Permission to Slow Down
Let’s talk about the pressure to keep going.
To stay productive. To “maximize” every hour. To squeeze value out of every minute, like rest is something you can only have after you’ve done enough.
But what if you don’t need to be exhausted to deserve a break?
I’ve learned that rest isn’t a reward. It’s a rhythm. And giving myself permission to slow down—before I burn out—has changed everything.
1. Redefining Rest
Rest isn’t just sleep. It’s not laziness. And it’s not always passive.
Rest is anything that returns you to yourself. That recenters you. That softens the constant hum of urgency in your body and mind.
Actionable Step: Ask yourself: What actually feels restful to me? A walk? A playlist? A solo grocery trip with no rush? Start there.
2. Stop Waiting to “Deserve” It
So many of us push through because we feel like we haven’t done enough to justify rest.
But if your phone battery is at 2%, you don’t wait for it to hit 0% to plug it in. You charge it. Without question. You should get to do the same for yourself.
Actionable Step: This week, schedule a 30-minute block just for rest. Not because you’ve earned it—because you need it.
3. Build In Slowness on Purpose
You don’t have to overhaul your life. Just give yourself space inside it. That might mean:
Buffer time between meetings
Walking instead of rushing
Eating lunch without multitasking
Not answering texts right away
Actionable Step: Pick one part of your day where you tend to rush. Practice moving through it slower on purpose.
4. Notice What You’re Avoiding
Sometimes the need to stay busy is covering something up: fear of failure, discomfort with stillness, not knowing what to feel.
Slowing down brings it all to the surface. That’s hard—and it’s also where healing begins.
Actionable Step: The next time you reach for your phone or try to fill the silence, pause. What are you trying to avoid? Just notice.
Final Thought:
You are allowed to rest—not just so you can do more later, but because rest is good. Period.
So if your body’s asking for slowness, or your spirit is begging for stillness, listen.
The world will keep spinning.
You can afford to take a breath.
