Okay, let’s get real: when was the last time you truly rested? And I don’t mean scrolling through your phone while half-watching a Netflix show you don’t even like. I mean the kind of rest where your brain goes, “Ahhh,” instead of, “Oh no, I should be doing something important right now.”

Somewhere along the way, we collectively decided that being busy equals being worthy. If you’re not actively doing something productive—working, cleaning, learning a new skill, training for a marathon, or alphabetizing your spice rack—then what are you even doing with your life?

Well, my friend, I’m here to tell you that we’ve been scammed. Hoodwinked. Bamboozled. Resting is not being useless. It is, in fact, essential to being a functional human being. And more importantly, it’s something we have forgotten how to do. So, let’s break it down.

Step 1: Understand That You’re Not a Machine

Contrary to popular belief, you are not a laptop that can just run on low battery until you’re plugged in with a double-shot espresso. If you don’t rest, you will crash—whether that means burnout, an emotional breakdown, or accidentally putting your keys in the fridge and your yogurt in your purse (we’ve all been there).

Resting is not wasting time. It is recharging. Just like your phone needs to sit there doing nothing to juice up, so do you.

Step 2: Rebrand Resting

If the word “rest” makes you feel like an unproductive slug, let’s rebrand it. Call it “strategic energy conservation.” Tell yourself you’re “investing in long-term efficiency.” Give it a corporate-sounding name like “Scheduled Downtime Optimization.” Whatever works.

Because here’s the thing: when you rest properly, you actually become more productive later. Your brain works better, your mood improves, and you’re less likely to cry over minor inconveniences (like your sock slipping off inside your shoe).

Step 3: Learn the Art of Doing Absolutely Nothing

This is where things get tricky. Thanks to the Internet, we’ve lost the ability to just… be. If you’ve ever sat down to “rest” and immediately felt the need to check your phone, rearrange your bookshelf, or start a side hustle, congratulations! You are a modern human.

Doing nothing is a skill. You have to practice it. Start small:

• Stare at the ceiling for five minutes.

• Sit on your couch without looking at your phone.

• Lie on the floor like a dramatic Victorian woman waiting for someone to fetch her smelling salts.

At first, your brain will panic. “But we should be doing something! We have emails to answer! The laundry! The dishes! That weird spot on the ceiling that needs investigating!”

Ignore it. Let the discomfort wash over you. With time, you’ll realize that nothing bad happens when you rest. The world doesn’t collapse just because you took a nap.

Step 4: Choose the Right Kind of Rest

Not all rest is created equal. There’s:

• Physical rest (sleeping, napping, lying down like a human starfish).

• Mental rest (doing something that gives your brain a break, like doodling or watching clouds).

• Social rest (avoiding people because, honestly, you’re exhausted).

• Creative rest (letting your mind wander instead of forcing it to be productive).

Figure out what kind of rest you actually need. If you’re mentally drained but try to fix it with a nap, you’ll wake up feeling like you got hit by a truck. If you’re physically exhausted but decide to “relax” by doomscrolling Twitter, you’ll just end up stressed and tired. Pick your rest wisely.

Step 5: Give Yourself Permission to Rest

This is the hardest part. You have to let yourself rest without guilt. No apologizing for taking a break. No justifying it. No trying to turn it into something productive (“I’m resting so I can work harder later!”).

You deserve to rest just because you’re human. Not because you “earned” it. Not because you “need” it. Just because.

Final Thoughts

If you take one thing away from this, let it be this: you are allowed to rest. Not because you finished all your tasks, not because you reached a breaking point, but because you exist.

So go ahead. Take a nap. Stare at the clouds. Lie on the floor and do absolutely nothing. Be a lump. The world will still be here when you get up.