Permission to Pause: Why Rest Isn’t Wasted Time (and Why Doing Nothing Isn’t the Only Way to Rest)
In a culture that glorifies busyness, pausing can feel uncomfortable. Many of us carry an invisible pressure to keep going, to be productive, to tick off the next thing on our list. Rest is often seen as “wasted time” — a luxury for when everything else is finished.
But here’s the truth: rest isn’t wasted, it’s essential. And it doesn’t always mean lying on the sofa doing nothing. Rest can be active, creative, restorative, or social. It’s about giving your mind, body, and spirit what they need to replenish, not about checking out.
💡 Rest is More Than Stopping
When people hear “rest,” they often picture sitting still, scrolling on a phone, or napping. While stillness has its place, real rest can take many forms. Dr. Saundra Dalton-Smith (author of Sacred Rest) describes seven types of rest we all need: physical, mental, emotional, sensory, creative, social, and spiritual.
That means rest might look like:
Taking a mindful walk outside
Listening to music that lifts your mood
Switching off screens to give your senses a break
Journaling to untangle thoughts
Sharing a cup of tea with someone who nourishes you
Allowing yourself space to daydream
Rest is personal. What restores you may look very different from someone else.
🌱 Why Pausing Feels So Hard
Many people feel guilty about slowing down. Hustle culture teaches us that our value is tied to what we achieve, not who we are. This can make it hard to pause without that inner voice whispering, “Shouldn’t you be doing something?”
As a counsellor, I often hear clients say they feel they must “earn” rest. But rest isn’t a prize at the finish line — it’s part of the journey. Without it, our bodies burn out, our emotions fray, and our creativity runs dry.
🌸 Giving Yourself Permission
Pausing isn’t laziness — it’s an act of self-compassion. Think of it as tending a garden: the soil needs time to recover if you want new growth to flourish.
Try experimenting with these small pauses:
Two-minute breaks between tasks to stretch or breathe
Unplugged evenings once a week to rest your senses
Creative play — doodling, baking, or writing without a goal
Intentional silence — sitting with a cup of tea and noticing how your body feels
The key is intention. Rest doesn’t have to be long, but it does need to be purposeful.
🌟 A Gentle Reminder
Rest is not wasted time. It’s an investment in your wellbeing. By giving yourself permission to pause — in ways that truly restore you — you’re not falling behind. You’re building resilience, clarity, and energy to step back into life more fully.
So next time you feel guilty for resting, remember: rest isn’t something to earn. It’s something you deserve.
