😌 It's Okay to Relax Sometimes; What is Rest?

What is Rest?

Rest, to me, is more than sleep. It’s a return—to myself. It’s the quiet space where I can finally hear my thoughts without the noise of urgency. It’s when I stop performing, achieving, fixing, and instead, just am.

Rest isn’t always a nap or a day off. Sometimes it’s ten minutes of deep breathing in the car before I walk into work. Sometimes it’s putting my phone down and remembering what silence feels like. It’s choosing not to be productive for the sake of being enough.

There was a time I believed rest had to be earned. That I had to “deserve” it by being busy enough or stressed enough. Now, I’m learning that rest is a right, not a reward. My body asks for it, and when I don’t listen, it finds ways to make me.

Rest is where healing begins. It’s where I reconnect—with peace, with presence, with purpose. And in those moments of slowing down, I remember: I am not a machine. I’m a person. And I’m allowed to pause.

“Our nervous system isn’t built for constant stimulation—without rest, we operate in survival mode, not creativity or connection.” – Unknown

“Rest is not a reward for success—it’s a prerequisite for resilience.” – Unknown

“It’s not the load that breaks you down, it’s the way you carry it.” – Lena Horne

Pacific MFT Network therapists understand the importance of rest. If you want support to reduce stress, anxiety, overwhelm, sleeplessness, physical symptoms, and eating poorly, reach out to one of our fantastic therapists. https://www.pacificmft.com/therapist-info/meet-our-team