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How to Not Always Be Working
Cody Cook-Parrott & Marlee Grace
What happens when the hobbies that once brought you joy become part of your brand — and you can't switch off? This microbook explores how to draw a real line around your work, reclaim time that was never meant to be productive, and rediscover the quiet pleasure of doing something for no reason at all.
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Who it is for
For anyone who feels their personal life has quietly been absorbed by work, who struggles to put the phone down, or who has watched a beloved hobby turn into just another obligation.
About the Author
Cody Cook-Parrott is an artist, writer, and movement practitioner and the author of six books. They are best known for the 2018 guide 'How to Not Always Be Working', which helps readers build boundaries between life and work. They also host the podcast 'Common Shapes' and have written a weekly Monday newsletter since 2017. Based on the Leelanau Peninsula in Northern Michigan, they are currently preparing 'The Practice of Attention', forthcoming from St. Martin's Essentials in March 2026.
View author profileLessons
- Identify exactly where your work ends and your personal life begins — then defend that line daily.
- Understand that rest is not a reward for productivity, but a necessary practice with its own rituals and boundaries.
- Embrace self-forgiveness as a creative tool, replacing harsh self-talk with language that allows you to reset and keep going.
Key Takeaways
- Blurred boundaries between work and personal life are the root cause of burnout, not the volume of work itself.
- Keeping some creative practices entirely private — never posted, never monetized — restores their intrinsic value.
- Naming your anxieties clearly, whether about money or comparison, dissolves the fog that makes them feel insurmountable.
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