There’s this weird thing that happens when everything finally slows down. You sit down for a second, maybe even think about doing absolutely nothing, and then boom, guilt shows up. Like, “Hey, shouldn’t you be folding laundry right now?” Or, “Pretty bold of you to relax when your inbox looks like that.”
How are you supposed to enjoy the art of relaxation when that little voice is rude? And it’s also lying. You need to know that rest is not something you have to earn. It’s not a reward for surviving the week, hitting all your goals, or being productive enough. It’s just… necessary. You get to rest because you’re a person, not a machine. And honestly, hustle culture is making that harder to remember than ever.
Hustle Culture is Back, and It’s Louder than Ever
Remember when everyone was talking about rest and balance, and slowing down for a while? That was cute and pretty nice. But it lasted maybe two years during COVID. Now, hustle culture is back and it’s dressed in crop tops and claw clips, doing “that girl” routines on TikTok with matcha lattes in one hand and a content calendar in the other.
It’s not even subtle anymore. The messages are everywhere again—if you’re not doing five things before sunrise, you’re falling behind. If you’re not monetizing your hobby, you’re wasting potential. If you’re not building something, you’re basically invisible. It’s like everyone decided burnout was trendy again.
And the worst part? Well, it’s all wrapped up in this shiny, hyper-aesthetic package that makes it feel like not being busy every second means you’re not trying hard enough. No wonder so many people feel like they have to explain why they’re taking a nap.
Photo by Tima Miroshnichenko
Rest is Not a Luxury
Oh yeah, so this seems to be a major one. So, there’s this belief floating around that the rest has to be justified. Like, you’ve got to prove how hard you’ve worked before you’re allowed to stop. That’s exhausting. Like, super exhausting, right? But overall, rest is not something that needs to be “earned” through stress or suffering. It’s not a luxury for the end of a to-do list.
Just generally speaking, rest is fuel. It’s recovery. It’s your brain saying, “Hey, I need a minute,” and your body backing it up. You don’t need to collapse before you sit down. You don’t need to prove anything before you pause.
Photo by Thought Catalog
Doing Nothing is Still Doing Something
This idea that “doing nothing” is bad? Well, that’s complete nonsense. Technically, if you really think about it, doing nothing is actually doing something; it’s letting your brain chill, your nervous system catch up, and your mood reset. And no, it doesn’t need to be optimized. Actually, don’t even let that word come into your head! You don’t need to journal during it. You don’t have to turn it into a morning routine.
Sometimes doing nothing means lying on the couch, zoning out, and playing Freecell for no reason other than it feels kind of nice. Really, just let your brain go numb for a bit (not to be confused with brain rot). But yeah, that counts. That’s the rest. And if anyone tries to tell you otherwise, they’re probably the kind of person who schedules their self-care like a business meeting (like why would you even do that to yourself?).
Why It Feels So Wrong to Rest
Well, a lot of this guilt comes from years of being told that productivity equals worth. If you’re not producing something, you’re wasting time. If you’re resting, you’re falling behind. And if you’re not stressed, you’re not working hard enough.
Unfortunately, that belief doesn’t just go away overnight. It lingers. So even when you know better, there’s still that twinge of guilt when you take a break. That’s normal. But it’s also something that can be unlearned.
Rest isn’t Just Naps and Bubble Baths
Rest can look a lot of different ways. Sometimes it’s a nap. Sometimes it’s saying no to plans. Sometimes it’s letting the house be messy for one more day because cleaning it right now would push you over the edge. It doesn’t always feel so cute. Sometimes it just feels like finally sitting down and taking a breath.
And no, it doesn’t have to be earned. You don’t have to tick five boxes before you’re allowed to stop. But really, you’re allowed to rest just because you need to. That’s the whole reason. That’s enough.
Stop Measuring Worth by Output
Yes! Yes! Yes! Okay, so, for this one, it just can’t be stressed enough! So, being busy doesn’t mean you’re doing great. And being exhausted isn’t a badge of honor. You don’t get a gold star for pushing through burnout. You just get more burnout. Constant hustle makes people forget that life isn’t meant to feel like one long checklist.
Also, your worth isn’t tied to how much you get done. It’s not based on how early you wake up or how full your calendar is. Productivity can be cool, sure, but so is sitting outside and doing nothing for a while. So is going to bed early or saying, “Yeah, I’m not doing much today.”
The Internet Doesn’t Need an Update
Nobody needs to know what you’re doing all the time. Actually, it’s no one’s business to begin with. You don’t have to post a picture of your to-do list or share your “day off” routine. You don’t owe the internet proof that you’re worthy of rest. You don’t need to explain your slow day. You’re not falling behind if someone else looks more productive online.
Photo by Marcus Aurelius
Stillness is a Form of Strength Too
Now, sure, it’s easy to forget this, but stillness isn’t weakness. It’s a strength. It’s what allows your mind to reset and your body to catch up. But again, rest doesn’t make you lazy. It makes you human. The hustle doesn’t stop. The internet never sleeps. But that doesn’t mean you have to live in go-mode. You’re allowed to tap out. You’re allowed to unplug. You’re allowed to do absolutely nothing and not feel bad about it.
