Sometimes, an activity leaving you overtired can be a feature, not a bug.
As a rule, I don’t like to be overtired. I don’t like my family overtired, I don’t like my students overtired. I prioritize rest and encourage those around me to do so, too.
But there are situations where achieving tiredness can actually be beneficial, and I don’t mind designing for it.
Retreats are a great example. The kind of human connection we seek to solidify in a choir retreat is a little easier to achieve when our guard is down – and tiredness is a great way to lower that guard. The same is true at camps like the New York Voices Vocal Jazz Camp I attended last week. The tiredness I experienced was integral in my experience and I know that was true for other campers.
Sometimes, the experience is better when you’re really tired.
Not always – I’m still going to get to bed early and prioritize rest. And you should, too. Just know when the right time is to abandon that priority.