Rest as Resistance: Reclaiming What Exhaustion Took From You
Let This Be a Season of Gentleness
There’s a moment many of us recognize
a quiet pause in the day when your body whispers, “I can’t keep doing this,”
yet somehow… you keep going anyway.
Our culture has a way of convincing us that exhaustion is normal.
That productivity is the measure of worth.
That slowing down is indulgent.
That rest is something you earn, not something you need.
But for trauma survivors, perfectionists, overfunctioners, caregivers, and the chronically overwhelmed, the message sinks even deeper:
“If I stop, everything will fall apart.”
“If I rest, I’ll lose my place.”
“If I slow down, someone will be disappointed.”
And so we push.
And push.
And push.
Until our bodies start speaking louder than our schedules.
When Productivity Becomes Armor
If you grew up walking on eggshells…
if you were praised for being “responsible” or “strong”…
if you learned to hide your needs to keep peace…
if achievement became your way of proving you were enough…
then productivity may have become more than a habit.
It may have become armor.
A way to stay one step ahead of disappointment.
A way to keep chaos at bay.
A way to avoid feeling what was too heavy to hold.
Of course slowing down feels impossible.
Of course rest feels unfamiliar.
Of course you freeze when you try to take a break.
Your body isn’t resisting rest.It’s protecting you.
And protection is something we honor, not shame.
Rest Begins With Permission, Not Perfection
Rest doesn’t have to look like a retreat, a day off, or a peaceful nap.
Sometimes rest is shutting the door for five minutes,
letting the dishes wait, taking one conscious breath,
feeling your feet on the floor,
closing your eyes even when your mind keeps going,
or softening your shoulders while you’re still in motion.
It can be messy, uneven, and far from perfect
but it still counts, because real rest isn’t about escaping your life,
it’s about offering yourself a moment of gentleness inside it.
You’re Allowed to Slow Down Without Collapsing
If the idea of resting feels overwhelming, know this:
You don’t have to leap into stillness.
You don’t have to force calm.
You don’t have to dismantle every coping mechanism at once.
You deserve support as you learn to slow down safely.
This is something you don’t have to navigate alone.
If your relationship with rest feels tangled, frightening, or unfamiliar, I’d love to walk with you as you untangle it at your pace, in your time.