Rest protects tomorrow from decisions made by today’s exhaustion.

Decisions made in exhaustion have a particular character. They are shorter-sighted, more reactive, more likely to burn something you will want tomorrow. Whatever you choose tonight while depleted becomes the situation your rested self has to live in, and that self usually would not have chosen it. Rest is not only recovery, it is a way of protecting your future judgment.

Keep a short list of decisions you do not make when tired. Sending the message, quitting the thing, saying yes to the favour. Let the list hold the line when your judgment cannot.