Ever told yourself “I’ll rest once I get everything done” - only to find that somehow everything never quite gets done? This is rest guilt.
Whether it's ticking off your to-do list, replying to one last email or finally getting around to defrosting the freezer, we’ve all fallen into the trap of treating rest like a prize we unlock for being productive enough. But here’s the truth: rest isn’t something you have to earn. It’s something you need. Regularly. And not just when you’ve hit breaking point.
The Hustle Hangover
We’ve inherited a weird cultural obsession with busyness. Somewhere along the line, being constantly “on” became a status symbol. If you're not juggling 17 things and low-key exhausted at all times, are you even trying?
This hustle culture has taught us that being busy equals being valuable, which makes slowing down feel like slacking off. That’s why so many of us feel a pang of guilt when we sit down to rest. Especially when there’s laundry to fold and friends waiting for a reply on whatsapp. But always being “productive” comes at a cost, and more often than not, that cost is your peace of mind.
Rest Isn’t Lazy. It’s Biological.
Repeat after us: your brain needs breaks. So does your body. Rest isn’t just sleep - we use energy in different ways so we need to rest in different ways too. Rest can be any kind of pause that lets your nervous system breathe - like going for a slow walk, reading a book for fun, or simply doing nothing at all. Not every moment has to be “used” for something.
In fact, studies have shown that regular rest boosts memory, creativity, and decision-making. It helps you avoid burnout. It supports your immune system. It makes you better at everything else you do. We like to think of it this way: your phone doesn’t work efficiently when the battery is at 1%, so nor will you.
When You Treat Rest Like a Reward, It Stops Working
The problem with making rest something you have to “earn” is that it turns it into just another task to squeeze in.
You finish a long day at work, finally sit down with a cuppa, and instead of relaxing, you’re thinking about all the things you should be doing. You’re still in that productivity mindset, except now you’re feeling guilty about not being productive. So you’re not properly resting.
This is where rest loses its magic. It starts feeling like procrastination, not restoration. And eventually, your body will force you to rest, in the form of burnout, brain fog, or feeling permanently knackered.
Reframing Rest: A Basic Need, Not a Bonus
What if we stopped seeing rest as a treat, and started seeing it as the foundation? Like brushing your teeth or drinking water, rest isn’t optional. It’s not something you squeeze in when you’ve been “good”. It’s the thing that lets you function. It’s what helps you show up - at work, in relationships, and for yourself - as someone who’s not just surviving the week, but actually living it. When you bake regular rest into your routine, everything else becomes easier to handle.
5 Ways to Make Rest Non-Negotiable (And Guilt-Free)
If you're not sure where to start, try this:
- Put rest in your calendar
Schedule time to switch off, just like you’d schedule a meeting. Even a 30-minute window in the evening can help.
- Start your to-do list with a restful activity
Yep. put “go for a walk” or “read 10 pages” at the top. It sets the tone for the day and reminds you it matters.
- Try the 15-minute pause
Midday slump? Instead of reaching for your phone, close your laptop and do nothing for 15 minutes. No agenda. Just… pause.
- Reframe rest as maintenance
You don’t “deserve” to rest, you need to. Just like your car needs fuel or your laptop needs updates.
- Use tools that support switching off
If you struggle to rest because your phone’s always buzzing, try physically locking it away. (We might know a place that can help with that…)
So, next time you catch yourself thinking “I haven’t earned a break yet”, flip the script. You’re not a machine. You’re a human being who deserves to feel calm, grounded, and well-rested, not just when everything else is done, but as you go. And if your brain needs a bit of help remembering that, a few days offline in a cabin might just do the trick.
Want to give yourself the rest you don’t have to earn? Book a 3-day digital detox with Unplugged. You’ll come back feeling like you’ve hit reset — no phone required.
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