When was the last time you really rested? Not just crashed on the couch after a long day, but chose rest—on purpose, without guilt, without multitasking?
In a recent episode of the With Counseling podcast, we explored this exact question. While rest might not be the reason most people walk through our doors, it almost always becomes part of the conversation. Why? Because underneath the stress, burnout, anxiety, or even a vague sense that life just isn’t working anymore—there’s often a deep, unmet need for rest.
We Live in a World That Rewards Hustle
Culturally, we treat rest like something you earn. Do all the things, check off your list, and then you can relax. But what happens when the list never ends? Weekends fill with errands and obligations. Even downtime becomes productive—catching up on laundry, organizing the closet, finally replying to that one email.
The result? You end up exhausted, not just physically but emotionally and mentally too. That’s burnout—and it can sneak up on you. One day, the things that used to bring you joy just… don’t. Motivation drops. You’re dreading Monday before Sunday’s even over.
What Burnout Really Feels Like
Burnout isn’t just about being tired. It’s about being depleted. If you’re usually a high achiever, it might show up as lower motivation or performance at work. Or you might find yourself being more irritable, anxious, or emotionally flat in your relationships. You may not even notice you’re burned out until you’re really in it—when it feels like you hit a wall and can’t keep going.
We’ve been there too. (Really—we shared some personal stories on the podcast.)
So What Counts as Rest?
Here’s the thing: rest isn’t always sleeping or taking a nap. It’s anything that allows your body and mind to breathe. It’s doing something simply because you enjoy it—not because it “accomplishes” something.
That could be reading a book for fun, taking a meandering walk through the park, cooking a slow meal you love, or—yes—getting the 7–8 hours of sleep your body actually needs every night. Rest can be active, slow, quiet, creative, solo, or social. The key? It’s restorative.
The Cumulative Load
Something we talked about on the podcast that struck a chord was the cumulative effect of everything we do. It’s not just one stressful job, or one busy home life, or one tough workout plan—it’s all of it together that depletes us. Yet we often compartmentalize our lives and don’t realize just how much we’re carrying until we’re overwhelmed.
It’s not weakness to need rest—it’s wisdom.
A Practical First Step: Make Your List
Here’s one actionable idea: make a list of everything on your plate—daily tasks, weekly responsibilities, quarterly commitments. Don’t just think about this week. Think about this season of your life. What have you said “yes” to without checking if it still fits?
Then, ask:
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Is this still serving me (or my family, or my values)?
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Is this something I can step back from—maybe permanently or just for this season?
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What could I say “no” to in the future to protect more space for rest?
You could even do this activity with a friend or partner. Sometimes we need someone else to reflect what we’ve normalized. They might see burnout patterns we’ve missed.
And Then—Schedule the Rest
Once you’ve cleared some space, look at your calendar again. Where could you put rest on purpose? Maybe it’s a slow Saturday morning without errands. Or a lunch break where you sit and breathe instead of rush around. Rest doesn’t always show up on its own—you often have to create it.
Remember, your worth is not measured by your productivity. And no one (not even you) can run at 100 mph forever.
Rest isn’t a luxury. It’s a necessity. And it might be the very thing that allows you to show up fully—in your work, in your family, and for yourself.