WHEN REST FEELS WRONG

Ever have those days when your body is practically begging you to slow down, but your mind jumps in saying, “You should be doing something.” Maybe that voice isn’t occasional for you. Maybe it’s a daily noise. No judgment here. I literally have a plaque that says, “Sometimes it’s OK if the only thing you did today was breathe.” It’s not just décor…it’s a personal reminder I need to see every day. Somewhere along the way, your brain learned that staying busy is necessary—that if you keep moving, you don’t have to sit with the heavy stuff: the grief, the guilt, the anger, the discomfort. Whatever it is, constant motion has become a distraction from it. Now you need to shift your thinking patterns to teach your brain that rest is how your body and mind recharge. Rest is part of healing.

How about that guilt bubble that shows up when you try to rest? It’s not proof you’re doing something wrong. It’s actually a sign that your nervous system is learning something new. You’re breaking an old cycle. You’re unlearning the unhealthy coping pattern. Just meet yourself where you are—yes, the classic therapy phrase, but it’s classic for a reason! Maybe your version of rest isn’t total stillness. Maybe it’s slow cooking while your favorite playlist hums in the background. Maybe it’s folding laundry quietly. Maybe it’s a walk without a goal or a destination. Rest doesn’t always mean stopping completely, it can simply mean changing your pace with intention! If you have worked with me and this relates to you, chances are you have supportively been challenged with this reframing more than a few times. It takes time and that is ok.

Whether you’re healing emotionally, mentally, or physically, lean into these affirmations when the guilt creeps in and the change of pace is difficult:

I am allowed to rest without guilt.

I am allowed to do nothing and still be enough.

It’s okay if this feels uncomfortable.

I’m not lazy—I’m healing.

Rest, recharge, and keep growing.

I refuse to make burnout my normal.

I’m not racing to meet anyone else’s expectations. My pace is mine to own.

Pause. Take that breath.  Slow down and keep moving forward at whatever damn pace you choose.

Julie