Mason Currey on creative rituals and routines, and what counts as rest

Mason Currey on creative rituals and routines, and what counts as rest

Author: Ximena Vengoechea, author of Rest Easy and Listen Like You Mean It September 19, 2024 Duration: 48:54

Welcome to Rest Easy with Ximena Vengoechea, a show about navigating ambition, work, and rest in our busy lives.

In our final episode of Rest Easy, we speak with writer and author Mason Currey. Mason is the author of several books, including Daily Rituals and Daily Rituals: Women at Work, and writes a popular newsletter, Subtle Maneuvers about creativity and ritual. In this episode, we talk about Mason’s early interest in researching great creatives’ routines and what keeps him coming back to the topic years later. We also explore the question of what “counts” as rest, and the parallels between creative rituals and rest rituals. To learn more about Mason, check out his website.

Special mentions in this episode:

* Mason’s books

* Mason’s newsletter

* Yoga, by Emmanuel Carrère

* Gertrude Stein on Building Creative Stamina 

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In a world that often equates busyness with worth, Rest Easy offers a different kind of conversation. Hosted by Ximena Vengoechea, author of *Rest Easy* and *Listen Like You Mean It*, this podcast digs into the messy, personal intersection of our professional drive and our fundamental need for downtime. It’s not about life hacks or rigid productivity systems, but about the cultural and personal narratives that shape how we work, strive, and ultimately recharge. Each episode feels like a thoughtful dialogue, exploring how ambition and rest aren't mutually exclusive but deeply connected parts of a sustainable life. You’ll hear reflections on setting boundaries, the social pressures around leisure, and redefining what it means to be truly productive. This is for anyone who has ever felt guilty for taking a break or wondered why exhaustion feels like a badge of honor. By weaving together perspectives from health, culture, and society, the Rest Easy podcast creates a space to examine our habits and assumptions. Listening feels like a step back to gain clarity, offering practical empathy for navigating the constant push and pull of modern life. It’s an invitation to consider how we can build lives that are both ambitious and genuinely restful, without sacrificing one for the other.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 5

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