Rest is Productive: Why Slowing Down is Part of a Healthy Lifestyle
- Coach April
- Jul 9
- 3 min read
When you’re working hard to create a healthier lifestyle, it’s tempting to believe that you always have to be doing something to make progress. Workout. Prep. Push. Hustle. Repeat.
But here’s the truth I had to learn the hard way: rest is not a reward you earn after doing enough—rest is part of the plan.
If you want to build strength, change habits, or live with more energy, rest isn’t just allowed. It’s essential.
What Makes Rest So Powerful?
Rest is where the magic happens.
Muscles repair and grow after a workout during rest, not during the workout itself.
Your nervous system resets, which helps lower stress and improve mood.
Your immune system strengthens, allowing you to fight off illness and recover faster.
Mental clarity improves, giving you the focus to make better decisions and stay motivated.
Rest isn’t lazy. It’s the pause that lets the work take root.
Signs You Might Need More Rest
Sometimes, our bodies whisper before they shout. Pay attention to:
Constant fatigue, even after a full night’s sleep
Lack of motivation or mental fog
Increased cravings or emotional eating
Soreness that never goes away
Irritability or anxiety
These aren’t signs of failure. They’re signs that your body is asking you for something: space to recover.
Types of Rest That Count
Rest doesn’t always mean a full day in bed (though it can!). Let’s redefine it:
1. Physical Rest
Take a rest day from your workout routine
Go for a gentle walk or stretch instead of pushing through pain
Take a nap guilt-free
2. Mental Rest
Unplug from screens and notifications for an hour
Read something just for joy—not for productivity
Say “no” to something that drains your energy
3. Emotional Rest
Journal your thoughts or release tension through creative expression
Spend time with someone who lifts your spirit
Sit in silence and breathe deeply
4. Active Recovery
Do yoga, mobility work, or a slow-paced walk
These support blood flow and healing while keeping you gently moving
Let Go of the Guilt
If you grew up with a “go, go, go” mentality, rest might feel uncomfortable. You might hear that inner voice whispering, “You should be doing more.” But here’s a mindset shift that changed everything for me:
“Rest isn’t time off—it’s time in.”
It’s time in your body, your mind, your needs. When you honor rest, you give your future self more energy, more clarity, and more ability to show up. And, therefore, rest is productive.
Resting with Intention
Instead of seeing rest as something passive, what if you started planning it in like a workout?
Try adding it to your Lift and Be Uplifted Weekly Wellness Planner. Make rest a box you get to check—not a gap in your progress, but part of it.
Examples:
Saturday: Rest Day – light stretching + hydration focus
Tuesday: 20-minute phone-free reset after work
Sunday: Journaling + an early bedtime
These small moments of recovery make a big shift over time.
Rest is Productive
Rest is not the opposite of work—it’s what makes your work work.
Give yourself permission to pause. To breathe. To sit still without guilt. Because you’re not falling behind. You’re building a lifestyle that lasts.
And that starts by lifting yourself, even in the stillness.
If you're having trouble giving yourself permission to rest, let's chat.
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