I used to be a workaholic. I still am, to some extent, Not as bad as I was. I worked on weekends, all hours of the night (even on holidays for years), and sometimes I used to work when I was supposed to be hanging out with my friends. Ask anyone who knows me, and they would agree that rest was never something I found necessary or beneficial. I felt like I had to earn rest before actually doing it. Growing up, if my siblings and I slept in on weekends or were resting, my Dad would tell us to get up, saying we slept the day away. We have all had to justify rest because if we are sick, then it is acceptable.
Still, we are seen as lazy and unproductive if we actually rest, even though it is productive because it’s a form of self-care. The fact that people don’t see rest as something important and necessary is a problem. And something we need to address.
Stress can lead to severe burnout.
What is burnout? Burnout is a state of emotional, physical, and mental exhaustion caused by excessive stress. It occurs when you feel overwhelmed, emotionally drained, and unable to meet demands.
This leaves you in a continual cycle that is hard to escape. It requires us to redefine and reframe what rest could and should be and understand that it’s necessary, not a luxury. We must stop feeling guilty because we aren’t doing anything wrong.
We live in a society that glamorizes work and hustle culture more than we prioritize resting. But if we actually reframed our thinking, we would be better overall. Not only would we feel more well-rested, but we would also find ourselves in a better mindset. We could also see added benefits in our professional lives.
So, rest how you want. It’s important. A proper work-life balance can benefit our overall lives, mood, and temperament. For some, that’s watching TV in bed all day. For others, that’s getting a massage or baking a family recipe. Plus, prioritizing rest can be an amazing example for other generations.
If you’ve ever felt this way, I’m sorry. Resting never was nor never should be something we don’t do or view as unnecessary. Don’t let how others think to influence your own opinion. Remember that you are worthy of good things, and relaxation is one of them.
Featured image via Andrea Piacquadio on Pexels
