I Didn’t Think I Deserved Rest...Until Rest Saved Me

I Didn’t Think I Deserved Rest—Until Rest Saved Me

Once upon a time, I truly believed I didn’t deserve rest.

That version of me was grieving a deep personal loss while navigating the unnecessary weight of a toxic work environment. I thought rest was for people who had earned it—after finishing the checklist, after making everyone else proud, after pushing past the pain. I laugh now—that laugh you used to keep from crying—because I see how heartbreaking and incredibly inaccurate that belief was. Still, it was real. It was mine. And it was the beginning of my rest journey.

It wasn’t until I left that job, began to heal, and opened myself up to intentional rest—guided by loving community members and “The Rest Deck” by Tricia Hersey —that I realized: grind culture had taught me to undervalue my body, my spirit, and my dreams. To heal, I had to detach from it all. I had to reach for what I had always been worthy of: physical, mental, emotional, social, and creative rest.

And I’m still on that journey.

What’s Really Stealing Your Rest?

Maybe, like me, your exhaustion isn’t just about lack of sleep. Maybe it’s:

• Unprocessed grief.

• Being constantly “needed” by others.

• Sensory overload from devices, meetings, and noise.

• Pressure to perform, produce, and be okay—even when you’re not.

All of these things pull us away from peace. From presence. From rest.

The 7 Types of Rest We All Need

Let’s break them down, because understanding the different types of rest can change everything.

1. Physical Rest
The most urgent and foundational. This can be sleep, naps, yoga, stretching, or simply letting your body be still. If you're always tired—this may be the place to begin.

2. Mental Rest
Brain fog? Racing thoughts? You might need breaks from overthinking. Try taking screen-free pauses, journaling, or grounding in the present.

3. Sensory Rest
Too many lights, noises, and screens can overstimulate your nervous system. Sensory rest means quiet, darkness, stillness—or a walk in nature.

4. Emotional Rest
Suppressing emotions is exhausting. Emotional rest happens when you allow yourself to feel and express what’s true without judgment. Safe spaces, therapy, and supportive friends help.

5. Social Rest
Not all interactions are restorative. You may need time with people who don’t expect you to perform—or time alone to reconnect with yourself.

6. Creative Rest
This is for the part of you that’s meant to imagine and innovate. If you’re feeling uninspired or stuck, creative rest invites you to enjoy beauty and inspiration without needing to create anything.

7. Spiritual Rest (Optional)
This could mean connecting to a higher power, your purpose, or simply the wonder of life. It’s the kind of rest that restores your inner compass.

Your Rest Journey Is Yours to Define

If any of this speaks to you, you’re not alone. Your rest journey might start today, just by noticing what your body and spirit are asking for. Mine began when I finally said, “No more.” And with the support of community, tools like The Rest Deck, and a commitment to reclaim my worth—I began to dream again.

Take the quiz at the bottom of this page to discover what type of rest you need most right now. Let it be your first step—or your next one—on your own rest journey.

Because you don’t have to earn rest.
You just have to receive it.

Ready to Make Rest a Part of Your Success? Let’s Work Together.

If you’re feeling called to rediscover what rest really means for your life, your creativity, or your leadership, I can help. Through 1-on-1 Life Coaching and Creative Coaching, I guide women and mission-driven professionals back to themselves, their breath, and their dreams.

Looking for support at work or in your organization? I offer two powerful trainings rooted in healing and sustainable practice:

• The Rest of Your Story – A transformational workshop for women in mission-led work who are ready to reclaim rest and rewrite burnout culture.

• Sacred Work, Sacred Rest – A 3-hour experience for mission-centered organizations and community-focused teams to shift workplace culture and make rest a collective value.

✨ Your rest is not a reward. It’s a right.
Let’s honor it—together.