By
Let’s be honest - we’ve all had that moment. It’s 6 pm, you’ve officially smashed a productive day (or maybe you haven’t), and you’re torn between answering one more email or collapsing onto the couch with overwhelming streaming choices at your finger tips and a bowl of cheesy pasta. One voice whispers you deserve this. The other shouts... you should be doing more.
Downtime guilt. Productivity shame. That gnawing feeling that relaxing is somehow… wrong. Sound familiar?
Here’s the thing: we live in a world that equates being busy with being worthy. From ‘that girl’ routines to hustle culture hashtags, we’re sold this narrative that if we’re not constantly improving, building, running, ticking or goal-smashing, we’re falling behind.
But the truth? That mindset is exhausting, and unsustainable. And if you’ve ever crashed spectacularly after pushing too hard for too long (hi! Guilty as charged), you’ll know exactly what I mean.
Rest is not a reward. It’s a requirement.
Somewhere along the line, many of us have internalised this idea that rest is something we earn. That we need to complete X amount of tasks before we’re allowed to watch trashy reality TV or scroll our TikTok fyp. But that logic is flawed.
Downtime isn’t the opposite of productivity - it’s part of it.
Just like athletes need recovery days to train effectively, we need intentional rest to show up fully in our work, relationships and creative lives. As journalist Tony Schwartz puts it, humans are designed to perform best in cycles of intense focus followed by intentional renewal. So when you take that break, you’re not slacking - you’re investing.
Separate your feelings from the facts
It’s normal to feel a bit guilty when you choose rest, especially if you’re wired to equate your worth with your output (calling out all my fellow recovering perfectionists). But feelings aren’t facts. Feeling guilty doesn’t mean you’re lazy, undisciplined or letting the team down. It just means you’re human and probably in need of a break.
Instead of spiralling, try naming what you’re feeling (“I see you, productivity guilt”) and then lovingly reminding yourself: I don’t need to earn my rest. My value is not tied to how many things I tick off today.
Build better boundaries (and rituals)
If your workdays bleed into your evenings, or your 'breaks' involve half-watching Netflix while answering Slack messages - no wonder you don’t feel rested. Rest has to be intentional.
Set boundaries that protect your time and energy. Switch off. Literally, close the laptop, put your phone in a drawer, light a candle and do something that fills your cup without trying to justify it. Rest doesn’t need to be productive to be valuable.
Celebrate your downtime like you celebrate your wins
Here’s a fun idea for those who are Type A: start tracking your rest like you track your goals. Give yourself gold stars for slow mornings. Tick off ‘everything shower’ on your to-do list. Count a night in with your favourite comfort movie as a major life achievement; because honestly, sometimes it is.
The point isn’t to gamify your self-care. It’s to reframe it. To remind yourself that rest is an accomplishment. That joy is worthwhile. That watching a bad romcom for the fiftieth time is sometimes the best thing you can do for your brain, body and soul.
Downtime guilt. Productivity shame. That gnawing feeling that relaxing is somehow… wrong. Sound familiar?
Here’s the thing: we live in a world that equates being busy with being worthy. From ‘that girl’ routines to hustle culture hashtags, we’re sold this narrative that if we’re not constantly improving, building, running, ticking or goal-smashing, we’re falling behind.
But the truth? That mindset is exhausting, and unsustainable. And if you’ve ever crashed spectacularly after pushing too hard for too long (hi! Guilty as charged), you’ll know exactly what I mean.
Rest is not a reward. It’s a requirement.
Somewhere along the line, many of us have internalised this idea that rest is something we earn. That we need to complete X amount of tasks before we’re allowed to watch trashy reality TV or scroll our TikTok fyp. But that logic is flawed.
Downtime isn’t the opposite of productivity - it’s part of it.
Just like athletes need recovery days to train effectively, we need intentional rest to show up fully in our work, relationships and creative lives. As journalist Tony Schwartz puts it, humans are designed to perform best in cycles of intense focus followed by intentional renewal. So when you take that break, you’re not slacking - you’re investing.
Separate your feelings from the facts
It’s normal to feel a bit guilty when you choose rest, especially if you’re wired to equate your worth with your output (calling out all my fellow recovering perfectionists). But feelings aren’t facts. Feeling guilty doesn’t mean you’re lazy, undisciplined or letting the team down. It just means you’re human and probably in need of a break.
Instead of spiralling, try naming what you’re feeling (“I see you, productivity guilt”) and then lovingly reminding yourself: I don’t need to earn my rest. My value is not tied to how many things I tick off today.
Build better boundaries (and rituals)
If your workdays bleed into your evenings, or your 'breaks' involve half-watching Netflix while answering Slack messages - no wonder you don’t feel rested. Rest has to be intentional.
Set boundaries that protect your time and energy. Switch off. Literally, close the laptop, put your phone in a drawer, light a candle and do something that fills your cup without trying to justify it. Rest doesn’t need to be productive to be valuable.
Celebrate your downtime like you celebrate your wins
Here’s a fun idea for those who are Type A: start tracking your rest like you track your goals. Give yourself gold stars for slow mornings. Tick off ‘everything shower’ on your to-do list. Count a night in with your favourite comfort movie as a major life achievement; because honestly, sometimes it is.
The point isn’t to gamify your self-care. It’s to reframe it. To remind yourself that rest is an accomplishment. That joy is worthwhile. That watching a bad romcom for the fiftieth time is sometimes the best thing you can do for your brain, body and soul.
Because burnout isn’t a badge of honour
Look, I’m all for ambition. I love a good goal. But not at the expense of my peace. And definitely not at the cost of my identity.
So, if you’ve been craving permission to rest, here it is: you don’t need to do more to be more. Your worth is not measured in emails sent, meetings attended or boxes ticked.
Sometimes, the most radical thing you can do in a world obsessed with doing - is nothing at all.
So, go on. Put your feet up. Watch the show. Sleep-in on your Sunday morning. Pick up your grocery shopping tomorrow night and open that frozen pizza instead. Do the thing that makes you feel like you. And revel in it, guilt-free.
Blissful hedonism is in. Unnecessary burnout? Over it.
Look, I’m all for ambition. I love a good goal. But not at the expense of my peace. And definitely not at the cost of my identity.
So, if you’ve been craving permission to rest, here it is: you don’t need to do more to be more. Your worth is not measured in emails sent, meetings attended or boxes ticked.
Sometimes, the most radical thing you can do in a world obsessed with doing - is nothing at all.
So, go on. Put your feet up. Watch the show. Sleep-in on your Sunday morning. Pick up your grocery shopping tomorrow night and open that frozen pizza instead. Do the thing that makes you feel like you. And revel in it, guilt-free.
Blissful hedonism is in. Unnecessary burnout? Over it.