Rethinking Rest: Why Slowing Down is a Radical Act

This morning, I woke up at 4 a.m. I love getting up early, but not this early. I tried to fall back asleep, but by 4:35, I gave in and started my day.

Ten years ago, waking up like this would have sent me into a spiral. My first thought would have been, "I didn’t get enough sleep. How am I going to get through the day?" My second thought? "Guess this will be a three-coffee day." Sound familiar?

Over time, two big things have shifted for me. Instead of focusing on what’s not working and layering on negative judgments, I’ve learned to focus on what is working. This morning, my first thought was, "Great! Now I can practice before my kids wake up and even get some work done." My second thought? "This will be a 30-minute savasana day."

That shift didn’t happen overnight. I used to see rest as a waste of time—something lazy and unproductive. But now, I see it for what it really is: a basic human need.

In our fast-paced, accomplishment-driven world, we’ve been conditioned to believe that rest is something we have to earn—a reward after we’ve worked hard enough. But rest isn’t optional. It’s essential. Choosing to slow down, to listen to our bodies, to give ourselves the space to restore—it’s not just an act of self-care, it’s a radical act of self-respect.

Because when we’re rested, we show up more fully—for ourselves and for the people we love. It’s a gift we give ourselves and the world at the same time.