By Emilee Henriquez, LCMHC, Therapist and Advocate for Radical Rest
In today’s fast-paced world, rest can feel like a luxury—something we have to earn after we’ve worked hard enough, done enough, or been enough. But what if rest wasn’t a reward for productivity, but an essential part of your healing journey? As a therapist, I’ve witnessed the profound impact that rest can have on a person’s mental, emotional, and physical well-being. Rest isn’t just about sleeping more; it’s about allowing yourself the space to recharge, reflect, and renew.
Why We Resist Rest
For many of us, resting feels uncomfortable. We’ve been taught to equate our worth with how much we produce or how busy we are. If we’re not constantly doing something, we might feel guilty or unproductive. This mindset is deeply ingrained in our culture of overwork, and it’s one of the reasons why so many people struggle with burnout, stress, and chronic fatigue.
But rest is not laziness. Rest is nourishment. It’s the practice of slowing down, tuning into your body, and giving yourself what you truly need—whether that’s sleep, quiet time, or simply being present with yourself.
The Role of Rest in Healing
When we talk about healing—whether it’s from trauma, stress, or emotional pain—rest is often overlooked. Yet, rest is one of the most powerful tools for recovery. It allows the body and mind to repair, process, and rejuvenate.
Why rest is essential for healing:
Rest Reduces Stress: Chronic stress keeps your body in a state of fight-or-flight, which makes it difficult to heal. Rest helps your nervous system shift into a state of relaxation, allowing your body to recover.
Rest Enhances Emotional Processing: When you’re constantly on the go, there’s little time to process your emotions. Rest creates the space for reflection, helping you make sense of your experiences and emotions.
Rest Strengthens the Mind-Body Connection: Healing isn’t just a mental process—it’s physical as well. Rest strengthens the connection between your mind and body, helping you tune into your physical needs and signals.
Rest Supports Clarity: When your mind is constantly racing, it’s hard to think clearly or make decisions. Rest clears the mental clutter, allowing you to gain insight and clarity on your path forward.
The Power of Radical Rest
Rest isn’t just about taking naps or getting a good night’s sleep—though those are important. Radical rest is the practice of giving yourself permission to stop, to do nothing, and to simply be. It’s about breaking free from the pressure to constantly achieve or produce and recognizing that you are worthy of rest simply because you exist.
What radical rest looks like:
Resting without Guilt: Many of us feel guilty when we rest, as if we’re wasting time. Radical rest is about releasing that guilt and embracing the fact that rest is necessary for your well-being.
Prioritizing Rest: Instead of squeezing rest in after you’ve finished everything on your to-do list, what if you made rest a priority? This could mean scheduling time for rest throughout your day or creating a bedtime routine that supports deep, restorative sleep.
Honoring Your Body’s Needs: Radical rest means listening to your body and giving it what it needs—whether that’s sleep, stillness, or simply a break from constant activity.
How to Incorporate Rest into Your Healing Journey
If you’re not used to resting, it can feel challenging to slow down, especially if you’ve internalized the belief that rest is unproductive. But the more you practice rest, the more you’ll realize how vital it is to your healing.
Ways to embrace rest:
Start Small: Begin by scheduling short periods of rest into your day. This could be 10 minutes of mindfulness, a brief walk in nature, or even lying down with your eyes closed.
Create a Restful Environment: Make your rest time sacred. Create a space that feels calm and inviting, free from distractions. Whether it’s your bedroom or a quiet corner, let it be a space dedicated to relaxation.
Listen to Your Body: Notice when your body is asking for rest—whether it’s through physical fatigue, emotional overwhelm, or mental fog. Honor those signals by giving yourself permission to pause.
Practice Compassion: Be gentle with yourself as you begin to prioritize rest. If guilt or discomfort arises, remind yourself that rest is essential for healing and that you deserve it.
My Message to You
I’m a therapist, and I used to believe that healing was all about doing—doing the work, doing the processing, doing the self-care. But over time, I’ve learned that rest is just as important as any other part of the healing journey. If you’ve been pushing yourself to the brink, ask yourself: What would happen if I gave myself permission to rest? What if rest was the missing piece to my healing? By embracing radical rest, you give yourself the space to heal, recover, and renew—because you deserve it.
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