Did You Really Rest This Weekend?
How many times have you said, “This weekend, I’m going to rest”? You picture a quiet morning with coffee, maybe a nap, catching up on your favorite show — just some real downtime. But then Saturday hits, and life comes calling. Groceries, laundry, errands, kids, catching up on work, cleaning out that one closet you’ve been meaning to get to for weeks. By Sunday night, you’ve barely sat down — and suddenly it’s time to prep for Monday all over again.
That’s not rest. That’s productivity disguised as rest.
Sometimes, our bodies will do for us what we won’t do for ourselves — they shut down. You find yourself nodding off mid-show or waking up and realizing you’ve slept half the day away. Not because you’re lazy or unmotivated, but because your body is waving a white flag. It’s saying: Please. Just let me stop.
This past weekend, I had plans. A to-do list. People to see. But I also wanted to build in time to rest. Life had other plans — or maybe my body did. I felt under the weather and spent most of the weekend curled up on the couch, dozing in and out, watching TV and not moving much. At first, I felt frustrated. But then I realized: This is what my body needed.
So here’s a gentle reminder:
Rest is not something we earn after checking off every item on a to-do list. Rest is a need — just like food, water, or sleep. When we continuously override our signals for rest, it catches up with us. In our mood. Our energy. Our ability to be present and cope.
If you’re constantly tired, overwhelmed, or running on fumes, it may not be a time management issue — it might be a boundaries issue.
Here are a few things to reflect on as you enter the week:
When was the last time you rested without guilt?
Do you feel the need to “earn” your rest? Why?
Are you listening when your body says “slow down”? Or do you keep pushing through?
Self-care isn’t always bubble baths or yoga.
Sometimes it’s saying no to a commitment so you can go to bed early.
Sometimes it’s letting the laundry wait one more day.
Sometimes it’s recognizing that “busy” isn’t always “better.”
Let this be a reminder: Rest is not a luxury. It’s a necessity. And the more we normalize giving ourselves permission to slow down, the more we protect our mental health.
This week, I hope you make space for real rest — not just downtime filled with obligations, but true, restorative rest. The kind that refuels you, not drains you.
You deserve it!
