Why Do We Feel Guilty for Resting?
A reflection on rest in a world that rarely slows down.
Reading time: 2 minutes
Have you ever noticed how difficult it can be to truly rest?
You finally have a free afternoon.
All the to-dos are done.
Nothing is asking for your attention.
But you still feel like you should be doing something.
you’re not alone.
We live in a world that celebrates productivity and often treats slowing down as something to be earned. That could be why rest can feel uncomfortable at first.
The next time you find yourself feeling guilty for resting,
pause for a moment and notice what your mind is telling you.
What thoughts come up when you try to rest? Maybe you notice something in your body too, or an urge to get up and do something.
Take a moment to notice what is there without judging yourself for it.
Then notice whether you’re waiting for a reason to give yourself permission to rest.
There may still be things you could do. There usually are. That doesn’t make the time you spend resting any less valuable.
You don’t have to reach burnout before rest becomes important.
There will always be something else that could use your attention.
Rest can have a place in your life before everything is finished
and before every worry has gone away.
Nature & Sound is a place to slow down and reconnect through sound baths, guided meditations, and reflections on slower living. Whether our paths cross at a future sound bath, through a meditation, or in a Quiet Note, I’m grateful you’re here.
I hope this reflection encouraged you to slow down for a moment and reconnect with what you’ve been needing, in whatever way that looks like for you.
— Dominique
