In rest, we remember who we were before the world told us to perform.
Stress — the silent companion we never asked for.
What does stress mean to you? Is it an argument with a loved one, a looming deadline or a sudden change in plans?
But more often, it lives in the everyday. It’s waking up late, the dishes piling in the sink, the unread emails and the small but constant demands. Stress is far more insidious than we’re led to believe. It creeps into our bodies– draining us, consuming our energy, quietly weighing us down.
Yet we carry on—fuelled by the illusion of resilience, self-reliance and endurance. After all, who are we if we can’t handle it all?
The more we push, the harder it is to stop. Rest begins to feel like failure. Guilt slips in. So, we keep going. We function on autopilot, snap in ways we don’t recognize, sleep but never feel rested, move but feel disconnected.
We struggle to quiet the mind: “Shouldn’t I be doing something productive? Isn’t there something I’ve forgotten? Am I wasting time just sitting here?”
Hold on—where are we rushing to?
Today, we pause.
Uneasy Rest: A Need Denied or a Guilt Inherited?
It lives in the mind, the body, and the world around us—pervasive and relentless. The pull toward perfectionism and productivity is merciless. It’s so deeply woven into our personal narratives– we may take pride in it or carry it with shame, but either way, it stays with us.
Yet, let’s go back to the simpler days—
When we jumped on empty juice boxes in the alley, when Teta’s kitchen smelled of rose water and orange blossom, when we slept in the car and woke up tucked into our beds.
Life wasn’t always this rushed.
From a young age, we were told to work hard. We were encouraged to reach success through effort and perseverance. It’s an admirable value—one that shaped our identities.
But as hustle culture took over, productivity shifted. It stopped being a path to something and became the definition of who we are. Our worth became tied to where we land on the ladder of achievement.
Social comparison theory explains this well—suggesting that we determine our value not just by what we do, but by how we measure up against others. The more we compare, the more we chase. The more we chase, the more we forget what we’re chasing for.
And so, the idea that “doing nothing” is unproductive becomes internalized. Even in moments meant for recovery, our minds scan for things we “should” be doing. Rest starts to feel like failure.
The Price of Restlessness
If a car engine is left running, it overheats, and, eventually, it breaks down. This is what your nervous system is like. When we deny ourselves rest, our bodies and minds start to wear thin. Our nerves are constantly firing up, working overtime to keep us alert. Eventually, our body will rebel in cumulative ways.
- Fatigue becomes chronic.
- Sleep suffers.
- Our immune system weakens.
- Irritability and anxiety increase.
- We lose touch with our creativity, patience and joy.
Ironically, the less we rest, the less effective we become at the very tasks we’re trying to excel at. More and more research is showing that overwork dulls our thinking, clouds our judgment and makes it harder to regulate our emotions.
Rest is not an option. It’s a biological necessity.
Reframing Rest: Creating Space for the Self
Most of us hustle to prove something—whether to the world or to ourselves. Yet, by doing so, we unintentionally abandon our inner lives in service of outer expectations.
But what if we shifted that inner dialogue?
What if rest wasn’t a reward for proving yourself, but a way of remembering who you are—without the performance, without the pressure?
Let’s reclaim that space—softly, intentionally and unapologetically.
Because rest isn’t stepping back. It’s stepping in.
#1 Rest Is Resistance
Choosing to rest in a society that glorifies exhaustion is not weakness. It’s choosing self-preservation over self-punishment.
When you allow yourself to rest without guilt, you are:
- Reclaiming your time.
- Honoring your limits.
- Refusing to measure your worth by your output.
- Redefining what success means on your own terms.
Of course, it may feel uncomfortable at first. Self-doubt will creep in. Anxiety may whisper that you’re falling behind. But over time, you may begin to recognize the sacred value of having time to yourself. You’ll notice the power of rest in improving your emotional regulation, attention span, and overall mental well-being—benefits well-documented in psychological research on mindfulness and recovery.
#2 Unlink Worth from Work
You are not just what you do.
Your value doesn’t disappear when you’re not producing.
Start observing the language you use with yourself. If your inner voice says, “I haven’t earned rest today,” challenge that thought. Who decided rest had to be earned in the first place?
Try to appreciate moments of quiet not for what they lead to, but for what they are: nourishing, restorative and deeply important.
#3 Create Boundaries Around Rest
Boundaries are not just rules we set with others—they are acts of compassion we practice with ourselves.
Rest should have a dedicated time and space in your life. This means it’s not an opportunity you stumble upon, but a rhythm you create intentionally.
Boundaries around rest could look like:
- No emails after 8 p.m.
- A quiet morning walk before checking your phone.
- A day off without errands or chores.
#4 Rediscover the Self
Not every moment has to be maximized. Some of the most beautiful and healing experiences come when we allow ourselves to simply be.
Return to the activities you loved—not because they’re useful, but because they feel like you. If you’re resting, that alone is offering yourself something: presence, care and inner grounding.
#5 Practice Micro-Rest Throughout the Day
Rest doesn’t always require long breaks or vacations. Sometimes, it looks like taking 5 minutes to breathe with your eyes closed, stretching between meetings or seeking emotional rest through therapy
These pockets of stillness help create internal spaciousness, even on your busiest days.
The Courage to Slow Down
Rest doesn’t mean you’ve given up. It means you’re tuning in.
It doesn’t make you lazy. It makes you whole.
It’s not escape—it’s returning to yourself.
And that, in today’s world, is a beautiful and radical act.