There’s this weird thing that happens when everything finally slows down. You sit down for a second, maybe even think about doing absolutely nothing, and then boom, guilt shows up. Like, “Hey, shouldn’t you be folding laundry right now?” Or, “Pretty bold of you to relax when your inbox looks like that.”
How are you supposed to enjoy the art of relaxation when that little voice is rude? And it’s also lying. You need to know that rest is not something you have to earn. It’s not a reward for surviving the week, hitting all your goals, or being productive enough. It’s just… necessary. You get to rest because you’re a person, not a machine. And honestly, hustle culture is making that harder to remember than ever.
Hustle Culture is Back, and It’s Louder than Ever
Remember when everyone was talking about rest and balance, and slowing down for a while? That was cute and pretty nice. But it lasted maybe two years during COVID. Now, hustle culture is back and it’s dressed in crop tops and claw clips, doing “that girl” routines on TikTok with matcha lattes in one hand and a content calendar in the other.
It’s not even subtle anymore. The messages are everywhere again—if you’re not doing five things before sunrise, you’re falling behind. If you’re not monetizing your hobby, you’re wasting potential. If you’re not building something, you’re basically invisible. It’s like everyone decided burnout was trendy again.
And the worst part? Well, it’s all wrapped up in this shiny, hyper-aesthetic package that makes it feel like not being busy every second means you’re not trying hard enough. No wonder so many people feel like they have to explain why they’re taking a nap.
Rest is Not a Luxury
Oh yeah, so this seems to be a major one. So, there’s this belief floating around that the rest has to be justified. Like, you’ve got to prove how hard you’ve worked before you’re allowed to stop. That’s exhausting. Like, super exhausting, right? But overall, rest is not something that needs to be “earned” through stress or suffering. It’s not a luxury for the end of a to-do list.
Just generally speaking, rest is fuel. It’s recovery. It’s your brain saying, “Hey, I need a minute,” and your body backing it up. You don’t need to collapse before you sit down. You don’t need to prove anything before you pause.
Doing Nothing is Still Doing Something
This idea that “doing nothing” is bad? Well, that’s complete nonsense. Technically, if you really think about it, doing nothing is actually doing something; it’s letting your brain chill, your nervous system catch up, and your mood reset. And no, it doesn’t need to be optimized. Actually, don’t even let that word come into your head! You don’t need to journal during it. You don’t have to turn it into a morning routine.
Sometimes doing nothing means lying on the couch, zoning out, and playing Freecell for no reason other than it feels kind of nice. Really, just let your brain go numb for a bit (not to be confused with brain rot). But yeah, that counts. That’s the rest. And if anyone tries to tell you otherwise, they’re probably the kind of person who schedules their self-care like a business meeting (like why would you even do that to yourself?).
Why It Feels So Wrong to Rest
Well, a lot of this guilt comes from years of being told that productivity equals worth. If you’re not producing something, you’re wasting time. If you’re resting, you’re falling behind. And if you’re not stressed, you’re not working hard enough.
Unfortunately, that belief doesn’t just go away overnight. It lingers. So even when you know better, there’s still that twinge of guilt when you take a break. That’s normal. But it’s also something that can be unlearned.
Rest isn’t Just Naps and Bubble Baths
Rest can look a lot of different ways. Sometimes it’s a nap. Sometimes it’s saying no to plans. Sometimes it’s letting the house be messy for one more day because cleaning it right now would push you over the edge. It doesn’t always feel so cute. Sometimes it just feels like finally sitting down and taking a breath.
And no, it doesn’t have to be earned. You don’t have to tick five boxes before you’re allowed to stop. But really, you’re allowed to rest just because you need to. That’s the whole reason. That’s enough.
Stop Measuring Worth by Output
Yes! Yes! Yes! Okay, so, for this one, it just can’t be stressed enough! So, being busy doesn’t mean you’re doing great. And being exhausted isn’t a badge of honor. You don’t get a gold star for pushing through burnout. You just get more burnout. Constant hustle makes people forget that life isn’t meant to feel like one long checklist.
Also, your worth isn’t tied to how much you get done. It’s not based on how early you wake up or how full your calendar is. Productivity can be cool, sure, but so is sitting outside and doing nothing for a while. So is going to bed early or saying, “Yeah, I’m not doing much today.”
The Internet Doesn’t Need an Update
Nobody needs to know what you’re doing all the time. Actually, it’s no one’s business to begin with. You don’t have to post a picture of your to-do list or share your “day off” routine. You don’t owe the internet proof that you’re worthy of rest. You don’t need to explain your slow day. You’re not falling behind if someone else looks more productive online.
Stillness is a Form of Strength Too
Now, sure, it’s easy to forget this, but stillness isn’t weakness. It’s a strength. It’s what allows your mind to reset and your body to catch up. But again, rest doesn’t make you lazy. It makes you human. The hustle doesn’t stop. The internet never sleeps. But that doesn’t mean you have to live in go-mode. You’re allowed to tap out. You’re allowed to unplug. You’re allowed to do absolutely nothing and not feel bad about it.
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