Zero days are an idea from the long distance hiking community. After we walked 30+ kilometers a day for a few days in a row, our bodies need time to relax, and we take a zero day, a day where we walk zero kilometers. Makes sense, right?
For me, zero days make sense in almost any context. But especially for work. Taking a zero day from work, where we don’t touch or think about any work-related task, is a great way to move forward in said work in the long run. If we work every day, all day, we’ll lose sight of what we’re doing it for. We’re losing sight of the bigger picture.
A zero day of a hike is a time to contemplate where we are, why are there and with whom we enjoy sharing this experience. It’s almost like a prolonged retrospective, where we’re forced to reflect on things because we’re not allowed to make any direct progress.
So there we go. It’s holiday time soon. Time to sit down, relax, and enjoy retrospective thoughts, without the need to make progress. Time to take a few zero days.