be a few words or a paragraph. (If helpful, it can be someone else’s quote: Are there any quotes you think of often or live your life by?)
Ali: “Run from what's comfortable. Forget safety. Live where you fear to live. Destroy your reputation. Be notorious. I have tried prudent planning long enough. From now on I'll be mad.” ― Rumi
Sharmin: "Know thyself, the unexamined life is not worth living." ― Socrates ...I believe self-awareness and the importance of striving towards conscious living is instrumental in one's growth in every area of their life.
What is one of the best or most worthwhile investments you’ve ever made? (Could be an investment of money, time, energy, etc.)
Ali: Umay. It's been an amazing journey that's allowed me countless opportunities to learn and grow while also getting to cheer, laugh and cry with the best co-founder you can have.
Sharmin: Ayurvedic doc / consultation; personal trainer for their guidance and accountability in empowering me to implement change in my life. As well as my Philips sunrise alarm clock.
What is an unusual habit or an absurd thing that you love?
Ali: Tend to make decisions that are somehow divisible by 3, which led me to become an accidental sneaker-head. Also, I like to think I have a minimalist wardrobe, but the reality is that I primarily only wear solid colors like navy, grey, black and white and end up having multiple items that look similar and convince myself that they cater to different moods and functions (refer to point one).
Sharmin: My tongue scraper.
In the last five years, what new belief, behavior, or habit has most improved your life?
Ali: Cold showers, low(ish) carb diet, intermittent fasting and breath work.
Sharmin: Just stop and disconnect. Nothing is worth compromising your sleep.
What advice would you give to a smart, driven college student about to enter the “real world”? What advice should they ignore?
Ali: Stay curious and experiment; always consider the source when it comes to taking advice from others.
Sharmin: Make space for mindfulness / meditation. Don't compare for the purpose of learning who you are or what you want...that's someone else whose figured themselves out.
What are bad recommendations you hear in your profession or area of expertise?
Ali: Haven't come across too many bad recommendations, but am usually weary of people who speak with authority on a particular subject or topic; entrepreneurship can feel like a bit of a paradox, where investors are looking for consensus and we're building outliers.
Sharmin: Quick fixes vs preventative and instrumental change. Example eye drops for dry eye or I'll just wear blue light blockers and it will erase the effects of screen time on my health.
In the last five years, what have you become better at saying no to (distractions, invitations, etc.)? What new realizations and/or approaches helped? Any other tips?
Ali: Blocking out time for deepwork, avoiding meetings without an agenda, LinkedIn requests without some sort previous contact or relevant ask.
Sharmin: My work when it compromises my personal or family time. I only drew strong lines when it started to physically impact my health and mental state of mind.
When you feel overwhelmed or unfocused, or have lost your focus temporarily, what do you do? (If helpful: What questions do you ask yourself?)
Ali: Stand, walk, breath work (two quick inhales followed by a longer exhale), take off my glasses and rub my eyes (not being able to see the screen helps quiet my brain momentarily and gather my thoughts).
Sharmin: Breathe! Especially a double inhale and long exhale.
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