Read Time: 4 min

What’s in this newsletter?

• 🏈 One of the best in the NFL shares his journey of burnout and rest

• 🏃‍♂️‍➡️🏃‍♀️‍➡️ What research around athletes’ rest teaches us about leadership

• 💡 More practical ideas around rest

• 🎁 A gift for those who want to rest better.

The Idea: Sustaining High Performance.

Two things.

First, our newsletter on burnout, which defined it, explained where it comes from, and gave suggestions on how to deal with it, saw the most engagement of any newsletter we’ve ever put out. Dozens of coaches (both current and former) emailed us with their stories. Some were beginning to feel it, others were in the middle of it, and some were past it, looking back.

This was not our plan, but we want to revisit the subject this week with a different perspective.

Second, we want to address this idea that we would identify as a myth.

Rest is not an escape. It’s not what you do when stepping away from high performance. It is the means through which high performance happens.

We understand this clearly for athletes, but for some reason, it’s seen as a “step away.” It’s not an alternate strategy. It is the strategy.

In athletics, coaching, and leadership, the relentless pursuit of excellence often leads people to believe constant hustle is the only way to success. However, sustained high performance requires a balance of intense effort and intentional recovery.

We need to redefine what it means to "grind" and recognize that strategic rest is not a luxury—it’s essential for maintaining excellence over time.

Anecdote: One of the NFL’s Best

Two months ago, Sean McVay, the Superbowl-winning coach of the LA Rams and widely considered one of the best coaches and tactical minds in the NFL, gave an amazingly transparent and vulnerable interview covering everything from very in-depth tactical strategy to a broader coaching philosophy. We’ve included a clip below of McVay talking about how he’s made a massive shift in how he views his performance and the importance of rest.

Note: This is an hour-long interview. The part we want you to watch is only a minute or two long, but the whole thing is good (especially for football coaches).

Make sure to stick around for his answer to this question.

“Do you think you can be a great football coach and also be content and happy?” (at 42:14)

That is fantastic stuff from an excellent coach.

Research: The Competitive Edge of Recovery

A peer-reviewed study published in The Journal of Sports Sciences highlights the impact of rest and recovery on athletic performance. The study, led by Halson (2014), emphasizes that adequate rest is a primary factor in preventing overtraining and reducing the risk of injury among athletes. It also outlines that psychological recovery (mental detachment from sport) is essential for maintaining motivation and performance over time.

The research concludes that deliberate recovery strategies—both physical and mental—are crucial for sustained performance, echoing what McVay advocates for above. The findings reinforce the importance of integrating structured rest periods into training and performance plans, making recovery a tool for long-term success, not just a break from work.

Putting It All Together:

The question becomes: What can we learn from these elite performers, and how do we apply it to our leadership or performance? Here are six ways to incorporate sustainable, intentional recovery into your high-performance life:

1. Make Consistency the Goal: 

   Consistency is the truest measure of performance. Max effort all the time is unsustainable.

2. Recognize Rest as Part of Your Plan:

   Most leaders see rest as what you do when you’re exhausted. But rest should be proactive, not reactive. Schedule your recovery time just like you schedule meetings or workouts. You don’t “earn” rest after burning out—you need it to prevent burnout in the first place.

3. Build Micro-Rest Into Your Day:

   Don’t wait for the weekend to recharge. Build small breaks into your day—whether it’s a 10-minute walk, some deep breathing exercises, or even reading a book. These micro-breaks help refresh your mind and body before fatigue sets in.

4. Switch Gears to Avoid Mental Fatigue 

   Shifting focus can be just as restorative as stepping away. If you’ve spent hours working on one thing, switch gears to a different task to give your brain a break. Alternating between types of work can be a powerful recovery tool.

   

5. Embrace Active Recovery 

   Not all recovery is passive. Some of the best ways to recharge are through activities like yoga, stretching, swimming, or even light workouts. These help your body recover while still keeping you active and engaged.

Conclusion:

High performance isn’t about constantly pushing to the limit; it’s about knowing when to pull back and recharge. Start by scheduling intentional rest into your daily, weekly, and monthly routines. Minor changes will significantly improve how you feel and perform over time. By prioritizing recovery, you’ll set yourself up for long-term success and inspire those around you to do the same.

A Gift.

We maintain the same offer as last week - email us your story of what newsletter has resonated with you the most and why, and we’ll give you our Coach Performance Plan. It’s a document built for coaches and leaders to maintain and track their rest.

But, maybe the best way you can serve coaches is simply by sharing this with another coach in your network.

Share this newsletter with another coach in your network who might need to hear this message, let us know, and we’ll send you our Coach Performance Plan.

Team Talks

One of the significant topics coaches ask us about is messaging.

Chances are, if we see a Head Coach’s name pop up on our phone, and they’re in-season, they want to share where their team is in their season and ask how to craft a message to maximize performance.

We know you’re tired of scrolling through YouTube, Instagram, and X (Twitter), looking for a motivational video that you hope and pray will resonate with your team.

We were asked so much that we created a more permanent solution.

And that’s Team Talks.

What are Team Talks?

Team Talks are short, 10-minute-or-less videos to use with your team, focused on mindset, leadership, and performance. They’re evidence-based ideas with stories to capture your team’s heart. Each video comes with an exercise to make the lesson stick. They are used by state, conference, and national champions. We have Team Talks on:

• Adversity

• Accountability

• Teamwork

• Discipline

• Mindset

• Elite Performance

There are currently 18 (the length of a typical season). We will build the library over the next few months to have thirty-six.

Team Talks set you up with the right message at the right time for your team.

And for a limited time, we’re offering them a 25% discount. Get Team Talks today.

The Culture Playbook + Cohorts

Coaches have access to a lot of coaching content. What they lack are systems.

The Culture Playbook is 10 leadership ideas with the exercises you need to install the ideas and culture into your program. It’s the exact system we use to help coaches build their programs around mindset, leadership, and performance. We’ve used it at schools like Oklahoma, Mississippi State, and Florida State.

Since the Culture Playbook was released almost a year ago, nearly 1,000 coaches have purchased and are using it for their programs.

You can get it for your program today.

Culture Playbook Cohorts

We are offering Culture Playbook Cohorts if you’re interested in exploring the Culture Playbook on a deeper level.

We’ve had a few dozen commitments over the last week and aren’t starting with very many cohorts, so reserve your spot today!

Monthly Calls + Powerful Content + Practical Application + Community = Accelerate Your Growth

If interested, simply DM Seth or Kevin on Twitter.