Heads up! I still have some space in my 2025 Producers Groups. You can learn more in my latest Substack post about them here.
We all have an ethical responsibility to rest.
Rest may appear to be selfish, but it’s not. By resting, we aren’t just taking care of ourselves—we’re ensuring we can support the people who depend on us, whether at work or at home.
When we neglect rest, we are at greater risk for burnout and poor decision making. When we’re too tired to think clearly or make good choices, we risk letting others down. Rest isn’t just personal—it’s how we fulfill our role as reliable, thoughtful members of our teams and communities.
Rest reminds us to honor our limits as human beings and embrace our interconnectedness. By taking care of ourselves, we set an example that can inspire others to do the same.
Rest acknowledges the fact that we are all interdependent and we must take responsibility for our part. By resting, we uphold our role in the larger system we all depend on.
Rest is not a luxury. Rest is not a sign of weakness. Rest is not earned.
How to Rest
Any way you choose.
Rest is the intentional practice of stepping away from effort, stress, or productivity to restore energy, clarity, and balance.
Rest is a nap, a cup of tea, a sexy romance novel. Rest is an awe walk, a hot bath, a catch up call with a friend. Rest is snowboarding, a glass of wine, preparing a yummy meal. Rest is binging The Diplomat Season Two, journaling, gardening. Rest is painting, scrapbooking, knitting. Rest is daydreaming, dancing, meditating.
Rest is a Productive Force
Ironically, rest isn’t a passive indulgence—it’s a productive force that fuels our capacity to think clearly, act wisely, and sustain our efforts over time. Here are four ways rest helps productivity and responsibility:
Enhances Focus and Creativity: Rest allows the brain to process information, make connections, and generate new ideas, leading to better problem-solving and innovation when you return to work.
Improves Long-Term Performance: Regular rest helps prevent burnout and sustains energy over time. It sustains productivity rather than having short bursts followed by exhaustion.
Strengthens Decision-Making: Rested minds are less prone to impulsive decisions and more capable of thoughtful, strategic thinking, leading to better outcomes in work and life.
Builds Resilience: Rest strengthens your ability to bounce back from challenges by giving your body and mind the recovery time they need to handle stress and adapt to change.
Rest, as you can see, is both a personal necessity and a shared responsibility that enhances how we show up for ourselves and others.
Bottom Line
Rest is not just about feeling better or performing better—it’s about doing right by yourself and others. When we rest, we fulfill an ethical responsibility to care for our well-being so we can show up for those who rely on us.
When you choose rest, you’re choosing clarity over chaos, sustainability over burnout, and strength over struggle. Rest reminds us that we’re human, with limits that need honoring, and that our actions ripple out to the people and communities around us.
By choosing rest, we uphold our shared responsibility to contribute with clarity, resilience, and purpose. To that end, I am taking a three week break so I will be slow to respond to comments and DMs. You’ll still be hearing from me, but that’s because I was able to write and pre-record posts before my big break. I hope you have a wonderful restful holiday season.
Journal Prompts
Here are three journal prompts to help you deepen your understanding and relationship with rest.
Reflect on Your Relationship with Rest: When was the last time you truly allowed yourself to rest without guilt? What beliefs or feelings come up when you think about taking a break?
Explore the Impact of Rest: Think of a time when rest helped you bounce back from a challenge or make a better decision. How did it change your energy, focus, or interactions with others?
Redefine Rest for Yourself: What does rest mean to you personally? What activities or practices help you feel restored, and how can you prioritize those more intentionally in your life?
What’s Coming Next Week
As the new year approaches, many of us feel the urge to set resolutions, only to watch them fizzle out by February. What if we shifted our focus to reflection instead? Reflection isn’t about grading last year’s performance—it’s about slowing down, gaining insight, and making intentional choices rooted in understanding. Next week, I’ll be sharing the journal prompts from the Great Journal Jam if you weren’t able to attend, or want to revisit or share them with a loved one.
🙌🏾 Questions? Would you like additional support in accessing resilience? I offer private coaching sessions as well as in-person and virtual group work. Reach out directly here to set up a complimentary consultation.
If you’re resonating with what you’re reading, please consider becoming a paid subscriber. What’s that mean?
You’ll receive weekly blogs with tools and resources to help you reconnect with your resilience after experiencing a professional loss or failure so you come back even stronger in your career.
These newsletters are available to read, listen or watch — I’m a big believer in accessibility for all. You can also listen on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. You can also watch on YouTube.
Be in conversation with me and a beautiful, supportive community through comments, threads and chats.
Access to the full archive of posts.
Early bird 20% premium discount for in-person workshops and retreats.
Share this post