Natalie Nixon is a productive person. The Mt. Airy resident shared her background in an interview with the Local in 2024, discussing her status as a global keynote speaker and award-winning author known for her expertise on creativity.

Her company, Figure 8 Thinking, serves clients such as Microsoft and Bloomberg, providing leaders with intellectual tools for making better business decisions.

One might imagine Nixon’s productive days are filled with grinding through tasks and checking boxes. Yet, in between Zoom meetings and podcast appearances, Nixon integrates three key practices that fuel her creativity and long-term well-being: movement, thought, and rest.

Those practices lay the groundwork for Nixon’s latest book, “Move. Think. Rest.: Redefining Productivity & Our Relationship with Time.” Released on Sept. 2, this book is uniquely written to combat the modern “hustle culture” mindset.

Work is becoming ‘inside out’

Nixon said the inspiration for “Move. Think. Rest.” came from observing people “dying a slow death at work.” In the face of burnout, remote work, and new technology, she noticed workers were struggling to unlock their full creative potential at their jobs.

She said, “In 2023, in one of the research studies I reviewed, almost 70% of employees self-reported burnout moments, and those statistics are increasing. Work is becoming increasingly inside out. … We treat people like cogs in a wheel. And the opportunity now is to recognize the humanity of people. We will not get the best out of our colleagues and ourselves if we don’t pay attention to the personal.”

With an idea in place, Nixon began the book roughly three years ago. She hired a research assistant, Marie Edland, and a developmental editor, Danielle Goodman, to help.

“This is a book where I learned for the first time that writing is not a solo sport,” Nixon said.

Goodman, who also worked with Nixon on her 2020 book, “The Creativity Leap: Unleash Curiosity, Improvisation, and Intuition at Work,” said her rapport with the author led to a seamless collaboration.

“I love the way [Nixon] thinks so expansively,” Goodman said. “She made me think of things I would not necessarily have thought about, that brought such vibrancy to the page. … She’s able to grab all these disparate ideas and put it together into a framework that makes sense for the person who may not have her creative tendencies.”

Movement, thought, and rest

Nixon practices what she preaches when it comes to the titular ideas behind “Move. Think. Rest.” She explained MTR (pronounced “motor”) is not a siloed process; each step is situational.

With movement, Nixon incorporates small moments of exercise throughout her day, rather than fitting in a long run or walk. These can include five-minute walks or even installing a standing desk.

Nixon’s concepts of thought don’t just include clear, rational decision-making, but everything that leads up to it — backcasting and forecasting.

“Backcasting is the role of memory and reflection. Forecasting is the value of imagination and daydreaming,” Nixon explained. “In the middle, between backcasting and forecasting, in the present state, the role of thought is to form better questions and gain inspiration. All of that is what we’re not spending enough time on most of our days.”

To embrace thought in her life, Nixon especially finds it helpful to daydream. She found giving herself time to let her mind wander and disengage from the world allowed her to return to work with sharper focus.

Lastly, Nixon’s ideas about resting include adding intentional micro-breaks throughout the day, but also longer-term breaks for emotional recovery. She believes sabbaticals are not just for professors; even tech companies are rewarding employees for their years of work. However, she learned not everyone takes advantage of these breaks when they should.

Invaluable interviews

Over the course of writing the book, Nixon conducted almost 60 interviews, gaining insight into how people incorporate movement, thought, and rest in their lives. These ranged from psychologists to athletes, and she said the conversations were invaluable in putting together “Move. Think. Rest.”

For a perspective from someone living with a physical disability, she interviewed Tyler Turner, who lost both his legs in a skydiving accident but still teaches skydiving. She also talked to Ashley Simpson, a ballerina, about what MTR means for someone who uses their body as an instrument. Another helpful interview was with Brendan Boyle, a toy designer and professor at Stanford University’s d.School, a “design thinking institute.” Boyle shared his ideas on integrating recess and play into work.

Nixon said, “People might scoff at that initially, but when you think about all the skills that are required when we are at play — active listening, deep curiosity, collaboration, negotiation — those are the skills you also want among your employees and leadership.”

“Move. Think. Rest.” was shortlisted by the Next Big Idea Club, a subscription-based nonfiction book curation club, as a September 2025 Must-Read.  Porchlight Book Company, a bulk book sales and services company, also named it a Best Business Book for September 2025.

Learn more at figure8thinking.com. Maggie Dougherty can be reached at Margaret@chestnuthilllocal.com.