Rest is Not Lazy, It's a Rebellion

Let me tell you a quick story.

A few years ago, I hit a wall. Not the metaphorical “I’m a little tired” kind — I’m talking a full-blown crash. At the time, I was juggling five young kids, managing three bustling studios, and juggling a team of twenty-five staff members. We're talking parenting, husbanding, bossing, birthdays, holidays, payroll, events, marketing, and more. My phone never stopped buzzing, the schedule never slowed down, and I had somehow become everyone’s go-to problem solver, motivator, fixer, and cheerleader.

I told myself I could handle it. That this was the life I signed up for. That being exhausted was just part of being driven and successful. I wore my hustle like a badge of honor. Pushed through every ache, every late night, every early morning. I told myself rest was for other people—the ones who didn’t have big dreams or responsibilities stacked sky-high.

But then, in the middle of a week — one of those days when you can’t remember the last time you ate, drank water, or sat down without multitasking — I did something I never let myself do:

I canceled everything.

I laid on the couch.

And I didn’t move.

No phone. No meditating. No productivity disguised as relaxation. Just silence. Stillness.

I game myself full permission to rest. And that moment changed everything.

And in that moment, with the world still spinning around me, something inside me finally stopped. I didn’t feel lazy. I felt powerful. I felt like, even if just for a moment, I was taking my life back — one breath, one boundary, one pause at a time.

We’ve been programmed to believe that rest is something we earn — only after the grind, the hustle, the parade of a strong work ethic. And even then, only if it’s the kind of rest that’s socially acceptable: the “I’ll just stretch while I check emails” kind, not the “I’m going to nap for no damn reason” kind.

But here's the truth:

Rest isn’t weakness. It’s resistance. It’s you saying: My worth is not defined by my output.

In a culture that glorifies burnout, your calm is countercultural. Your pause is powerful. Your stillness? Straight-up revolutionary!

Why Do We Resist Rest?

Because deep down, we've attached our value to how much we can do. Because we fear being seen as lazy, unproductive, or gasp, selfish. Because slowing down feels foreign in a world addicted to speed.

But here’s what they don’t tell you:

• Rest sharpens your mind. Clarity doesn’t come from chaos; it rises from stillness.

• Rest heals your body. Your nervous system craves downtime. It’s science, dude.

• Rest strengthens your spirit. When you rest, you reconnect — to yourself, to your truth, to your power.

What Does Rest Actually Do For You

So what’s the big deal? Why does rest matter so much beyond just “feeling better”? Because rest doesn’t just chill you out—it rebuilds you.

Physically

When you rest, your body kicks into recovery mode. Cortisol (your stress hormone) drops, muscles repair, inflammation lowers, and your immune system gets a boost. Sleep and downtime are when your body gets stronger, not weaker.

Your gains, your glow, and even your gut all depend on rest to thrive.

Mentally Rest clears the static. It helps your brain reset, boosts focus, sparks creativity, and makes you more emotionally resilient. When you’re rested, decisions come easier, reactions soften, and your perspective widens.

Think of it as a mental detox—you can’t think clearly in chaos.

Spiritually

Rest brings you back to center. It opens space for reflection, presence, and connection to something greater than the grind. When you rest, you hear the whispers of your intuition. You remember what actually matters.

Rest is sacred. It’s not time off—it’s time in.

Let's Rebrand Stress

Think of it like this: Rest is not what happens when you run out of energy — it’s how you generate more of it. It’s not the opposite of productivity; it’s part of the process. It’s not a luxury; it’s a birthright.

We've Been Sold a Life

We live in a culture that glorifies overdoing. Where exhaustion is worn like a status symbol. Where burnout is brushed off as the cost of success.

But let’s be honest: how’s that working out?

More anxiety. More resentment. More people dragging themselves through their days like zombies in yoga pants, pretending everything’s fine while their nervous systems scream for mercy.

We weren’t built for constant output. We’re cyclical, living, breathing beings—not machines. And ignoring that truth doesn’t make us stronger. It makes us suffer.

Rest Isn't Lazy. It's Strategy.

Here’s the truth: rest sharpens your edge.

It’s not weakness. It’s the recharge that makes your strength sustainable. It’s where clarity, creativity, and grounded leadership live. It’s how you avoid snapping at your partner, your kids, your team. It’s how you stay connected to the bigger vision without losing yourself in the grind.

Rest is your nervous system’s reset button. Your soul’s deep breath. Your body’s way of whispering, “I’ve got you—but only if you’ve got me.”

How to Make Rest Your Power Move

If rest feels hard, good. That means it matters. That means it’s the work.

Here’s where to start:

• Unplug without guilt. That screen isn't your boss.

• Schedule breaks like you schedule meetings. Yes, put “lay down and breathe” on your calendar.

• Say no without over-explaining. No is a full sentence—and a powerful boundary.

• Do less, better. Productivity isn’t about more. It’s about what matters.

You Don't Need to Earn Rest

You don’t have to crash before you pause. You don’t have to prove your worth by suffering. You don’t have to reach some imaginary finish line before you’re allowed to lay down and breathe.

You’re allowed to rest because you need it. Full stop.

And if that feels rebellious? Good. That means you’re waking up.

Let this be your reminder: rest is not lazy. It’s leadership.

And in a world that wants you drained, distracted, and disconnected—choosing to rest is the most radical thing you can do.

Now go lay down. The revolution can wait five minutes.